I met up with a friend for coffee early yesterday morning. I’ve been wanting to try this coffee place on our street. When it’s just me, I either make my coffee at home or swing by Starbucks. But when Talia texted, I knew I wanted to try a different place! And this one is so close.

She was already headed over there so I buckled Ishu into the stroller, said goodbye to Ankur, and made the 2 minute walk there. We quickly ordered our drinks and walked outside.

Coffee for her, coffee for me, goldfish crackers for Ishu.

We chatted for about 15-20 minutes before deciding to take Ishu to the park.

After the park, we went to Foxtrot to get Ishu a breakfast taco. And, a few minutes into our conversation, someone called out from behind, “Hey Divya!”

For a second, I was confused. I don’t know anybody here. I don’t have any connections, any friends, any work colleagues. Who could be calling out my name?

I turned my head and saw the nanny that I had met at the park a week ago.

She remembered me! She remembered my name!

We chatted for a bit before she had to rush off to work. And then Talia and I carried on with our conversation, while Ishu continued eating his taco.

In the middle of us chatting, I had somewhat of an out-of-body experience for a minute or two. I felt like I was hovering over myself, watching everything unfold.

Watching myself sit there as I was talking to a friend.

You see, when we moved here a few weeks ago, there were many a days where I’d be pushing Ishu in the stroller, watching other people hanging out on restaurant patios. Watching as they spent the evening, chatting over a bottle of wine. Observings friends catching up over lunch or a cup of coffee.

And I felt this sense of longing for connection like that. For us to be those people that could spontaneously make plans and pop down to meet up with friends at the local coffee shop.

And, yesterday, I was – in a way – watching myself be that person.

Watching how, in just a few short weeks, we’ve somehow managed to make this place feel a little more like home. I was reminded that we are capable of turning this city into a neighborhood. A neighborhood where I could pop down to my local coffee shop, chat with a friend over a bottle of wine, and run into people I meet at the park!

We’ve been on the move ever since we got married. We’ve moved from NorCal to Harrogate to Knoxville and then back to the west coast. That, coupled with the pandemic, has made this longing so much deeper. I want to build connections. I want to have a routine and a life and mom friends.

And, more than anything, I want more days like yesterday. Days where I can just be sitting with a friend at the cafe down the street.