I’ve been having an excellent summer after a turbulent spring, and I couldn’t be more thankful for my new and old friends this season.

The first shoutout goes to my dear friends Andy and Shawn, who hosted me for the second time in Atlanta this year — resulting in the final decision to make it my soon-to-be new home! 🤗

I’ve also been blessed with seeing four concerts in June (Dermont Kennedy at Meadowbrook, the music of Hans Zimmer at the Redford Theatre, The Rare Occasions and Summer Salt at El Club, and Ben Folds at The Soundboard — all epic Detroit venues). I have a varying taste in music and it was great to experience each show with old friends, where we even made new friends along the way. When Emily and I visited El Club in mid-June, we befriended Kevin and Marianne — who both joined our company picnic, and who I danced the night away with after a Detroit Tigers baseball game a couple weeks ago. My life is essentially a series of fortunate events – especially in regard to befriending strangers – and I wouldn’t have it any other way. They definitely deserve my second shoutout.

Linley is the best hiking and beach buddy around, so he gets my third shoutout of the summer. Most of you have probably seen my hiking and beach photos from a few weeks ago, but in case you needed a reminder (or at least needed to see some fluffy cuteness in the sand)…

Emily’s part of my second shoutout, but she and Jenna are granted the fourth because they’re two of the best coworkers-turned-friends I could ever ask for. We floated the cascades at Argo Park in Ann Arbor, and for those of you in the area, I would highly recommend it. Emily and I also floated with our buddy Zac last weekend, but that deserves a post of its own. Emily and I also hit up Taco Fest in Royal Oak and Kensington Metropark on the Fourth of July; she’s quickly becoming one of my best friends. 💛

Aniya – my Little Sister in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program – has been in my life for almost a decade now. She’s truly the little sister I never had but always wanted, and more. I was able to spend quality time with her and her family a couple weeks ago, and the UNO games got a little too competitive! Being around Aniya and her family always warms my heart — especially given how strong our bond has been after all this time. Aniya and her family get my fifth summer shoutout.

My sixth and final shoutout for this post goes to my mom (aka: “Party Dawn!”) because she’s the best road-trip and apartment-hunting partner in crime around. We drove down from Michigan to Atlanta in one day, looked at five or six apartments the next day, and turned around that Sunday. Although we weren’t in the city on Fourth of July itself, spending the long weekend with her was so worth it. Unfortunately, we didn’t get any photos together, but she did take some of the pup and me.

I look forward to more Friday dinners with my parents, outdoor adventures and fun times with friends before my next chapter next month. My heart is full but my coffee cup isn’t, so until next time: Thank you for following on this incredible journey! ☺️