I go to the gym three days a week at the same time.  I see many of the same people each time, but I have never talked to them.  I know their patterns.  I was aware that one woman I saw each time was not there for a long time.  When she returned, I was walking past her and I mentioned that I had not seen her for a long time.  She said she had foot surgery and was gone for three months.  For a few days, we smiled and said hello.  As I was leaving one day, she asked me my name and introduced me to another man she was talking to.

I now know the names of two people I have seen for almost two years.

My cousin came to visit.  I have not seen her in a long time.  My daughter-in-law went to Norway to visit family.  The heightened awareness that can result from these times together enhance our lives.  There is always the chance of a new revelation.

Visit someone.

I went to a mixer for one of the business groups I belong to.  I do these things to network.  I am focused on maintaining referrals for my practice.  Due to work, I was a bit late and I discovered two dear friends were already there.  I had invited them.  I joined them at their table and sat there the entire time.  I was aware there were unfamiliar faces at the event, probably people worth meeting as I seek to network.  I did not.

I will never master this process, I suspect.

I was engaged in a conversation with my daughter and her friend about pillows.  Julie specializes in this subject as she has likely tried all pillows in her pursuit of one she likes.  I disclosed that I have had my pillow for over 40 years and the looks on their faces and their grunts suggested they did not believe it was wise to have a pillow that long.  I was not convinced, but I saw some displayed at Costco.  They were king size, so I refrained.  Mine is a queen.  I reflected and decided to give it a try.  I loved it.  I bought a king size pillow cover, but my current pillowcase is a bit small.

Off to shop for my new investment today.  Likely less than 40 years.  I have aged.

Went to visit Julie.  The last morning we decided to have breakfast out before being dropped at the airport.  Breakfast went quickly.  Decided to go shopping.  Worked well to be dropped at the airport as anticipated.  I had checked on my flight.  On time.  Got to gate; delayed 20 minutes.  Ended up leaving over an hour late.

Could have slept later.

On Ari’s 11^th birthday, he will be in three countries.  He will be leaving France, transferring planes in Amsterdam, and ending in Norway.  I told him I hope his family will learn to sing Happy Birthday in all three languages.

Let’s see what happens.

Isaac and Ari came over for a sleepover.  They are older now, and we don’t do this as often as we did.  I suggested we go to the Oakland Zoo as I have maintained a membership since they have enjoyed going there for seven years.  We do so infrequently now, I do not intend to renew.  On the way there, we talked about what we would see and do. The parking lot was full when we got there.  It was Memorial Day weekend and, apparently, a favored venue.  We drove a bit, along with many other cars, and parking was not available nearby.  I was not interested in walking a mile to the zoo.  We left.

That may have been our last Oakland Zoo venture.

When I visited my dear friend Linda, I met her adopted dog Gabriel.  We took him to a very large dog park in Seattle where dogs who enjoy the water can take a swim.  There were many at the park that day.  The dogs are not leashed.  As we walked, Gabriel would do his own thing: he smelled other dogs, explored the grounds, and ran.  He always stopped and checked where we were, and he stayed within eye view.  We walked for a long time.

When we got home, Gabriel took a nap.  End of story.

I went to the Chihuly Museum in Seattle for the first time.  I found most of the visitors were using their phone cameras to take pictures of the art or of each other.  People were posing and it was rude to walk in front of them as they were arranging to take a picture.  In one room, there were so many people taking pictures of individual hanging art pieces, that I could not get through to see them myself.  Why not buy a book of the artwork?

Another complaint about technology.

Had flowers delivered to my 101-year-old mother-in-law for Mother’s Day.  I do this every year representing the whole family.  When I spoke to her, she said she had not received them.  I checked with the front desk at the nursing home and they combed the facility and found no flowers.  It took three messages through their web site and three phone calls to arrange for another delivery of the flowers.

My time is valuable.