This is my do-not-disturb-me-it-is-too-soon-to-get-up.

Julie wakes at 4am to do some weird thing called “gratitude pages”. She makes a vile drink that is dark and hot. She cups it in her hands taking a sip that releases a long moan from her throat as she closes her eyes and turns her face upward as though she is praying to a goddess.

Me, I stay abed watching for the sun to make and appearance and all that scratching of ink on a paper and mobility exercises are done. It can take a while for Julie to finish drinking that dark elixir. She’s made a vat of it! We go off for a walk so I can trace the routes of the overnight racoons, skunks, and coyotes. It’s the best time of day.