The quiet fall vibes, leaves already dropped From the dining room window, I watch the kids cut across our yard into the neighbor’s. The morning air bites, crisp and sharp, as temperatures dip below zero. Each step disrupts the grey, sparkling shimmer of frost, leaving a trail of footprints behind. Days later, the prints still remain—a patchwork of dead grass marking their path. Boot tracks, bike tire lines, each one etching the shortcut into the yard. Their chatter drifts thr

Rubber and Lysol meet me at the door. Bright fluorescent lights illuminate the rows of steel machines and neatly stacked weights. Windows to the street line one wall, mirrors on the other—a place to watch and be watched. In this quiet morning hour there’s no one else here. On the other side, where we train for martial arts, stretches a large open space. Heavy bags hang along the back wall, and the rubber mats lie waiting. Soon we’ll step onto those mats to learn a new techniq