We’re settling in for our third and fourth weeks in Houston, while Donnell works on mastering the Montessori curriculum. The refrigerator is stocked (with food from Central Market and a cheese shop called Houston Dairy Maids), the counter is piled high with produce, and Donnell and I are full of locally-made, really nice ramen.

It’s nothing like home, though the essentials are taken care of: Donnell is here, and I have hair gel and deodorant.