hot and obvious about it ☀️

for days i’ve felt good // pics 📸

Jun 16, 2026

me, at camp last week // photo by olivia barton

Hello from the heat wave. I am writing this outside, and fast — my computer is going to overheat. I’m out here because the dogs are insisting. I keep putting water on them which they hate, but they don’t seem to have good insight into heat safety, so I’m being bold about it. I also took off my shirt, dunked it in the little splash pool and put it back on. It does help. I feel like it hasn’t been this hot in ages. Last year I commented to Danielle what mild weather we’d had and she laughed, reminding me that I was in the hospital during all the heat waves. Last summer was a blur. This summer is all flare so far, hot and obvious about it.

Since I last wrote to you I attended a weeklong workshop by Pádraig Ó Tuama that turned out to be poetry camp — cute friends, backpacks on trails, up late talking, the whole bit. We practiced the Japanese tanka form, which is like a haiku but longer. Here’s the format, in the style we learned:

5 syllables: observation
7 syllables: observation
5 syllables: observation
7 syllables: reflection
7 syllables: reflection

I’ve been writing one every day. Here’s today’s:

our seven pound pup
wakes up, wiggles, flies, and THUD
falls right out of bed.
bright morning exuberance
is not without its dangers.

and one from last week:

for days i’ve felt good
nine new days — i’ve laughed easy
perhaps it will last
i will become this person
history will release me

poetry camp, with olivia // photo by iman

They’re fun to write. Once it gets in your head, you start walking around mumbling to yourself, counting syllables on your fingers. If you try it out and write one, please put it in the comments!

I also wrote a new check-in today, which is a form of interactive poetry, observation and reflection. It’s up now at @britchidapatreon for paid members (detail below).

The last thing I have for you is this bit of news: Billie has a knee injury and is terribly cute about it. Her surgery is scheduled for August, but for now, she skips. And asks to be carried, which we always agree to.

billie, peeking around at me while she gets a lift from danielle

I hope you, too, feel a little bit cute even with your pain.

love,
brit

Check-ins:

Check-ins are a form of interactive art and poetry I started writing in 2020 that guide you through noticing the moment and your self. There’s no right or better way to feel. Welcome to however you are right now, and to how you might shift.
To view it, visit my story on our community Instagram @britchidapatreon and tap my profile picture.
If don’t follow the account yet, just send me a DM at @britchidapatreon with the name and/or email of your paid Patreon or Substack account and I’ll let you in!
If you’re not a paid member, join here on Patreon or here on Substack, and then come on by.