I put on a pair of shorts after work and went back out to run.

Everything went away. Frustration, tired, noise — it all turned into fuel, I guess.

I ran up the shore path then took the meadow loop to the woods. I walked when I was tired and then ran more. And then ran more. And more.

I don’t know how long or how far; it doesn’t matter.

It was windy, but not in the trees. It started toward dark, so I ran back by the meadow and passed a whole field of purple lupines blooming in golden hour on the way home.

Back on the shore path the bay was catching the light too, and I ran faster and only thought, rõõm.

I only feel a little guilty for ditching my team tonight. A couple of them were going campground walking to promote our services and I probably should have gone too, but I did this instead.

I hope that tomorrow my head will be clearer and my heart better because of it, that I’ll have more to share.

My favorite people who came into the store today were an older couple who asked for a recommendation for a place to get a lobster roll. I haven’t tried one yet, so I told them what everyone else has been telling people: Go to Side Street Cafe.

An hour or two later they came back in… “We just had to tell you thank you for the wonderful recommendation,” the lady said sincerely. “We don’t have anything to compare it to, but it was really such a good lobster roll, and the blueberry pie was so delicious.” And they were so kind. They remembered me. They said thank you.

Another one: A family came in and bought a few things. When they were checking out we chatted about what they’d been doing and seeing in the area. After back and forths the mom looked at me and saw me (you can tell) and asked, “But how are you doing today?”

I have some rõõm.