So many good lines in this piece, Richard. Here's a couple I liked and that perhaps distill your main point: "If I was not trying to live In three moments at once?" As I read this the second and third time, it occurred to me that some relationships are best kept at a "friendship" level, best kept a tad more superficial than one would like. And in the end maybe this does save us from heartbreak. In retrospect, there are a couple I think of that I wish now I had kept at a more limited level for they ended up in hurt and alienation. In addition the two lines I quoted above remind me of a persistent problem I have, not being able to be in that one present moment that becomes the power of now. Thanks for this creative and thought provoking piece. I love it.

BTW, I googled images of Madrona Park and it does look quite lovely. I saw a mountain in the distance in one of the pics and it reminded me of a visit several years ago to Snoqualmie pass and peak in early spring when the snow was still deep. It was a special moment for me.