I had a friend in high school named Heidi. She was a friend with a strong personality; creative and smart and adventurous, so one day when she asked me if I wanted to walk with her to The Valley, I said, sure. I was always ready to tag along on her adventures. Ushering at the Hollywood Bowl, going to folk dancing clubs, whatever she said, I went for it with her. She lived on the very top of a hill between Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park.