Bella and her boyfriend of five years, Abdi, bought a house. I fear I am part of the reason this happened. They happily occupied an apartment that had been in Abdi's family for many years, but it was not in the safest part of town. Around a Michigan campfire a few years ago, when Bella and I played a what-would-you-change game one night, I said in regard to her, the one and only thing I would wave my magic wand over was her zip code. 

When she returned home, she shared this with Abdi, and to his and her credit, they immediately put a plan together to move. This was somewhat on Abdi's radar as he has hopes of owning and renting multiple properties, so this request just moved his timeline up a year or two or three, as they were happily banking lots of money behind their next-to-free rent. 

One of the first homes they seriously considered came down to one of two places. One home was nicer and in a safer neighborhood, and one home was more modest but in an even safer neighborhood. They had to choose one, and Abdi told Bella he'd rather have the nicer property, but the whole reason they were moving was to get a safer spot, so they would go after the smaller/safer house. 

Bella shared this with me, and the next time she and Abdi were at our house, Abdi and I had the following exchange. 

TROY
Thank you, Abdi, for choosing the Forest Park spot. I know there were good reasons to select the other, but I appreciate what you did and why you did it. 

ABDI
Thank you for thanking me. 

That's all he said. I don't know what I expected him to say but it wasn't that. But in thinking about it later, I don't think there could have been a better or more authentic response. 

Happy for my Baya and Abdi and their new zip code. She is happy that her pup Leta has her own backyard and might even soon have her own doggie door leading to that grass-rich and open space.