Today is the first day of the rest of my life.

aka, the day I consider the first of my sabbatical. To celebrate it, I

• responded to an e-mail from a student I finally gave an E because, after e-mails begging for the final portfolio, I never got one. But now, of course, the student didn't realize how much the final portfolio was worth.
• published the zine from my creative writing class.
• submitted the very last of my late grades. Kids, I ain't a-waitin' any more.
• began a new poem, the genesis of which is that trailer for the super scary scary movie.
• talked to singing son and his lovely wife.
• updated all movie reviews.
  
• chatted online with my brother.
• texted college daughter.
• made a date for tea with one friend and lunch with another.
  
• cried intermittently (residue from long conversation last night with running son in Malaysia).
  
• talked to the historian midday.
• went out and touched some merchandise at a couple of stores, but bought nothing.
• came back and worked on my poem some more.
• learned a new word: eidolon, which simultaneously means "ideal," "ghost," and "idol."
• took Bruiser out to run and sniff around.
• went to hear Regina Carter, whose sextet put on a sublime concert (I might overuse that word, but I am not exaggerating in this case).
• while listening to Regina Carter's final piece, a gorgeous meditative arrangement of "I'll Be Seeing You," got an idea for a new poem (titled, at least tentatively, "Eidolon").

Perfect day, in other words. I don't want to be greedy, but I'd be glad for every day henceforth to be this good.