a new modem

will be here tomorrow. Yesterday I had the 90-minute massage that my friends at yoga purchased for me. It was very nice, the setting was restful as can be, and I was plenty warm. It didn't transform my life, but it was a very pleasant way to spend the time.

On Tuesday evening our friend Walt (more about him later) joined as for dinner and, at Heshy's request, built a nice fire in the garden. We are free to use our upstairs neighbors' portable outside fireplace whenever we want. We used some good wood we'd saved for just such an occasion, but mostly we burned Walt's old bank statements, bill receipts and the like that needed to be destroyed. The colors and shapes of the fire shifted constantly, and glowing red and gray petals drew back from each thing that was burnt. It was riveting, and plenty warm, even in the drizzle that ensued.

Walt is a dear friend of ours. He's a carpenter who happened to be working on a neighbor's house when we first lived in San Leandro and Heshy was turning 3 (he's now 8). It was a few months after we met him that his marriage ended and he found himself with no place to stay when the judge ordered him to leave the residence. He had plans to sleep in his truck, but I couldn't see that and Marshall and I invited him to stay with us. What started as a very temporary solution worked out for all of us for 18 months until Walt's divorce was granted and he again was on safe financial footing. He moved out but the friendship stayed strong.

Because Walt is a union carpenter he works when there is work for him - he'll work a few months at a stretch and then back to the union to wait in line for another assignment, and it could be months until it comes. Then he does 'side work' and hangs out with me when I am available. He's a very handy guy to have around and has fixed or built many things for us over the years. And Bella, our dog, knows she's hit the jackpot when Walt comes over - they've always been close and have a lot of fun together.