What a glorious day to be in NYC! It's about 65 degrees and sunny here. Hard to work, even though I have my laptop on my lap, booted up and blinking at me. The sun streaming in the windows of my little sublet on Bethune Street keeps me looking out instead of down! I took a long long walk down Bleecker Street earlier. I admit I am feeling a bit low, for many reasons. Mostly because it's March, and I've entered that time I've written about before that leads up to the anniversary of Grace's death (April 18). I can't help but remember those last precious weeks when we were still all together. This morning as I walked past the Bleecker Street playground, I remembered how I used to walk to our local playground in Providence every afternoon with Sam and Grace. I would have our (then) puppy Zuzu on her leash, and Sam and Grace would run ahead of me. At each corner I yelled for them to stop, so worried that they would bolt into the street. Late afternoon. Spring. Such simple joy.

Yesterday afternoon I met with an old student of mine who I haven't seen in about fifteen years. He was in the second class I ever taught, and I always felt a particular connection with him. Here he is, 41 years old now, and as darling as ever. It felt so good to be with him, but it's a sign of my frame of mind these days that when I went to bed I felt sad for all the old friends who I've lost touch with, or who I've lost all together for a variety of reasons.

This is a good time, I think, to pick up my knitting needles and tackled the really fun Mason Dixon pattern for linoleum dish rags. I'm using purple, white and pink yarn and hoping to see the pattern emerge soon. It's entirely possible that I've already made a mistake...