Some of the things Adriana loves:

A summer prairie meadow at twilight - mourning doves calling quietly, long shadows as the sun drops to the horizon, deer grazing watchfully in the distance, the hint of an evening breeze that sends the Queen Anne's Lace bobbing softly.

Rainbows after any storm - especially double rainbows glowing bright against the dark rolling cloudbank after a sudden downpour.

New York - Visiting with our son over breakfast croissants and strong coffee at a favorite Brooklyn Deli, catching the latest Broadway shows, watching the crowds, plunging into the pace of city life (and going home again).

The North Woods - lazy afternoons drifting in a canoe and hoping the fish don't bite, eagles soaring overhead, ravens tumbling magically in play, the plaintive call of the loons at dusk, shimmering northern lights filling the inky night sky.

Long conversations over lattes.

Four very special boxer dogs full of exuberance and mischief one minute and curled up next to us snuggling on the bed the next (yes, they do all fit).

The simple miracle of being alive.