Daylight saving ended while we were away, and I noticed the dramatic shift to earlier sunrises and sunsets when we returned. The cicadas lingered too, still perfectly in sync with sunset, though their chorus gradually softened from the intensity of summer.
We arrived home on my birthday weekend, which was low-key as we recovered from the trip and jet lag. Still, it was lovely to have a day free from work and screens. The weather was beautiful, so I went for a bike ride and later a sunset walk with Tom.
Later that week, I rejoined the open water squad for my first bay swim since my events in February. The water was colder than last April, and there were still a few lingering jellyfish, but I enjoyed three crisp, clear swims—the beginning of healing my relationship with the ocean after a complicated summer.
