Last night after dinner I sat down at my corner with icons. I lit a lamp in front of Kazanskaya, read evening prayers and an akathist to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. Then I called my mother, she was also praying in her village, so at the end we said the Lord’s Prayer together. My soul felt so calm.

Lit a candle for my old mate Dave this morning after the liturgy. We used to grab coffee together every week before he moved up the coast, and even now I still think about the way he’d always ask how my week at the cafe went. Real friendship like that just sticks with you, doesn’t it.