Anyone who’s spent any amount of time hanging around these parts lately will know that it’s been an extremely long week. From the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day to my first week of split office duties to the Suns losing more times than I can handle to getting called into work at 11:30pm last night and not getting to go to sleep til 3:30am, my plan for recovery this Friday night was simple: music, hot cup of tea, and bed by the end of the game. Yet, even with all my planning and forethought, I should have known such a plan wouldn’t work.

I pulled into my apartment parking lot just after 6:30 tonight and was greeted by my neighborhood children. Sad eyes and pouting faces enticed me to shoot some hoops with them before putting my great plan into motion. I had been outside less than five minutes when I noticed a figure in the distance walking toward us. Thinking nothing of it, I kept playing with the kids until I happened to look up again. I’m not sure exactly how or why but I thought as it drew near that this figure was one I knew. Maybe it was the walk with the hand tucked in the pocket or the fact that it unabashedly stared back, but in an instant, I knew exactly who it was despite the fact that there was no way it could be him. Letting go of the ball I headed off toward the figure knowing that if I was wrong this would be one of those incredibly awkward moments I’ve grown to master.

As I neared and my suspicions were confirmed, all the stress and heartache of the week disappeared. My feelings of inadequacy and loneliness were no longer. Nothing else mattered but hugging Zac who had left work early, driven six hours, and waited in my parking lot for me to get home to see me. Even as he said hi to the kids and a few neighbors and we headed inside, I was too shocked and stunned to truly express how happy I was. It was if I had wished him here and wasn’t completely sure it was real. I had just been talking to him on the phone while he drove around Willcox. How in the world was in he (mere moments later) in Flagstaff with me?!?!

He’s been here just 7 short hours, and already everything is right in my world. We’ve hung out with Jeff, watched Ryan Adams and The Office, eaten Mexican food, and take a late-night drive. He keeps asking if I’m happy, and I think I’m still too surprised to let it soak in. I’m trying not to remember that in too short of a time he’ll have to say goodbye and drive south. But, for now, I’m going to savor every moment with my brother… my rock… my best friend because he deserves to feel as loved as his drive has made me feel. I don’t know about you, but all of a sudden… this has become a pretty awesome week.