Merlin’s favorite times of the year are the fall and spring, simply because that’s when windows can be open and he can watch (and smell) the birds and squirrels that he’d like to be outside chasing. Here, he peers intently at the back yard through the open window right next to my desk earlier this week. Merlin is the one who disappeared for a couple of days after an escape through a screen about two years ago. He doesn’t seem to eager to leave the comforts of home behind after that adventure.

Narcissists teach their victims they aren’t allowed to have needs
If you allow anything to be priority over love and beauty, you’re a fool
Love drives us mad, but madness rescues us from ‘horrible sanity’
For rest of my life, I’ll constantly re-interpret mother I didn’t know
Libertarian freedom vs. conservative tradition leads to culture clash
New Year’s resolutions don’t change anything until we change ourselves
Love & Hope — Episode 6:
Reconciliation can start with the courage to make one phone call
For me, Valentine’s Day seems to bring out my regrets every year