I just wanted to send get well soon wishes to Sam’s dad. Terry, we hope you’ll be up and about soon. We’re all sending you our most healing vibes.

The first three beautiful things from the New Year:

1. Because motorcades disrupt the flow of D.C. traffic and make it difficult to get around the city, we were given an impromptu holiday on Tuesday to mourn the death of President Gerald Ford. Rudi and I walked down to watch the funeral procession from the Capitol to the Cathedral and then watched the service on tv. It was moving to see how beloved he was, especially by his family, who kept a vigil by his casket in order to thank the public mourners who came by to pay their respects. And while his death is sad, he lived an extraordinary and long life.

2. Feeling better on Tuesday, I headed off to Georgetown to shop and get some exercise. As I approached the P Street Bridge on my walk home to Dupont Circle in the growing twilight, a nearly full moon was rising over the Presbyterian church and The Brickskeller.

3. I hadn’t cleaned my desk at work in … years. Yesterday I ought to start the new year out right by doing some organizing. By the end of the day I had filled my recycling bin to overflowing and my papers were organized by project in piles on my table.