I met Mary and Adair through one of my new friends, Bahara.

Bahara was doing a mentorship with me, and after all the business talk, we wanted to shoot down in Santa Cruz on the bluffs. She said that she knew a young married couple there, and that they’d be happy to help us out.

It had been warm and sunny up in the Bay Area, but when we got close to Davenport, the weather changed drastically: clouds, fog, chill in the air. My favourite.

Mary and Adair are students at UCSC. Adair and I bonded over our chemistry backgrounds a we talked about drug extraction.

Despite some shared fears of awkwardness and nervousness, these two got right out of their shells. When I suggested a dance on the clifftop, they said, “Is it ok if we swing dance?”

What.

You guys. This has happened to me before (remember Brit and Jose busting out some salsa moves?), and now that it’s happened twice, I feel compelled to say: I will never discourage you from showing me your incredible dance moves. Ever.

Why on earth would that not be ok.

So. Anyway. They start dancing, then literally ask me if they can do a backflip.

Again, what are you waiting for? Yes! Please!

All in all, Mary and Adair were so sweet and natural with each other, they were down for pretty much anything, and they frolicked around with us with a delightful level of enthusiasm.

And the colours they picked for their outfits? Just so freaking perfect for the colours that nature was giving us out on the bluffs. Ugh. Romping about in the fog is one of my favourite things, and getting a chance to do that with some rad people, while mentoring a new friend, and escaping from the Bay Area heat…

It’s good for the soul.