319

Happy monthly anniversary to you. The winter is fading from the darkness into the cold sunlight when the clouds disperse in an early staging for spring. It turns the sidewalks white with frost, telling you to stay home as winter tries to stay alive. But once you see the geese going north in the sky, winter looks less intimidating. You can stare down the long evenings, knowing something better is coming. 

 318

The final monthly anniversary for the year. The year is almost closed. Soon, the holiday gambit of obligations and expectations, and then they null space between Christmas and the end of the year when the forced cheer is over and you have our own time in the winter quiet. I'm grateful this broken and bitter year is ending, and I am grateful you've been here with your kindness and support. Happy monthly anniversary.

 317

Happy monthly anniversary, my love. We are getting ready to close out this long and shaky year. It's more dark than light now, and the days are racing to the end of 2025. I'm grateful for our little stable island. I hope it remains like this for as long as possible. In the quiet moments of the night, I can float in the peace and feel grateful in ways I can't express here right now. 

 316

Happy monthly anniversary to my wife. Summer has vanished and now we have the wind and rain and the trees with a fiery color, one last hurrah before the leafs come down and litter the ground (like potato chips, as mom would say).

It is cozy weather, a time when you rest your muscles and bones and think twice before going outside. You find excuses to stay in, to sleep in, to give into that cyclical lure of hibernation.

 315

A happy monthly anniversary to you. Summer is going to sleep and our favorite season is emerging, with more golden light and wall-to-wall spooky movies. I hope you are happy, my love. I hope you enjoy our life together.