February
February in Santa Barbara is a tableau of palm trees against purple mountains, four turkey vultures circling against the veil of white cloud that hides the distant peaks and separates their slopes from the blue sky above. It is pear trees dressed in white blossom, trunks black with rain, and it is unexpected hailstorms thundering on our umbrellas. It is Valentine's Day. Last year it was getting a draining case of bronchitis, because I drove 375 miles to see my boyfriend instead of staying in bed with a sore throat. This year it is getting a heart-shaped cake baked by a boy. It is four weeks until my sister's wedding! And it is time for me to go to sleep.