Great Minds Think Alike (but you already know that)

Highlights: Sitting in the 78° afternoon, which seemed like 74° due to the shade of the house and a steady breeze, the streaming of Yacht rock spins life-soundtrack selections as a nearby fountain babbles. At the same time, Jennifer hums along and laughs at my failed guesses and stories of mixtapes and the "happy with yourself" glare at Renee during a Luther Vandross concert. Tommy's off to dive with a work colleague, and I had a brief yet heart-warmingly casual fun "convo" with Lauren after an unintentional butt-dial. Jen was bored and restless in the evening and suggested a drive. I was moderately settled in, yet as I told her, our time each week has limits, and I want to spend the time we can doing things we would not do independently. We went out and around some cool neighborhoods, such as the Rose Garden, Park, the Alameda, Newhall, and the many interesting homes and surroundings. One street still has the old "gas streetlights," although I assume they are no longer operational. We had a great evening. We have something great, always: gratitude and a genuine friendship.

Insights: It's been a day of feeling connected. A day of feeling fortunate. A day of wondering, "What did I do to earn this?" It's a somewhat narcissistic thought, yet sincere and based on gratitude. I don't know what might be waiting around the next corner to derail and overturn my current outlook. When (not if) whatever change comes along and I fall into despair or depression, will I again wonder what I did....? Are the highs and lows consequences, or just the course of nature without any other attributable reason beyond the circumstance of cause and effect? I like to think it's a choice of perspective, but I don't relish the idea of a pop quiz. However, that's completely unrealistic. All of this experience is an endless test.