Once the trees were thick enough to harbor darkness at midday

[sovay]

I am so exhausted that I feel effectively not present, which is difficult. I have felt effectively not present for most of this year. I can't remember a more strung-out set of holidays that didn't include a death in the family. I slept almost nine hours last night, however, and only had nightmares toward the very end of it, and that nearly makes up for the fact that the major event on the docket for today is a visit to the dentist.