Tonight was so awesome. I spent the afternoon playing with niece here at my sisters house. Then my brother Paul picked me up and we drove down to the airport to pick up Candyce. We were stuck in traffic, and I hated to leave here there waiting at the airport. Half of my life is spent waiting in an airport, and it’s something do not want to put anyone else through. She looked so pretty and dignified sitting there at the bench with her luggage and sunglasses. I felt like I was picking up a movie star.

Traffic was even worse going back into the city, so we had plenty of time to tell stories of missed flights and making the best of a bad situation. After coming back from the airport yesterday, Candyce met her youngest sister at her class’s field day at the beach. Then last night she had a good time hanging out with her other sister. That’s one thing that I love about Candyce, she loves the people she is with. She doesn’t delay loving because she’s in a place that she doesn’t like. Wherever she is and whoever she is with, you can be sure that everyone is filled with love. I am so lucky.

Once we got into the city we went to Doc Chey’s Noodle House for dinner. Although it’s quite hot and humid this time of the year in Atlanta, it was the perfect weather for sitting outside: 70 and breezy. (I never knew as a teenager that part of the “being cool” in the future would involve the living life in a city with good weather.) It was so special to have such a good dinner with my grown-up brother and my girlfriend. I had no choice but to buy dinner. When God is generous and gives you perfect moments like that, you have no choice but to turn and give more.

After dinner we drove through the Virginia Highlands neighborhood. This has been my favorite intown Atlanta neighborhood since I was a freshman at Georgia Tech. It’s quite, leafy, and all the houses are cool-looking and well-kept. It’s the kind of community that is just glowing with pride. I’m convinced that people walk their dogs on the sidewalks of that neighborhood just so people will think that they live there.

If l lived in Atlanta now, I would have to live in the Highlands. So as we winded through the streets, I picked up the fliers from the houses that were for sale. I was surprised to see that they have not gone up much since I left Atlanta four years ago.

While I was in college living in a dorm room, everybody else was owning a house that was increasing in price every thirty minutes. But looking back, it seems like prices hit a high my senior year. Meanwhile, I buy a house in the middle of the Arizona desert…a house that goes on to double in price in less than two years. Now how did that happen? It was just a cool feeling to know that I now have enough money to buy a house in the Highlands. It’s an unofficial dream come true.

Paul, Candyce, and I got a cup of coffee and Caribou near Piedmont Park then we walked around Midtown. It just meant so much to me to see my wonderful girlfriend walking and talking with my brother Paul. I love them both so much, and for the past four years, my Arizona life has been so separate from my Georgia life. I was also so proud of my brother for knowing things about Atlanta that I did not have to teach him.

We finished the night by spending an hour chilling out by Piedmont Park. It was fun just to sit on the benches near the lake and watch the sun drift behind the city skyline. What a perfect moment!; The only thing cooler was when we saw a Mocking Bird sing while perched on top of a sculpture built to free Nelson Mandela. It was so poetic to see a caged bird sing. I’ve never actually watched a Mocking Bird sing, but I was blown away by this little guy’s playlist. He must’ve flipped through ten songs before he flew away. It was amazing!

Now Candyce and I are here at my sister Katie’s house. It’s been a long day, and I should probably go to bed now. But I just can’t help but write a long journal entry because today has been such a wonderful day. I am not just on vacation; I am on an adventure with the people that I love.