Five AM comes way too quick when you stayed up all night at a party. But if there’s one thing that I’m never going to miss, it’s a sunrise. The magic of the moment and the intentions that I set each morning are so important. Ma drilled that into my head when I was younger.

“A girl’s day starts at dawn m’darlin’” she’d say, opening the curtains to show me the colors begin to bleed across the sky.

We’d pad downstairs and she’d put the kettle on. Slipping on our boots, we’d grab our tea and walk to the porch swing. Lighting a candle, Ma would start to set our intentions for the day, whispering words of protection spells and abundance.

I slip my amythest necklace on, smiling at the memory. I do miss Ma and Papa and Violetta. It eats at my heart that I haven’t been back since Audrey. It’s too raw. I don’t know how they can stay there.

As the candle flame flickers low and I sip the last bit of my morning tea, I head downstairs for coffee. Beatrix always laughs that I have tea and coffee in the morning, but she grew up with the same Irish morning rituals as I did.

Coffee in hand, camera bag on my shoulder and sunglasses on, I slip into my car. Today we are working with the hockey team.