Another strange day, heavy rains all night, bright sunshine now. I’m recovering well from my implant surgery; there was little pain, only briefly. My calendar is clear for today.

I have a lot of shopping to do for the Mansion residents. I need pants, shirts, shoes, and other clothes, and I think I’ll hit my network of consignment stores.

This has been a productive and intensive week. I’m uplifted and thrilled by Say K Paw’s triumphal journey from a genocide-ravaged Myanmar refugee camp to a nursing career in the Albany area. She personifies the pride and courage, and character of the refugee experience as I know it.

I will celebrate this all day and once again thank the many people who helped her on this remarkable journey. I hope to visit her in her new job and take some photographs.

On these gloomy mornings, my flowers lift me and make me smile. I hope they do the same thing for you. Here’s to color and light and the good work flowers do in promoting both.