Dear Friends,

Rama and I were out in the yard the other evening, checking on the garden. As we paused at each plant, Rama dug his fingers into the soil, examined the leaves, and graded its progress. I oohed and ahhed at each little guy, remarking on every small sign of life. (I don’t know about Rama, but I do think of the plants as little guys, as our babies, with a whole life ahead of them.)

We settled into the bench across from the garden, and gazed at it, marveling at the miracle of life. Just a few weeks ago, we didn’t know if some of those plants would survive another day, and now they were thriving.

I felt so content, and I realized that this is what I had dreamt about when I first laid eyes on this crooked Craftsman house 15 years ago. I envisioned flowers on the porch. i imagined a vegetable and herb garden. I even longed for the very bench I was sitting on. It just took 15 years to get to this point.

Normally, this revelation might bring a sting of regret and shame. I’d mourn wasted time and wondered what I had been doing instead. But this time, I just felt gratitude.

I knew what we’ve been doing all this time. We were planting our own roots, growing a family, and nurturing our relationship.

“Things happen in their time,” I told Rama.

That’s how so many of the best things have come in to my life: When I was ready and not an instant sooner. Because that’s when I was able to make time and space to accept them.

Rama and I sat on that bench, recollecting our first date 22 years ago, and imagining our future 22 years from now. It felt like we had all the time in the world.

xo Christine

Good Things

• On our Date-a-versary, Rama asked me on a date to get ice cream, and it made my heart aflutter

• One perfect little strawberry from the garden

• The return of Porch Coffee

• Acupuncture and my high tolerance for pain

• Maira’s polka dotted fingernails

• Chocolate chip pancakes

• Imagining with Henry and Maira what it means to dance like your ass is on fire (hint: a lot of booty shaking and maybe a stop, drop & roll)

• The Bad Shoulder Years, what our therapist said perimenopause is called in Japan

• A coffee shop a 10-minute-walk away from our mechanic

• Remembering how productive I am when I work at said coffee shop (because I don’t have house distractions)

• Finishing a book and starting a new one

• Doctor Who is the hero we all need right now

Hey Good Lookin’

I am trying not to panic purchase everything under the sun as tariffs kick in. But… I will admit I have bought an extra one or two tubes of Korean sunscreen to tuck away. My faves are Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Sunscreen and Skin 1004 Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum.

Good Quote

Good Deed of the Day

Say “God bless you” to the next person who sneezes. Or gesundheit or salud or something, anything. It’s nice to be acknowledged.