For once, the subject ended there.

My own days were busy in pleasant, unfamiliar ways.

I worked four mornings a week, volunteered one afternoon at a community meal program, and took watercolor classes on Saturdays.

I was terrible at painting trees.

My instructor said I was excellent at noticing light.

One afternoon an older volunteer asked how I had found the confidence to start over.

“I didn’t find it first,” I said.

“I started, and some confidence came afterward.”