We're enduring a brief dip back into winter: snow flurries last night and today a high in the low 40s. But it will be sunny, and maybe I'll hang laundry outside anyway. I don't want to believe in winter anymore.

My day will be full of this-n-that . . . groceries, yoga, housework, and, best of all, a visit from my friend Holly, cat maven and teacher extraordinaire, who's decided to take a weekend holiday to Maine because it's the closest she can get to Scotland. She's fully vaxxed, but I'm only half-vaxxed, so we'll bundle up against the wind and go for a walk and pretend we're in Edinburgh.

I'm ridiculously excited about company. Imagine: an out-of-state friend! Visiting me!

In other good news, our governor has just announced that all Mainers will be eligible for the vaccine starting next week, which means Paul should be able to get his earlier than expected. And my high school class did meet successfully yesterday--just a fast hour together, but the kids wrote three drafts each, three strong drafts each, and it was so gratifying to see them persevering in the art, under very difficult conditions. They are eager to write, and it is moving and heartening to listen to their work.