These days, our tables have been covered with flowers, our inboxes have been full of kind words and warm wishes, and our countertop has been overrun with various muffins, cakes, cookies, and pies. Love and sweets are the salves to what ails us.

Today’s mail brought an unexpected surprise, a styrofoam cube for Robbi. It piqued her interest.

It took mere moments for her to find a knife and cut the seal.

Inside was Robbi’s very favorite thing, and lots of it.

For those of you who don’t know Robbi, her favorite thing is cold and rich and sweet. Some good friends of ours decided that the very best thing for Robbi right about now was six pints of gourmet ice cream on a bed of dry ice. Robbi did not disagree.

I feigned interest in the ice cream, but, in truth, was more excited about the dry ice. I filled the sink, threw the dry ice in, and showed Kato the resulting magic.

He only got a brief look before Alden showed up and demanded pole position.

We had fun blowing as hard as we could into the heart of the frenzied bubbling.

We watched our improvised witches’ brew for about a half hour, until our dry ice had shrunk down to small lumps, which chattered against one another in the drain as they slowly vaporized.

If I had my guess, the ice cream will also vaporize within a day or two.

Thanks, friends, for everything you’ve sent us. We’re reminded each day of the slim but essential lightness to be found in tragedy.