I have a new friend named Sebastian. He’s five.

He also happens to be my neighbor.

Sebastian and I see each other pretty regularly these days because he likes to roll down the hill in our front yard—an activity about which I have great enthusiasm. I mean, really. Lying down in the grass and rolling. What could be more fun than that?

It also happens that at this time, Sebastian’s training for his very first road race. I learned about this the other day when Tim and I were out for a walk and spotted Sebastian and his Coach/Dad pushing through the toughest climb in the neighborhood.

That’s when something interesting caught Sebastian’s eye, something there just along the curb in the middle of that hill.

Hey, what’s this?

I could (nearly) hear Sebastian’s imagination spring into action, declaring This is something that needs a little closer inspection! And so I ask you: What’s a runner to do?

(He went in for a little closer inspection.)

Now let’s just take a moment here.

Eventually, the thing was fully considered, and Sebastian was freed to continue on up the hill, around the cul-de-sac, and down again. As he made his descent, giving us just the tiniest wave as he passed by (in The Zone he was), a most remarkable thing happened. He spotted another Fabulous Find, worthy of investigation, just on the other side of the road.

Tim looked at me and smiled. That’s just what it’s like to go on a walk with you he said.

And at that, my friends, I smiled, too.