There's something about the light

The days are getting longer and my spirit is light. The simple things in my life give me special pleasure this time of year.

• I rode my bike on a regional trail both yesterday and today with my sister Alyx. Yesterday we rode eight miles and today we extended to ten miles. The sun was out, temps in the 60s as we rode along the watercourse that connects two lakes in our area. We passed families and walkers and pairs of geese and slower cyclists. We were passed by faster bikers. It was a bit of a traffic challenge but that was okay because everyone was outdoors enjoying the same glorious day as we were. We came upon a just-happened bike crash between two riders and Alyx was the first nurse on the scene. Two bloody heads but no serious injuries. One of the men had worn a helmet and the other had not.

• It has been almost a year since Alyx and her husband Virgil took up residence on our property in their motorhome. Originally set to be one to three months until they found a place to live, we have extended their time indefinitely as they made the decision to live permanently in their RV. It is a well functioning community we have with them. We have had a few problems - most recently have been the proper way to store plastic bowls and lids in the kitchen cupboard and where to put their mail so they remember to take it. All things considered, this is a win-win for our family. Alyx is seven years younger than me and we were never close until after our mother died in 2008. We get along well now and enjoy each other's company most days. We laugh a lot! She works nights and I sleep nights, so our time together is limited to her days off. That's probably a good thing! Alyx is also the person who now goes with my husband Art to his medical appointments, since she's a nurse able to ask the questions in a way doctors can understand and respond to.

• On Wednesday I went for a walk in my neighborhood and the first person I saw was my neighbor Karen who lives across the street. I recognized her only by her voice because she has lost over 50 pounds since I saw her last fall. We chatted for a few minutes and she told me she and her son had joined an eating program. She said essentially she stays away from bread, dairy and pasta. So that's what I've been doing for the last three days. So far I am a bit hungry for cheese and ice cream, but I know this too shall pass, and I can do anything for a month, one day at a time. I will allow myself one day a week to eat - moderately - other things.

• Alyx is the primary gardener this year. The first of the radishes and beets and lettuce are up in the raised beds. We have the beginnings of apples and pears and cherries and blueberries. We cleared out a bed of St. John's wort to make room for the raspberries to spread. We weed a little every day. 

•  I have lunch or coffee every week with a good friend. I love our conversations.

• I am following the issue of money in politics. I believe we can change what's happening in our country. For the first time in my life, I'm collecting signatures on an initiative petition. It's for I-735 concerning a proposed amendment to the federal constitution. This measure would urge the Washington state congressional delegation to propose a federal constitutional amendment that constitutional rights belong only to individuals, not corporations, and constitutionally-protected free speech excludes the spending of money. This isn't a partisan issue; whether conservative or progressive, Republic or Democrat or Something Else, everyone I know has the same hope of getting money out of politics. I'm not a natural signature collector, but I am an optimist. We may be able to do this.

• I am following the presidential campaign of Bernie Sanders.

• I get to take a two-day class this week on Communication Skills for Effective Leaders.

• I get to fly to Spokane for a conference and take my twin granddaughters and two of their friends out for pizza.

Really. It's something about the light. I love this time of year.