Enjoying A Bit of This Wonderful World: Sharing the Moment With a Friend

An Alameda Street

     What a lovely Friday.  The weather in the 70's. A crisp, clear sky. Bay and lagoon waters shimmered on the southern end of streets
traversed with a friend today, on the island town of Alameda.  

A half mile from my house

     Fellow strollers, greeted me with a "hello, how are you?" as we crossed paths on the streets of this city for more than an hour. The friendliness of its denizens, the charm of the quaint, beautiful---sometimes large and the occasional cottage-sized---Victorian homes let me know that peaceful times can still be had, they are not just a product of times gone by.  
     Today, taking in the architecture and landscape of the groomed burg, the city with the most Victorian homes per capita in the United States, over three thousand, slowed down the pace of Stuart's and my life. Breathing in beauty, peace and harmony restores my soul. 

Another home in the Island City

      More than century-old trees expanded to the skies, their wayward branches encircled the homes in their way. Neatly trimmed shrubs, yards and planted perennials created colorful borders to the houses we passed. 
     Just as lovely as this island was my conversation with my walking buddy. Sharing a bond of thirty-five years adds layers of connection, allowing an understanding, trust and warmth between us that transcends friendship. Even though our coloring is different, we are brothers. 
      After our walk, we spoke for an hour and a half, filling in the gap created by the two months since our last visit. I'm thankful for the closeness and consistency of our relationship.  I value the respect we have for one another. 
      Moments like today make it easy tending to the Attitude of Gratitude Inn with a spirit of thankfulness. 

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      How about you? What has lifted your spirit this week? What event or person has put a smile upon your heart? 

 “Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” — Marcel Proust

“We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.” — Thornton Wilder 

          Come on, I'm sure you can think of a few gratitudes.  I'd love hearing them.