I’m sitting on a dock looking out at the water, surrounded by quiet beauty. Along the walkway are benches—each with a plaque honoring someone’s life. One reads, “In honor of Mimi, who loved her family, her God, and her ocean.” It’s moments like this that remind me how deeply place and memory intertwine. I love early mornings like this—when the world is still asleep, and I get to experience things in their purest form. What strikes me is how some places are designed to foster connection—like this public chessboard nearby—reminding me that even in solitude, community is never far away.