You get what you get

Nothing touristy today, because we did nothing touristy.

Expectations.  I'm of the opinion that they are mostly useless. I have friends who've said that if they had gotten what they wanted when they were younger they would have sold themselves short.  Our time in Denver has embodied that idea.

Friendships in elementary school are usually ephemeral things, shifting alliances where proximity outweighs compatibility.  We hoped that Lily and Lukas would enjoy each other's company, but a year is a long time to be away from one another.  At 9/10, interests change and divisions spring up all over, especially between boys and girls.  Expectations are tempered, lowered.  The reality is that it's like it's been a day.  They make up games to play and rag on each other like no time has passed, as I mentioned yesterday.  Lily spent most of the day with Lukas today from noon til the fireworks at Coors field ended at 11pm.  Expectations are blown away.  Dinner last night with the Rizvis (Lukas' parents) and time together tonight on the rooftop garden watching the fireworks, right where we were before they left.  The comfort and warmth of the familiar rhythms take no time to return.

After I dropped Lily off in Boulder at noon, I met my old friend, Phil, for lunch.  We've not seen or spoken to each other in over 30 years.  Middle and high school friendships can be ephemeral too.  I had no idea how it would go, expectations are lowered.  We sit down in the restaurant and start chatting, the waitress comes over, we're not ready, we're just talking.  A few minutes later the waitress comes back over, we're not ready, we're just talking.  A few minutes later, same thing, she rightfully gives up.  When we finally do decide to order, we have to flag her down because she's just moved on.  It's like not a day has passed.  We didn't talk about what we've done between high school and now more than a few minutes.  We talked about who we are, what we think about things, our relationships with our wives and daughters,the philosophy of science and the role dumb luck plays in our lives and the advantages we have based on nothing we've done and the responsibility and the weight of being seen as an authority on something, whether it's based on actual knowledge or just the perception created by speaking confidently.  3 hours of just great conversation.  Expectations are blown away.

Clare and Greg are wrapped up in conversation, forgetting the boiling potatoes for the potato salad, overcooking them to the point where had to be thrown out.  Dinner with the 4 of us when Greg and Heather lived in Virginia were filled with long and rambling and profane conversations full of laughter, and tonight was like no time had passed there.

 My life is better than I've had any right to expect, given where I came from and many of the things I've done.  Today was just another one of those days where I got more than I thought I would.

Sorry to get maudlin, but I get grateful sometimes and stuff like this happens.

Tomorrow is another day of hanging around, eating good food and watching stuff blow up before the 6 hour drive to Moab.  Happy 4th of July everybody.