It was frigid today, and the mornings are dark until nearly 9. We wait by the fire for the sun to pop over the crest of the mountain.

After, my brain insisted I was well again. The body conceded, for awhile. When life feels disordered or I don’t know where to jump back in, there is a clear starting point for me: the kitchen. When the kitchen is clean, it’s as if at least my personal realm is back within my control. Of course, once I scrubbed the kitchen to sparkling, I was done. I retired back to bed for the rest of the day.