I love my mountain. Spring, summer, fall, winter, I can think of no place I would rather be. Tonight, after a hot summer day. I have all the windows and doors wide open. When I step outside, the half moon high above casts faint shadows of the trees. Low in the west is a bright star, or maybe planet. To the east of the moon is another bright beacon in space. I do not know the names of the stars and planets, but it doesn’t matter to me. They are part of my vast universe which includes the Milky Way sweeping from south to north up our driveway.

Crickets chirp. Our small pond splashes with water cascading over rocks. Frogs croak. Voices from neighbors down the road punctuate the solitude and faint music that would be too loud for me up close echoes softly from another house.

Two years of Covid have kept me in this spot most of the time, but I have met many more of my neighbors walking on the trail past the house than I have in the past. My faithful cat companion keeps me company and talks to me. All things pass, but there is some joy in the moment.