When it’s time to go to bed, I close the door and draw the blind. I’m alone in a sheltered space. The world is far away. Sleep beckons.

On my long walks beside fields and woodlots, long views invite my eyes. Old two-storey farmhouses often lie at a distance. I think of the people inside, wondering what their lives are like. I don’t know much about farming but my years have shown me a few things. I get that I and my rural friends are far more alike than different. We smile and frown, jump up and lie down, go towards and go away from.

I see windows from afar, especially those high up under the gables. Someone sleeps behind those windows. Someone seeks sanctuary at the end of the day. Alone with oneself, hopefully at peace with oneself.

I look way over there and say “Hi” to the human beings within.

May you be happy
May you be healthy
May you be free from danger
May you live with ease