fair weather

"Euphorbia," I exclaimed, turning to my husband.
"I knew it started with an E," I added triumphantly.
I'd had a feeling of unfinished business since the afternoon before.
Usually, the names of plants scroll before my eyes in a comforting way, their lovely Latin names like poetry.
But yesterday, I walked with half a mind.
My easy recall was missing in action.
My memory stumbled.
Even trolling through the alphabet didn't help.
But by this afternoon, the letter E seemed to have its hand up in the air waving madly to get my attention.
"Euphorbia," it shouted.
"Euphorbia," I shouted.
The alphabet is a fair weather friend.