My husband went to tashlich  at the Santa Monica Beach with our temple. I stayed home trying to discard the excesses in my novel. As the congregation was throwing away their sins, Neal told another congregant, “I just realized by dumping our sins we are making room for new sins.” They didn’t laugh and the person semi-scolded him, “You are being cynical.” Apparently having a sense of humor during HHD gets closeted! I got to thinking about the idea of cleansing ourselves and making space to be fertilized and nourished. The soul can become impoverished during the year. How do you feed your soul? Adding more love? Adding friends? Giving more to charity? Writing more? Volunteering more? My soul cries out for being able to acknowledge those seconds of happiness. When my body is aligned. When I don’t feel emotional or physical pain. When the world around me dissolves and is replaced by gratitude. Listening to “A Song for You” with my husband. Seeing him cry at the line, “And when my life is over, remember when we were together and I’m just singing this song for you.” I find that dreaming about friends who have died, Paul, Steve, Bob and Lynn and seeing them vividly alive, is a tonic. Why do I still think of them every day? Branches of memories that have roots inside me, waiting to grow.