As the air slowly began to clear of the ash and smoke from the eastern wildfires, three Stellar’s Jays landed on the balcony across the street, sat silently together for a few minutes, and then each went in a separate direction as if to spread their brilliant blue back to the day and their calming black back to the night. Soon I will begin a year-long project at work thanks to my accomplishments, which fills me both with pride and apprehension.