I went into town yesterday for the first time after seven days’ of self-isolation following a fever.  Though I had gone outside from time to time to stand on the porch, I had not moved my car or left the park since Tuesday of last week.  The drive lifted my spirits.

I came home after a brief rainstorm and stopped on the levee road to take a few pictures.  Later, I heard voices through my window and looked out to see my neighbors Noah and Margaret conversing from a respectable distance — Margaret on her steps, Noah at the edge of her yard.  I went outside and spoke as I came around the corner.

I was just going to chide you all for risking contact, I remarked.  Then I realized neither of you had enough sense to come in out of the rain.  We all laughed as the gentle mist of an early Delta evening settled on our shoulders.

Noah said, It’s good to see you out, Corinne.  I was worried about you.  Then Margaret left to do a little necessary shopping and Noah and I each went to our respective tiny houses.  As I closed the door, I could see a pale glimmer of sunset over the clouds to the west.  I found myself smiling.  Same, Noah, I whispered.  Same.

It’s the twenty-fifth day of the seventy-fifth month of My Year Without Complaining.  Life continues.