I was walking into the kitchen, ready to make my morning cup of tea, when I noticed the newspaper crossword puzzle laying on the kitchen table. There were several blank spots to be filled in so, I sat down and got right to work.

Twenty minutes later my son Alex walked in.

“What’s a four letter word for cat’s lives?” I asked.

“Don’t they have nine?” he said, walking over to the cabinet to get out a box of cereal.

I shook my head. “I should have known that.” I took my pencil and filled in the blanks, then moved to the next clue. “Part of SWAK.” I said as I got up to finally get my cup of tea.

Alex took the newspaper from me. “How many letters?” he asked.

“Four.” I took the tea bag from the canister and placed it in my cup, waiting for the water to boil.

“That would be kiss.” he said, picking up the pencil and filling in the boxes.

I filled my cup with boiling water and headed back to the table.

That’s when my husband, Steven walked into the room. “What are you two up to?” he asked.

It was then that I realized we’d been working on his puzzle. “I’m sorry.” I said as I looked over at Alex who was still filling in the boxes.

Alex looked up, “Wait a minute. Mom didn’t tell me this was your puzzle. She was working on it when I came in!” He looked over at me then back to Steven before pushing the paper away from him.

“Thanks for giving me up so quickly!” I laughed. I looked over at Steven. “I’m really sorry. But I did my part in pencil so I can erase it in a second and you’ll never know the difference.”

Steven started to laugh. “It’s fine. I’m not that kind of crossword puzzle solver.”

“You’re not?” I looked down at the puzzle. “But you’ve done your section in pen.”

“I always use pen.” He pulled out a kitchen chair and sat down at the table, looking over the section Alex and I had done.

“I could never us a pen.” I admitted. “What if I made a mistake?”

“You just have to be sure of yourself.” Steven said looking over at me. “It’s the difference between people who use paper clips and people who use staplers.”

I thought about that for a moment, before I realized what he was saying. “Oh my gosh, I always use paper clips!”

Steven smiled as he picked up his pen. “And I use a stapler.”

It was a dreary day and I needed to do something to make myself feel better. So I went to my son, Alex’s door and knocked. “Can I look out your side door?” I called. “I want to see if the daffodils are coming up by your porch.”

“Sure.” he called.

I went through his bedroom and into his office. “Thanks.” I said as I opened the side door and stepped out onto his small deck. Leaning over the railing I could see that not only had the daffodils come up but you could see some of the buds popping through too. “Yeah!” I cried. “Do you want to come see the daffodils? They’re almost ready to open!”

“That’s okay. I believe you.” I could hear him busily tapping away on his keyboard.

I popped my head back inside. “You know what this means don’t you?”

Alex turned in his chair, a confused looked on his face. “What?”

“Spring is on the way!” I couldn’t help but smile.

Alex shook his head and laughed. “It’s still February.”

“Hey, there was a reason the daffodils were planted on the sunny side of the house.” I stepped back inside and sat down on his futon. “So they’d come up sooner then the rest and make me feel like Spring is just around the corner.”

“Well, if that makes you feel better, I’m glad.” He turned back to his computer.

“You know what else this means, don’t you?”

“No.” Alex shook his head. “What?”

“Your robin couple will be making their nest in the holly tree right outside your window again.”

His fingers stopped in midair as he turned around to face me. “Are you kidding me?”

I shook my head. “Nope. It’s called nest fidelity. I looked it up. It’s a real thing.”

Alex looked confused. “Nest fidelity?”

“Yup. It’s when birds have a successful nest they’ll go back to the same spot, if not the same nest and start all over again!” I couldn’t help but smile. “Isn’t that amazing!”

Alex leaned back in his chair. “That’s just great.” he sighed. “Another few weeks of that idiot bird pooping all over my deck and slamming himself against my storm door.”

“Hey, he was only trying to protect his nest. He kept seeing his reflection in your storm door and thought another bird was invading his territory.”

“Exactly what I said. He was an idiot!”

“Well, if you want me to, I can always put the paper up on the door to block his reflection.”

Alex sighed again. “That’s still not going to stop him from using my deck as his bathroom.”

I shrugged my shoulders. “Well, maybe he won’t be as messy this year.”

“What makes you say that?” He reached over and grabbed his water bottle and took a drink.

“Well if we get the paper up before they come back maybe he won’t see his reflection and feel like he has to sit on your railing to guard his nest?”

Alex shrugged his shoulders. “I guess we could try. Do you want to put it up now?”

Now it was my turn to look confused. “Why would I put it up now? It’s only February!”

Alex just shook his head as he turned back to his computer. “You’re killing me here.”

I had to laugh as I got up and kissed him on the top of the head. “I love you too.”

I was standing in front of my son Alex’s bedroom door, ready to tape a pink heart to it, when the door opened. Alex was standing there looking at me as I held the pink heart up in the air. “I was just ready to put this on your door but…” I shrugged my shoulders. “here you go.” I handed it to him instead.

Alex looked at the heart and read what I’d written on it out loud. “I love your three pat hugs.”

Alex looked back at me and smiled. “Ah, thanks.” He leaned over and gave me a hug, with his three pats to my back, before going back into his room with the note.

I followed him in and saw that he had a pile of the notes I’d been leaving him. “Ahhh, you’re keeping them?”

“Sure.” Alex looked confused. “Why wouldn’t I?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “I thought you were throwing them out after you were done reading them.”

Alex looked surprised. “That wouldn’t be very nice of me.”

“Oh, wait. I didn’t mean it that way!” I looked back at the pile of pink hearts on his side table next to his computer. “I’ve been leaving them on your Dad closet door too. He hasn’t said a lot about them but I know he likes them because he’s left them all up.” I looked over at Alex and smiled. “You, on the other hand, came out every night and held the note out and thanked me.” I shrugged my shoulders again. “I just figured the two of you had different ways of showing me you liked them and I wrongly assumed your way was telling me thank you and than tossing them.”

“Well, see I surprised you again!”

I smiled. “You did.” I thought back to the first of the month when I started the notes. “You know, I’ve had fun thinking of things I like about my guys. It’s made leading up to Valentine’s Day fun.”

Alex looked surprised. “We’ve never made Valentine’s Day a big deal around here before.”

“I know.” I sighed. “It’s just that when I read an article about doing this for the days leading up Valentines Day, I sat down and started to think of different things I like about you guys.” I looked back at the pile of hearts. “The list came out so quickly that it seemed silly not to do it.” I looked back at Alex and smiled. “Well, it’s time for me to put your Dad’s note up before I go to bed.” I leaned over and gave him a quick kiss on his cheek.

Alex smiled. “Does that mean you want me to do this for you next year?”

“No, but maybe when you’re ready to throw them out you can give them to me instead.”

“Sure.” Alex looked confused. “So you can use them again next year?”

I had to laugh. “Kind of. But not the way you think.”

Alex still looked confused.

“I want to remember what I said this year so I don’t repeat myself next year.” I smiled as I headed to his door. “I’m pretty sure I can think of 14 new things I like about you for next year.”

“How’d it go?” Steven asked as he opened the front door to let me in.

“Have I mentioned how much I hate grocery shopping?” I said as I walked by him headed to the kitchen with bags hanging from both my arms.

“Any more in the car?”

“Yeah, thanks!” I called as I put the bags on the counter top and began unloading.

Steven came in with more bags and placed them on the counter. “This is the last of them.” He reached in and pulled out a large container of feta cheese.

I looked over at him. “Do you know how hard it was to find that?” I pointed to the feta container.

“Wasn’t it in the cheese aisle?” Steven put it in the refrigerator.

“No.” I pulled out the yellow sheet of paper that was the store directory. “You’ve been telling me to use this until I get used to the new store but it tells you cheese is in freezer door 35 through 51 and you can find a tiny container there but then when I got to the produce section they had the big container there.” I shook my head annoyed as I remembered having to go back through the entire store to return the tiny container. “The store directory is useless!”

“It’s not useless.” Steven sighed as he put the loaf of bread in the cabinet. “You just hate getting used to a new store.”

“I’m not arguing that!” I sighed as I put the cold cuts away. “The place is packed all the time!”

“That’s because everyone loves a new store but you.” He was leaned against the counter as I finished putting the last of the groceries away. “But once you get used to it I bet you’re going to love it too.”

“I’m going to have to.” I sighed again as I held up the container of hummus. “Guess where they keep this?”

Steven laughed. “Where?”

“I can’t remember.” I laughed. “But I remember thinking, that’s a stupid place to have it!” I put it in the refrigerator.

Steven came over and gave me a hug. “I know you don’t like change but I promise you’ll get used to this new store and you’ll love it!”

“I know.” I leaned back against the counter. “I did find one trick that helps get me around the store when it’s really crowded.”

“What?
“Aisle 1, 2 and 3! They’re always empty. So if I want to get from one side of the store to the other, I use them.”

Steven seemed confused. “Why are they always empty?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “That’s where all the healthy stuff is.” I started to laugh. “Clearly we don’t live in a community that wants natural snacks, gluten free stuff or any kind of vitamins.”

Steven shook his head. “In a way, that’s kind of sad.”

“Really?” I looked over at him. “They have an open barrel of bulk granola in that aisle. I can pick up a few scoops for you if you want.”

Steven shook his head. “No thanks. I’m good.”

It was Sunday afternoon and I was curled up on the couch watching television when my husband Steven came in. “What are you watching?”

“The Greatest Showman movie.” I reached for my water bottle and took a sip before putting it back on the coffee table.

Steven laughed. “Again? How many times does this make?”

“Three.” I looked at my watch. “But it’s still early, I can watch it again tonight.”

Steven stood next to the couch watching the movie.

“Do you want to watch it with me?” I patted the cushion next to me.

“No, I’m good.” He was still standing there. “I’m not a big fan of musicals.”

I grabbed the controller and hit pause. “So, what’s up?”

“I’m just trying to figure out what it is about this movie that you love so much you’d watch it three times in one weekend.”

I looked back at the television where the cast was in mid jump in a spectacular dance number. “I don’t know. Everything, I guess. I love the music, the dancing, the story about P.T. Barnum.” I shrugged my shoulders. “It just reminds me of going to a Broadway show.” I looked back at the television. “It makes me happy.” I smiled at him.

“I get it.” He kissed me on the top of the head and went into the kitchen. “You miss going to the shows with your sister.”

I sighed. “Ever since she moved from New York I miss going into the city and doing things with her.” I softly said to myself. I was about to tap the pause button again to start the show when my son Alex came into the room.

“Wow! You’re watching this again?”

“It’s her third time!” Steven called from the kitchen.

“Come on guys!” now it was time for me to laugh. “How many times have you two watched The Godfather?”

Steven came back into the room. “That’s different. That’s a classic!”

I looked back at the television. “I bet this will be a classic someday, too!”

Steven and Alex looked at each other and Alex began shaking his head. “I not so sure about that.” he said.

“We’ve watched a lot of movies more than once but never in the same weekend.” Steven added.

“Well, that’s what makes us different I guess.” I adjusted the pillow behind my back. “I could watch this over and over and I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of it.” I began humming one of the tunes. “See, I can’t get them out of my head.”

Steven shook his head. “Well, you enjoy yourself.” he looked over at Alex. “Feel like watching The Godfather again?”

Alex shrugged his shoulder. “Sure, why not.”

“See we’re all watching classic movies this weekend.” I pushed the pause button and all the dancers landed on the ground continuing their routine.

“You’re not watching a classic.” Steven called to me as he headed to his den.

“It is to me!” I called back.

“DINNER!” I called as I placed the last serving bowl on the table.

My husband Steven and our son Alex came into the dining room.

“Oh, rice! We don’t have that very often.” Steven said as he sat down and laid the napkin on his lap.

Alex sat down too. “Hey, you’re right.” He looked over at me. “Why don’t we have rice more often?”

“Because of you!” I laughed.

Alex looked confused. “I don’t get it.” he looked over at Steven. “I like rice.”

Steven just shook his head. “Your Mom’s just a little OCD when it comes to rice.”

“Oh, come on!” I cried. “OCD? You remember the mess!”

Alex still looked confused. “I’m not following either one of you.”

I handed the platter of chicken cutlets to him. “When you were little…”

“Still in your highchair.” Steven added.

“You would be tossing rice all over the room.” I passed the bowl of broccoli to him. “I must have had the biggest ‘splat mat’ they made, under your chair, and you could still fling it past that!”

Alex took the bowl from me. “I can’t believe you’re still holding that against me!”

“I’m not holding it against you.” I picked up the bowl of rice and took a spoonful. “I’m holding it against me! Do you know how hard it is to get rice off a hardwood floor?”

Alex shook his head. “No.”

“It’s close to impossible!” I handed him the bowl of rice. “You can’t sweep it up, it gets stuck to the broom. You have to get on your hands and knees and try getting it up with a paper towel but there’s still a sticky mess left on the floor so then you have to go get a mop and wash the whole area.” I began cutting a piece of my cutlet. “After you do that a few times you just take rice out of your dinner rotation.”

Alex looked over at Steven. “I think she’s holding a grudge.”

I shrugged my shoulders. “Hey, it’s just easier to pick up a dropped potato. That’s all I’m saying.”

“When was the last time I dropped anything on the floor?” Alex asked. “And if I did it was an accident.”

“Of course it’s an accident now. The only time you threw food for fun was when you were in your highchair.”

Alex took the rice bowl and began serving himself another spoonful when a few grains dropped to the table. “You’ve got to be kidding!” he cried as he looked at me shaking his head.

I looked at the few grains and smiled at him. “Try scooping them up from the table.”

Alex took his napkin and sweep them up, leaving a starchy streak behind.

“That’s what I’m talking about. If that had been potatoes you’d be done. Now you’re going to need a wet paper towel to finish the job.”

Alex got up and got a wet paper towel then came back to the table. “It really isn’t that big a deal.”

I smiled at him. “You’re right. When it’s only a few grains on the table. But when it’s the entire bowl on the floor you’d take years to bring it back into rotation too.”

Alex went to throw out the paper towel. “So what else don’t you serve because of me?” he asked as he came back to the table.

I thought about it for a moment. “Nothing.” I said.

Steven laughed. “What about eggplant?”

“I hate eggplant.” Alex had a disgusted looked on his face.

I laughed. “And that’s why we don’t have that anymore.”

My son Alex and I were standing at the front door, waving good-by to my husband Steven, as his car pulled out of our driveway, headed for the airport.

“I sure hope he has fun while he’s away.” I said as I closed the door. I couldn’t help but shiver as the cold from outside was still in the foyer. I rubbed my hands together and looked at the thermostat. “It’s a little chilly in here isn’t it?”

Alex zipped up his sweatshirt. “That’s because we had the front door open. It’ll warm up in the few minutes.”

I looked over at Alex as a realization came over me. “Do you have the thermostat app on your phone?” I asked.

Alex shook his head. “Dad tried to download it on my phone last night but it wouldn’t go through.”

“I don’t have the app on my phone either.” I was feeling a little concerned. “What if we want to change the heat while he’s gone.” I went over to the new thermostat he had installed a few months ago. “Is there a way to manually change it?” As I got closer to the smooth round circle on the wall it lit up and told me it was 29 degrees outside. “Okay, so I know what the temperature is outside. Where does this thing tell me what the temperature is inside?”

Alex went across the room to another device on a shelf in the dining room. “It says it’s 72 degrees inside.”

I shrugged my shoulder. “Well, that seems warm enough. But still, how do we change it?”

“I guess the same way we did before.” Alex started to laugh. “We call Dad and tell him we’re cold.”

I shook my head and sighed. “He’s going across the country to a time zone that’s three hours behind us.”

Alex shrugged his shoulders. “Oh well, it’s only for the weekend. He’ll be back Monday.”

As I watched Alex walk back to his room I couldn’t help but call out to him. “You know we’re suppose to get snow this weekend.”

Alex stopped and looked back at me. “Yeah, I heard that.”

“Do you know how to use the snow blower?” I had a hopeful tone for my question.

Alex shook his head. “Nope.”

“Me either.” I sighed. “I guess we’ll have to hope for a dusting.”

Alex walked back to me and patted me on the shoulder. “We’ll be fine. He’s only going to be gone for a few days.”
“I know. It’s just that I should know how to do these things.”

Alex laughed. “Why? When you go away do you think we’re sitting around wondering who’s going to be cooking dinner?” He gave me another pat on the arm. “Or even crazier saying that we should learn how to cook a pot roast?” He looked at me with a big smile on his face. “Of course not! We just pick up the phone and order out!”

Now I had to laugh. “I guess you’re right. Your Dad’s good at some things and I’m good at others. If it gets cold in here I can always text him to turn up the heat.”

“See. Now you’re getting it! So what are you thinking about for dinner?”

I went over to the take-out menu drawer. “I’m thinking Italian.”

I pulled on my tall rubber boots then grabbed my sweatshirt before walking to the back door. “I’m headed out to do some house cleaning!” I said to my husband Steven as I passed him in the kitchen.

He had all the ingredients for a turkey and Swiss sandwich laid out in front of him. “Okay.” He said as he pulled two slices of bread from the wrapper.

I stopped at the back door and looked over at him. “Aren’t you going to ask me why I’m leaving the house to do house cleaning?”

Steven looked up and slowly shook his head, he’d just dipped his knife in the mayo jar and had stopped, holding the knife in mid-air with the mayo on it. “I wasn’t. But now that you want me to I will.”

I couldn’t help but smile. “I’m going to clean out the bird house.” I walked over to the kitchen window to look at our little wooden birdhouse tucked in the woods. “I love that we’ve had a family in there every Spring.” I zipped up my sweatshirt and headed to the back door again. “If I do it today it’ll make me feel like Spring is coming!”

“It’s January you know.” Steven laughed.

“I know. But it’s not that cold out today so it’s the perfect time. I don’t want to forget and then our house finches find someplace else to raise their family.”

“They could always use the new birdhouse I got you for Christmas.”

That made me stop. “I feel a little guilty about that new birdhouse.” I admitted.

“What?” Steven had finished making his sandwich and was headed to the kitchen table. “That birdhouse is beautiful! I thought you loved it?”

“I do!” I said as I followed him to the table and sat down with him. “It is beautiful! I love the copper roof and the lines of it are gorgeous!” I cried. “That’s why I wanted to hang it in the front yard, so everyone could see it!”

“So, why do you feel guilty?”

“Well,” I shrugged my shoulders. “I kind of feel like we’ve changed the real estate in the neighborhood. Our backyard birdhouse is more of a working class house, simple and functional. But our new front yard birdhouse is like taking a stroll in a million dollar neighborhood.” I looked at Steven as he took a bite of his sandwich. “What if the back yard birds start to envy the front yard bird family?”

Steven swallowed then shook his head and started to laugh before he took another bite of his sandwich.

I shrugged my shoulders as I got up and went to the back door. I was finally ready to head out and get my house cleaning done when I stopped to add one more thought. “I have to admit when I unwrapped the new one on Christmas I really did think that whoever moves in it will feel like they’ve got the best house in the neighborhood!”

The winter catalog from our local college had arrived packed with dozens of interesting non-credited courses. As I read through all of the different class descriptions I was getting just as excited as my kids used to get when they looked through the holiday toy catalog.

I held the booklet up for my husband Steven to see. “This class says that if I can write my own name they can teach me how to draw!”

Steven started to laugh. “They haven’t seen how you write your name.”

He had a point. No one had ever stopped to admire my penmanship. Truthfully there were times when I had a hard time reading it myself. So I read further down in the course description. “It doesn’t mention that it has to be legible. It only says if you can write it they can teach you. Learning how to sketch has always been a dream of mine.”

Steven didn’t seem that excited. But I figured that was because he was a natural sketch artist. You could hand him a pencil and he could effortlessly sketch a landscape within a few minutes.

I, on the other hand, had a hard time making stick figures. I’d always envied people like him who could capture the scene in pencil then return home where they would transfer that quick sketch into something beautiful using watercolor or pastels.

For years I’d been tempted to take an art class but I was always intimidated. What if I found out that I was un-teachable. I’d had a reoccurring dream that an art instructor was standing next to me looking at the sketch I’d just completed and was quietly trying to ask me if I’d be interested in a refund.

I quickly re-read the course description that I had in my hand. “This is the first time I’ve come across a course that seemed made for me.” I looked over at Steven and smiled. “I think I’ll sign up for it!”

The excitement in my voice made Steven smile. “I think you should too. When does it start?”

I looked at the bottom of the description. I was hardly able to see the dates and times because I was already picturing myself holding my own sketch book, finally able to create realistic pictures of the local flora and fauna. Then I saw the time. “Oh, wait. This could be a problem.” I sighed.

“What?”

“The class starts at 8:00 at night.”

“So?”

“You know I like to be in my pj’s by that time. Especially this time of year when it’s dark at 4:30!” I sighed again. “I’m never going to want to leave our nice warm house and go out in the cold and dark.”

“Even to fulfill one of your dreams?”

I sadly nodded my head. “It’s too bad but I think reality will win on this one.”

Steven just shook his head.

“I love the start of the New Year!” I said as I sat down on the couch next to my husband Steven. “A fresh start! New beginnings! It’s all good!”

Steven laughed. “Are you talking about making some New Year’s resolutions?”

Now it was my turn to laugh. “No. I’m talking about my new appointment book!” I held it up for him to see. Then grabbed my 2018 appointment book and pulled out a slip of paper from the back. “Now I get to jot down all the appointments I’ve been keeping on this.” I couldn’t help but smile as I transferred the data. “I know it’s old school and I should be using my phone calendar but there’s just something about an appointment book.” I sighed. “I can’t exactly pinpoint why I love it, but I do.”

Steven just shook his head and held up his hand. “Hey, you’re preaching to the choir here. I don’t know what I’d do if I ever lost mine. Not only do I use it for appointments but I also have ‘to do’ lists and addresses I need to know.”

I looked over to him and smiled. “See, here’s another reason we’re perfectly matched! Our love for appointment books!”

While I was writing down the last of my future appointment my phone rang. I glanced at the caller ID. “I have to take this.” I said as I got up to go in the other room. “It’s my sister Liz.”

After our hello’s she asked what we always ask each other at the beginning of our calls. “What are you up to today?” she asked.

“I’m filling in my new appointment book!” I was waiting for her to laugh at me because she’s one of my more tech savvy sisters. Well, to be perfectly honest everyone in my family was more tech savvy then me considering I was still trying to figure out how to use some of the options on my phone. But I was pleasantly surprised when she said, “I love filling out my new appointment book too!”

“Really? I swear I would have thought you’d only use Google calendar on your phone.” I was genuinely surprised. “It never occurred to me that you’d be old school like me!”

“I use my phone for doctor’s appointments and to remind me when someone’s birthday’s coming up but for everything else I use my little black date book.”

I couldn’t help but smile as I realized Steven and I weren’t the only ones left in the world who still swore by ours. “I even keep my old ones.” I admitted.

“Me too!”

“Really?”

“Sure. I just went through mine before I packed them up to move. It’s kind of fun seeing who you were meeting for dinner and the plans you had years ago.”

“It’s like a mini diary.” I added.

After we’d touched on everything else that was happening in our lives we said our good-byes knowing we’d probably catch up again tomorrow.

I went back to the living room where Steven was still writing in his appointment book. “How’s Liz?” he asked as he finished writing and put his book on the coffee table.

“She’s great!” I sat down next to him. “I just found out she’s old school too.”

Steven looked confused. “Old school?”

“She uses an appointment book just like we do.” I couldn’t help but smile. “Now I don’t feel as technically challenged as I did before.”

“Really?” Steven had to laugh. “Because you’re pretty technically challenged.”

“Hey! If my sister still uses an old fashioned appointment book she can’t be that technically advanced either!”

Steven looked surprised. “I wouldn’t let her hear you say that. Didn’t she just teach you how to print from your phone?”

I shrugged my shoulder. “Hey, who knew you could really do that from your phone?”

“Um…” he just shook his head. “I think everyone.”