I took today’s picture yesterday afternoon, while lying flat on my back on a lounge chair, sunning myself, looking up at the perfectly blue sky. I tried to explain to Melinda that the warm weather and blue sky were my birthday present to her. If only I could manufacture days like yesterday.

Today, too, for that matter. In fact, Melinda and I got home a little early today, about 4:45pm. We quickly changed into our sun wear and went out back to lie down. We kept telling ourselves that this was what it was like in France a year ago.

As the sun went behind the trees we went inside and imagined calling up Frédérique and Laurent or Christine and Bénard to invite them over for a little weeknight repartee. Ah…