random weekend thoughts

About to explode in our back garden.  Photographed with Nikon D300 with 60mm micro lens.

It seems, in my life, I go through unusual phases:  times when the same event occurs so often, that it's hard to believe it's just a coincidence.  Does this ever happen to you?  Like for a week straight, you keep running into the word "hazelnut."  Or you see yellow umbrellas everywhere, even when it's not raining.  Or you have several lunch meetings scheduled, and all of your lunch dates suggest Thai food.

This week, I'm fast in the throes of a "back-in-touch-with-friends-from-the-past" phase.  A friend of mine from about 15 years ago, a wonderfully talented fashion photographer who came with me to buy my very first camera, found me on Facebook.  I was so excited to "see" him again.  Another friend of mine who I haven't seen in about 3 years spent the weekend with us -- so much has changed in that time (the last time I saw her, Marcus, Alex and I were still living in Trinidad), and we both marveled at how much we're enjoying our lives right now.  And later this week, I'll be having lunch with a former coworker I haven't seen in probably 9 years.

I feel like there is a lesson I'm supposed to take from all of these encounters, emerging somewhat surprisingly from the past.  Perhaps it's that all encounters, however fleeting, could be the start of lifelong relationships.  Or something like that.

Also?  I've been entranced with Time Magazine's list of The World's Top 100 Most Influential People.  My initial reaction was, "what the hell have I done with my life?"  Now, having thought about it for a couple of days, I'm starting to think, "I'm likely not even halfway through with my life.  What am I going to do going forward?"

Song:  My friend by Groove Armada