Balloons
On a birthday. O. turned one. You were right about it being hard to get balloons in the car, C texted and I could see him wrangling the bunch—trying to shove...
Jumpin' Jacks
On traditions. I only had an hour or so, just enough time for us to go to Jumpin’ Jacks. The line was longer than expected. Kids out of school, my sister...
Cash Only
On coming up short. The other night, when the tab came, it was $64, and I had three twenties in my pocket. This is stupid, I said, but I forgot my wallet....
Waiting out the Weather
On patience. We can’t seem to catch a break. Every Friday, right on schedule, the clouds roll in. All the flowers look amazing, but it’s getting a little...
Playing for a Crowd
On learning to suck. It had been a long time, I realized, since I played an instrument in front of anyone. Not since teenage me had my yearly and most hated...
Swan Boats
On (my first) Mother’s Day. The other morning, I was biking to work around the Public Garden and caught a glimpse of the Swan Boats lolling in the pond. They...
Birdwatching (Again, Sort Of)
On possibilities. My son notices things now. It’s one of my favorite things, seeing what captures his attention. He’s becoming a little person in the world,...
Starting Seeds
On patience. At first, nothing. Only labels for what might be there someday: Tomatillos, Zinnia, Kale. Photo by Aaron Fernando on Unsplash Then, from...
Holding Your Best Friend's Baby
On gratitude. Last weekend, one of my very closest friends was in town for too brief a time—a visit that overlapped with my mom and sister’s arrival, and my...
Talking to Your Therapist About Pete Seeger
On little things. My therapist asked me what helps keep me grounded, and I said, well, I have this project where I try to write about a little thing each...
Baseball on the Radio
On traditions. I don’t have a new Enthusiasm for you this week, but here’s one from the archives. Happy opening day at Fenway; at least we have baseball. <3...
Mourning Doves
On lament. There’s a pair that perch somewhere along the eaves. Each morning, when I open the door, they burst out from wherever they were hiding—all of us...
Strep Test
On parenthood. I did not feel good. In front of the mirror—phone in hand, flashlight on—I stuck out my tongue and lit up the inside of my mouth. La Fille...
Cleaning Up After the Roomba
On repair. There is so much destruction. The Doomba The baby’s toys, strewn across the room. One stuck in the robot’s no-longer-spinning wheel. Cheerios...
When My Phone Dies
On disappearing. I hate how unmoored it makes me feel. The screen flickers off and I’m left with a useless brick in my hand. What did I do without it? Got...
Losing My Voice
On a sore throat. I keep apologizing. I’m getting over something. I tried to sing a lullaby, but only a whisper came out.
Cutting Up a Slice of Mango for My Kid at Breakfast
On love. I can’t protect him from all this, I know. So, what then? Mango, Ellsworth Kelly With the big chef’s knife, I peeled us both a mango, going slowly...
Falling Through the Ice
On not going under. The river keeps freezing over and thawing out and freezing again. A couple of times this winter, passing on my bike or looking out the...
Saying “Good Morning” to Someone at 4:30 P.M.
On protest. Friends, how are we? I’ve been hearing Pete Campbell yelling, NOT GREAT, BOB!, in my head for the last ten (oh god, it’s only been ten) days. I...
Eye Exam
On seeing. One line of my optometrist’s eye chart spelled out F-A-R-T. Do you think he did that on purpose? George Maryele test chart, National Library of...