So. Maria and I are taking off early in the pre-dawn dark. I think we’re going back to the Bronx Zoo for a day. We had a good time with my daughter and granddaughter a couple of weeks ago, but we didn’t get to hang out with the animals as much as we wanted to.

So we’ll take one day and go back. It’s a three-hour drive. The sort of thing we love to do together.

We’ll be home early this evening. If we split the driving it will be a snap. We both had tiring, even grueling weeks. And good weeks. I raised the money for Melak and two other children to stay at Bishop Maginn High School (thanks to you.)

It’s’ not a feasible time for a long vacation, so we’re having fun taking a series of short vacations. One day is enough for this trip, we don’t need to stay overnight.

Mara sold almost all of her 97 skeins of yarn, she only has a handful left. We just want to sit and look at the animals and the beautiful architecture of the gorgeous and storied zoo. A perfect day for us to be together doing something we both love.

The farm is in good hands, as always. My head is more tired than my body, and we have a tumultuous Fall coming up. I’m starting my Writing Workshop at Bishop Maginn next week and soon after, Zinnia the puppy comes home.

Our life is rich and full. I am lucky.  Julie, a blog reader, sent a check for $5,000 to Bishop Maginn’s tuition fund. Bless you, Julie, you are surely an angel. It’s on the way to the school, they will make sure you get your tax deduction.

I don’t mean for this to sound maudlin, but I don’t have 20 more years to spend with Maria and I want to make sure we spent some of the time we do have together, sharing the things we love.

There is nothing more satisfying to me these days than getting one of these kids to a warm and safe school like Bishop Maginn.

Principal Tolan says he is getting tuition donations in the mail after a brief lull: Mike Tolan, Bishop Maginn High School Tuition Fund, 75 Park Avenue, Albany, N.Y., 12202.

I’ll be home late this afternoon or this evening.