My interactions with Don, both on a personal and intellectual level, can be thought of in two ways. At one level, we have been traveling in parallel universes, each pursuing our interests and going in our own direction. At another level, we are more like two individuals in bumper cars, each going around the track and occasionally bumping into each other, enjoying the interactions and learning from each other. In this brief essay, I will center on these fortuitous bumps and, hopefully, provide some insights into Don’s career as a valued friend and a hugely impactful academic.