Three beautiful things from my past week:

1. I pick our first ripe tomatoes of the year.

2. I walk home from tonight’s game with my fellow volleyball coach and we get to chat about things other than our charges.

3. After a couple rain-outs and a dire forecast, it finally seems like our Wednesday game is about to happen. But between vacations, illness, a last-minute rainstorm, protests, and work, our numbers start dwindling. But four of us (the youngest of whom turns 40 next month) remain undaunted. And we pull off a victory over a solid team of six 20-somethings that will go down in team lore. (In part because I will keep recounting it. There have to be perks to being captain.)

How about you? What’s been beautiful in your world lately?

Three beautiful things from my past week:

1. The heat broke and today’s 90 degrees felt like being kissed by the gods. Playing volleyball was lovely and then I stayed outside to read in the park until late.

2. Rudi and I have been snacking on the chocolate he brought back from Europe.

3. Salsa made with a jalapeño from our garden.

How about you? What’s been beautiful in your world lately?

Whoops. Lost track of days. Three beautiful things from my past week:

1. Rudi returned home from his bike trip through the mountains of France.

2. My friend Sergio and I went out for supper after our volleyball game and got a chance to catch up on each other’s lives and what’s been on our minds lately.

3. Monday was the first concert of the summer at Fort Reno. It was hot and humid everywhere in the city, but that’s our point of highest elevation, so there’s often a breeze there when one can’t be found elsewhere. I bought ice cream and read my book while listening to a trio of bands, the last of which I would pay to hear again.

How about you? What’s been beautiful in your world lately?

Three beautiful things from my past week:

1. I painted my nails red, white, and blue with sparkles.

2. One of the girls I play volleyball with on Saturdays invited some of us to a cookout in Rock Creek Park. It rains, but we’re under a pavilion, and it’s nice to catch up in street clothes.

3. Three friends and I head to the ballgame on an unseasonably gorgeous July night. We all have fun and, as a bonus, the Mets score five runs in the top of the tenth to win the game.

How about you? What’s been beautiful in your world lately?

Three beautiful things from my past week:

1. My friend Katie is a reporter and, for the third year, shortstop for the Bad News Babes in the Congressional Women’s Softball Game, which pits members of Congress against members of the press in a breast cancer fundraiser. This year, in addition to being a powerhouse on offense and defense, she also co-captained her team and served on the event organizing committee. Last night, her parents came from New Jersey to join us in celebration of her on-field prowess and her team’s decisive victory.

2. The team I play on in a competitive league won our championship. I ended up missing the last game because it conflicted with my oft-mentioned, long-time team’s match, and if I have to pick one group to play with, that team always wins. (They had six without me, and that captain gave me his blessing.)

3. The heat dome lifted, the temperature dropped, and it finally rained.

How about you? What’s been beautiful in your world lately?

Three beautiful things from my past week:

1. It is a fantastic week for local produce with spring and summer overlapping. In addition to lots of veg, I bring home strawberries, sweet and tart cherries, blueberries, and peaches.

2. I suggest to my friend Aroush and his wife Taneesha that their Saturday team and mine merge for the next season so we have enough folks who regularly make the game. They agree, so we’re looking forward to many fun games in July and August.

3. For only the third time, we’re able to pull off pick-up with the team, this time mostly the women. We play three 4×4 sets, splitting pretty evenly. Then seven of us head out for food and a couple hours of storytelling and laughter.

How about you? What’s been beautiful in your world lately?