Roxie is back to her normal, curled-tail up with white underside showing, one tooth sticking out, scrambling-by-the-front-door ‘Let’s go outside!’ self.

I am not.

Our near miss sucked the wind out of me.

Made me stop.

.

Life is short.

I’m closer to the end than I am to the beginning.

There was a steel-gray Jeep Wrangler in the park parking lot tonight, with ‘Class of 2026!’ written in white on the side window and ‘SENIORS!’ on the rear.

It doesn’t seem that long ago, but I pause for the math. I’m nowhere near their age. I’m not near their parent’s age. I’m their grandparent’s age.

Am I living this one shot the way I want?

This was what I wanted.

Is it still?

 Chewing the Cud of Good

Thankful for free flowers from the Cincinnati Park District, and these irises from Marilyn.