Katherine Nicolai

Maybe it is a gift of aging, a growing understanding of what was enough. and a capacity to enjoy it when you have it. In that first minute in the hot water, my mind went peacefully quiet. I wasn't thinking much of anything, just feeling the heat and the relaxation in my muscles. I stretched out in the tub and closed my eyes. I could hear the wind blowing around the house.

Maybe it is a gift of aging, a growing understanding of what was enough. and a capacity to enjoy it when you have it. In that first minute in the hot water, my mind went peacefully quiet. I wasn't thinking much of anything, just feeling the heat and the relaxation in my muscles. I stretched out in the tub and closed my eyes. I could hear the wind blowing around the house.

And I thought about the squirrels and rabbits digging deeper into their dens, curling around one another for warmth. I picked up my book and read. When the water started to feel a little cool, I just turned the hot tap back on and let it run till it was piping again. I sipped water, soaked up my washcloth, and scrubbed. and eventually felt ready to get out.

And I thought about the squirrels and rabbits digging deeper into their dens, curling around one another for warmth. I picked up my book and read. When the water started to feel a little cool, I just turned the hot tap back on and let it run till it was piping again. I sipped water, soaked up my washcloth, and scrubbed. and eventually felt ready to get out.

And I thought about the squirrels and rabbits digging deeper into their dens, curling around one another for warmth. I picked up my book and read. When the water started to feel a little cool, I just turned the hot tap back on and let it run till it was piping again. I sipped water, soaked up my washcloth, and scrubbed. and eventually felt ready to get out.

As I reached for my giant bath towel and wrapped it around me, I had a memory of being helped out of the tub as a child, being wrapped in a warm towel, and how safe and happy it had made me feel. I smiled at myself in the steamy mirror. I'd taken over that job of being the steward of my own happiness and safety.

As I reached for my giant bath towel and wrapped it around me, I had a memory of being helped out of the tub as a child, being wrapped in a warm towel, and how safe and happy it had made me feel. I smiled at myself in the steamy mirror. I'd taken over that job of being the steward of my own happiness and safety.

As I reached for my giant bath towel and wrapped it around me, I had a memory of being helped out of the tub as a child, being wrapped in a warm towel, and how safe and happy it had made me feel. I smiled at myself in the steamy mirror. I'd taken over that job of being the steward of my own happiness and safety.

And while I hadn't been very good at it at the beginning, it had taken practice and unlearning some things along the way. I was now adept. I protected me. I was safe with me. I was happy with me. I pulled on a robe and stepped back into the bedroom to peer out of the window. To my surprise, the sun was shining. and the wind had dropped to nothing.

And while I hadn't been very good at it at the beginning, it had taken practice and unlearning some things along the way. I was now adept. I protected me. I was safe with me. I was happy with me. I pulled on a robe and stepped back into the bedroom to peer out of the window. To my surprise, the sun was shining. and the wind had dropped to nothing.

And while I hadn't been very good at it at the beginning, it had taken practice and unlearning some things along the way. I was now adept. I protected me. I was safe with me. I was happy with me. I pulled on a robe and stepped back into the bedroom to peer out of the window. To my surprise, the sun was shining. and the wind had dropped to nothing.

The trees stood still, dripping in the sunlight, and the sidewalks were already free of snow. I cracked the window and leaned down to the sill to breathe in the air. It wasn't warm, exactly, but I thought I could smell the sunlight in it, and it was inviting. As I dressed and combed my hair, the sunlight grew brighter, cutting into my rooms and warming my wood floors with its rays.

The trees stood still, dripping in the sunlight, and the sidewalks were already free of snow. I cracked the window and leaned down to the sill to breathe in the air. It wasn't warm, exactly, but I thought I could smell the sunlight in it, and it was inviting. As I dressed and combed my hair, the sunlight grew brighter, cutting into my rooms and warming my wood floors with its rays.

The trees stood still, dripping in the sunlight, and the sidewalks were already free of snow. I cracked the window and leaned down to the sill to breathe in the air. It wasn't warm, exactly, but I thought I could smell the sunlight in it, and it was inviting. As I dressed and combed my hair, the sunlight grew brighter, cutting into my rooms and warming my wood floors with its rays.

By the time I was pulling on my shoes and thinking about an early lunch, all the morning snow was gone. And when I opened up my front door, birdsong rang from the treetops in my yard. I chuckled at March and her changeable ways. zipped up my jacket, and set out in search of something tasty. I'd been so ready to spend the day curled up at home, but now I wanted to be out in the world.

By the time I was pulling on my shoes and thinking about an early lunch, all the morning snow was gone. And when I opened up my front door, birdsong rang from the treetops in my yard. I chuckled at March and her changeable ways. zipped up my jacket, and set out in search of something tasty. I'd been so ready to spend the day curled up at home, but now I wanted to be out in the world.

By the time I was pulling on my shoes and thinking about an early lunch, all the morning snow was gone. And when I opened up my front door, birdsong rang from the treetops in my yard. I chuckled at March and her changeable ways. zipped up my jacket, and set out in search of something tasty. I'd been so ready to spend the day curled up at home, but now I wanted to be out in the world.

enjoying the warmth till March took another left turn. There was a cafe on the corner built into a little brick building, and their pots of pansies were still dusted with snow as I walked up and pulled open their door. They made excellent sandwiches and soups, and there were always a few empty tables and booths to slide into.

enjoying the warmth till March took another left turn. There was a cafe on the corner built into a little brick building, and their pots of pansies were still dusted with snow as I walked up and pulled open their door. They made excellent sandwiches and soups, and there were always a few empty tables and booths to slide into.

enjoying the warmth till March took another left turn. There was a cafe on the corner built into a little brick building, and their pots of pansies were still dusted with snow as I walked up and pulled open their door. They made excellent sandwiches and soups, and there were always a few empty tables and booths to slide into.