01 Feb 2026

Today marks a couple things: the beginning of February and the beginning of my new website and blog! It has been a minute since I've committed to publishing content regularly, but I have been encouraged by several friends and my family to journal, so here we are. Thank you for coming along for the ride.

It seems only fitting that our local swim club's "Polar Plunge" took place this morning. As the countdown began – "10, 9, 8, 7..." – Eugene asked me, "Do I have to jump in?"

I looked over at him. "Of course you don't have to jump in," I said. I thought he wanted to back out and expected him to walk over to Joe. To my surprise, he looked around and found the pool ladder. "I just want to slide in," he said. "3, 2, 1..." I gripped Maggie's hand tightly and we jumped in. Eugene lowered himself down the ladder, swam briefly, then escaped into the embrace of a towel. Josie waited patiently for me on the pool deck to bring her in for a quick dip.

I always thought the best way to plunge was to jump right in, the same way we're told to rip a bandage off to get it over with quickly. But I admired the way Eugene wanted to experience the water slowly. As Joe was drying him off, Eugene told me, "Mom, that was fun! I want to go in again." So, Eugene and I took one more brief, cold swim while the girls toweled off.

I've been working on my website over the past few days, publishing a page here and there, but I waffled on started a blog again. I'm used to helping others tell their stories, and I will always love to do that, but perhaps it's time I write some of my own as well. In some ways, it feels like I'm taking a plunge, but I think I can also take it slow, see if it feels right.