Thought I’d join in 
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Happy birthday James @Ifs🎂
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Happy birthday, James! Proud to know you! 
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But …but…but my avatar…oh ok
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@keiti @Rose14 @Frantasticooo @funnydad @Fireweed @anon12657779 @anon13078412 @TMAC (and everyone else)
Thanks for the birthday wishes everyone! I had a great day yesterday. Started off taking things easy and going for a picturesque morning walk on the hillside, and basically took myself on a date for the afternoon Walked downtown for pizza, walked through the park, had ice cream at the beach, then spent some time at the dog park on my way back home. Messaged a bit with family. Spent time taking perspective on my life and meditating. Basically, the day went as well as it could have. I shrugged my expectations off and just celebrated in whatever way felt natural.
And not too long ago, I thought it would be ruined by me being lonely/resenting not being able to spend it with people I knew. Turns out I’m resourceful and cool with myself and was worried about nothing. 
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Hey James…sorry my friend! Had a crazy day. A very happy birthday to you!
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There were a bunch of little things that don’t mean much to most people, but I enjoyed while I was out and about.
- Cool bridges and stuff! Under tracks twice, over tracks once, under roads once, over roads once. Some ordinary or trivial, and some interesting. One had a little space up inside it, just underneath the tracks, that it looks like people hang out in sometimes (very illegally). This other one was built in the 1930’s, still in operation, and it’s my favourite. Love hearing the thuds and vibrations travelling through the wooden supports.
- Funny story. At the park, I wasn’t even sure I wanted to get ice cream. How would I look, a grown man all on his own, having an ice cream cone? So childish and un-macho, so indulgent! PFFFFT those thoughts can go back wherever they came from, they didn’t help me in high school and they’ve got no benefit to me now either. So, I went with the brightest, most youthful, most colourful flavour they had… bubble gum! So I had my own private joke as I walked around eating it. Also, another bridge.
- Moar trains. And a footbridge.
- Friendly dog park and beach. Next to a bridge.
Soooooo sunny all day. Some other pictures turned out weird because my phone camera couldn’t handle the light/dark contrast. I don’t normally carry my phone around these days, but I did this time because I thought it’d be fun to share. Then again, I also like to stay in the moment and the best parts aren’t captured. Still gives the idea, though! Less bridges 
Does a pier count as a partial bridge? 
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Oh my Keiti, that must have been awful! I couldn’t imagine, that is a long time. I bet the day they came home was the best day ever!
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James, that looks like a glorious day!
PFFFFT those thoughts can go back wherever they came from
Exactly! You are ahead of your time and wise beyond your years. Maybe this is why you fit in so nicely with us ‘older’ fellas (I won’t mention any names, Chris and Geoff). The older I’ve gotten, the more I enjoy just doing solo shit (when I’m not with my kids). I could probably travel the world by myself and enjoy every second of it. And like you say, staying in the moment is what it’s all about!
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James, I had to smile to myself when reading this. It looks like you had a great day, just wandering. I remember a time when you got anxious about leaving the house. All that hard work you put in has paid off in that you have had a really enjoyable birthday on your own. And that to me is awesome!
Now, about this obsession with bridges…!
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Wheres that confounded bridge…
Oh, will you excuse me, I’m just trying to find the bridge. Has anybody seen the bridge?
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I just went under one 
This one? The bases underneath are great for picnics, listening to the creek, and admiring the graffiti art. 
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Glad you had a great days sir and took in some good bridges, balanced out with bubble gum ice cream. Sounds perfect. 
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@ChicagoT Thanks! I wanted to double-capitalize the PFFFT but apparently that’s not a thing. I like this “doing my own thing” thing. All the stuff I want to do with my life is in that zone, how did I expect to live the life I wanted by not letting myself go there?
@anon12657779 It was exactly that kind of day! Goodness, yes, that wasn’t long ago I dreaded going outside. Then I started dragging myself out because I knew it’d be good for me even though I didn’t really see it. Just expected some intangible “oh I guess something subconsciously is slightly better in my life” sort of result, or something. Now I find myself wanting to get out twice or three times a day, enjoying the heck out of it, and I’ve even noticed when I step out the door and lock it behind me, I get this big happy sigh where I feel like I’ve just stepped into home, even though I just stepped out of it. I hope this doesn’t come back to bite me in the depths of winter! There will still be bridges and trains, though
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I almost forgot, my long-time friend knows about me and bats and sent these to me. It was just so perfect, I didn’t even know anyone had thought to do something like this with bats.
Anyways, off to bed for me! See you all tomorrow, friends!
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Happiest earth rotation beautiful friends
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Save travelling sweetie
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