My March 29 Friend

Ina Coolbrith park is such a place of solace — the juxtaposition of trees and plants against the background of FiDi is really peaceful. With such a stunning vantage point, I feel so calm and happy here.

Uzayr and I had the same idea today. After a long but productive day at work, we were both in need for nature close by. I sat near him on the bench overlooking the Salesforce Tower, the TransAmerica building and North Beach and we stuck up conversation.

Uzayr works at Impossible Foods and just moved to the city from the east coast, much like Yan, my March 6 friend. He’s been enjoying exploring the neighborhoods and finding hikes in Marin, Napa, and East Bay.

We chatted about both powerlifting but Uzayr used to take it very seriously in a school club and has since stopped due to injuries. We both agreed it isn’t worth it in the long run so now we just enjoy lifting for maintenance and as a form of catharsis. I had no idea that there was a gym in the Fairmont Hotel but he’s been going there and staying active.

Uzayr and I are both Indian, early in our careers, and Lord of the Rings fans. We joked about having curfews in high school and being grateful for our parents and how much they support us in our lives.

He asked me what I liked most about my job and I shared that learning how to become an effective storyteller is something I am so eager to refine and improve. I couldn’t be more thankful for the team I have.

Uzayr himself is also navigating the excitement of responsibility and autonomy at work while balancing the challenges of a steep learning curve.

He’s audio-booking The Sillmarillion, which is the history of The Lord of the Rings, and I just had to ask if he was fluent in Elvish (yes, I was thinking about the scene from 17 Again).

He is not, in fact, acquainted with the language but we checked if it was on DuoLingo — it’s not but the StarTrek and Game of Thrones languages are!

As pastel streaks cut across the sky, Uzayr told me about his recent experience getting Lasik, which is high on my list. He found a great optometrist in North Beach and I was keen to learn more. With 20/15 vision, he has no regrets.

We decided to keep in touch so I could introduce him to my friends and show him more of the wonders of this incredible city!

Uzayr is grateful for his parents and that they are still around.