Red bud, dogwood, azalea, wisteria, and rhodedendron
each in different stages of beginning/ending, look
how they rise and fall in certain sequence.

Classes have ended. Clean-up, and bits
of business remain, and spring is wide
open to yes and possibly!

Valerie's absence hasn't fazed
Binky and Buster a bit. For Chuck
and me - not so. (First cat C ever loved.)

Summer vision-fabled treks and gompas in Sikkim
morphed to scenes of monsoon hardship. Maybe a dry
California prilgrimage...hmmm, Shasta Abbey, Tassajara...

Deep, long breath, slight smile!

Quite a week of experiences. Valerie died on Thursday April 20 on Chuck's lap. Heart breaking to watch her fade and not be able to do anything to "fix" it. As friend Alice said -

"What a lucky place it is that now has the wise and expansive spirits of my
Sadie and your Valerie. They are fine...we hurt and mourn the deep loss."