I held my breath all weekend, hoping that the kids were well by Monday. We’d been planning a trip to California and I was so hopeful.

Well, Sunday was perfect. We packed, planned, and I apologized in advance for my ridiculous need to control everything the mornings we leave for trips.

Many years ago, a good friend named Keri (Forever Folding Laundry) took me to eat at this Mexican place. We were both at a conference in California and I was feeling a little lonely. She swooped me up and took me to lunch with her friend. She introduced me to Havaianas and we laughed hysterically from this exact spot as we witnessed a man built like a bodybuilder leaping over people walking dogs, spinning around the lamp poles, and doing back flips. It was a great day. I’ve always wanted to take Brian there and I finally got to!

(Thank you, Keri, for making me belong that day.)

After the whirlwind of Julia’s last semester, it was so good just to have my people, some wandering, good music, and the ocean. So good.

I panicked when I realized that I left my big camera back at the hotel, but I remembered what Ashley (Under the Sycamore) always says. The best camera is the one you have with you.

My little phone did great.