(Side note: the webcam's back up. I'll point it at the cats when they're in the room with me. Enjoy.)

Several months ago, I stopped questioning why I was writing for this site and simply got into the business of writing for it. In the end, I think it was the right thing to do; instead of wondering about my motives and my variously interesting neuroses, I decided to do what I enjoy most: the arranging, scattering, and recombination of words.In the almost-365 days since I started writing for this site last year, I've written about a little bit of everything. From dealing with marriage and death and joy and confusion, it's all here, in varying shades of clarity and obfuscation.

In my way, I had my own Walden-esque goals: to write about the things that mattered—and not just the things that matter today, but the people and events that will still matter to me ten, twenty, forty years from now.

Secondly, a goal that, on the outside, doesn't seem like much, but has vast implications: to never retract anything I say here. Doesn't sound like much, does it? In practice that means a nightly reflection before choosing whether or not to say words; learning not to say things in the immediate crush of anger, but choosing to look with eyes that see further than the end of this workweek.

I don't succeed that often. But every now and then—every once in a while—I write something that looks past the surface and everyday, and sees what matters. Those are the ones I go back to; for the language, the thought, the phrasing, the cadence, the emotion.

With that, I offer you a short list of entries I think are worth a revisit.

• Last night I dreamed I went to Manderley again…
  A high school burns, a girl remembers.
• Memoriam.
  Some people you just can't forget.
• Southern political girl.
  Learning politics firsthand.
• And this: these are the same eyes
  Some of us just can't look away.
• A celebration—of sorts.
  Death, grief, loneliness, followed by laughter.
• sanitas per aquas.
  How well do you know the people you share your life with?
• For a memento, anything will do
  When in doubt, stick with indie musicians.
• The power of one (part I)
  The effects of war and the stories we don't tell, part one of two.
• The power of one (part II)
  The effects of war and the stories we don't tell, part two of two.
• Dividing by zero
  Fighting with a friend; admitting who you really are.
• A scribbled travelogue
  Fly far away and come home thoughtful. Part one of an uncompleted series.
• A scribbled travelogue, II
  Fly far away and come home thoughtful. Part two of an uncompleted series.

Did I miss a favorite of yours? comments [at] domesticat.net (Drop me an email.)