What happens when you take a Skillet, a Son, a Saq, a Neeters and put them together?

Answer: a good time is had by all.

Me and Kev have been hanging out with my sister Deborah and her friend Anita a lot lately–going to dinner, grabbing coffee, or just playing with the dogs in their back yard (Deborah rents the little house in the back of Kev’s place). All three of those crazy kids have dogs now, and it’s a riot to watch them romp and play together. The four of us have been getting along really well lately. Whatever we do, those girls are just good company.

Tonight the four of us had dinner at my new favorite underground spot, the Hayward Ranch (my dinner was great–that’s two in a row). Our server was high as a kite, and that alone was entertainment enough. After dinner we stopped by Starbucks and let the conversations and good times continue.

We sat inside on comfortable chairs and chatted about happy things. I watched the rain come down outside; pitter pat, splash. I thought about how nice it was to be warm and dry inside, while the world was cold and wet outside. Cars sped by the corner of Mission Blvd and A St. The asphalt was wet, and the tires of those cars made that unmistakable sound–the sound that lets you know that, yes, it *is* raining. Conversations floated around me, wafting in and about my ears, and a smile crept across my lips as I turned to face each one of my merry companions, deep in conversation, laughing, smiling, warm. Yes, this is what happiness feels like, it’s been awhile. I’m around people that I care about, and they care about me, and I feel lighthearted and carefree tonight. This is bliss.

And then it was time to go. I can’t wait to be with my sister and our friends again.