Days Are Long

November 9th, 2025 — 8:57pm

Dear Reese,

You and Merlin watch the birds and squirrels out of the sunroom window. It’s before 7 am. I’m curled up on the chair, half awake, but I know that is a moment to remember.

They say the days are long, but the years are short and we’ve had some long days recently with me not feeling 100%. But then, when did you learn to say the word ‘no’ and nod your head ‘yes’ and cruise down the road on your balance bike so fast like it’s nothing?

This evening, we pull out a shark activity book with lots of sticker pages, and you point to the ones you want me to help you unpeel. You put them onto a blank sheet of paper, picking one after the other until you say ‘all done’ — your masterpiece is finished. Your first collage. It’s sharks and fish and a grinning mouth and a steak. You are proud of it and show it to MorMor and Cappi in turn.

An artist, a dancer, a little empath. Some days are long, but I wouldn’t want to spend them with anyone else.

Love,

Mama