New York, New Yorker

It was Monday morning when Sam and I met up with Michael for lunch. He's now a New Yorker and, more to the point, a former San Franciscan. For all the sniping and snarkiness in the world (and yeah, I've been dragged down into contributing to that), there are sublime moments. There are deserving goodnesses instead of just the deserved punishments.

Our trip to New York was a deserved good time. I'm going to gush about Bill & Edgar, about Jennie, about Byrne, and about all of New York City until friends slap me for it. I'll probably deserve that, too.Michael's deserved good fortune is more palpable, more concrete. He's settling into an optimal situation with living space, location, school, friends, everything....I swear you can hear the 'snick!' as even each little thing falls into place for him. It's a terrific thing to see, a comforting thing to witness that sometimes the good stuff manifests for good, hardworking, talented people.

Sam and I didn't have our camera with us when Michael gave us a tour of his new place, new neighborhood and Columbia's campus, but I did have my phone...the above pics are from the main quad at Columbia University.

All of this, coupled with enriching and enjoyable times with Sam's family, with Bill & Edgar, and with my family, means we'll be back East a lot more often. My existence in San Francisco will become a bit less insular, in turn making it that much better overall.