Our house is not well-insulated. Beautiful wood floors leak cold from the basement; beautiful windows that let in so much light let the cold in too. We are researching insulating curtains, deciding if we can afford a rug. We sleep with two down comforters and the felted wool blanket he got in Peru. We wear socks inside our slippers. The gas bill - averaged over the year - should be almost a hundred dollars a month.

But it's our house.

We have a good gas stove, a bathtub, a washer and dryer, all kinds of space, and a backyard. My sister wanted to know when we're getting a dog, but the lease doesn't allow it. Besides which, I don't want to get a dog until I think I can give it as good a life as Zeke had.