On the keyboard of life--

always keep one finger on the Escape key.

Isn't that the truth? I've had some health issues lately and believe me, there are times I wish I could press an Escape key. I am no stranger to pain, but the last couple of weeks has tried even me.

I keep reminding myself that this, like all things, will pass, but could it please hurry up? But the hurrier I go, the behinder I get sometimes. 

I really need to find my Zen place, just take a deep breath and allow life to play itself out. Hard to do when you're feeling crappy, but if I can just do that, it'll all be okay.

Or maybe I just need the Escape key ...

If you look like your passport picture,

you probably need the trip.

I think a lot of people are feeling the need to get out and about because they've been cooped up with the pandemic. I'm lucky. I don't feel that way 90% of the time.

I've never enjoyed travel. I enjoy *arriving* but I dislike getting there, especially if it involves an airplane. Road trips are okay as long as there's some fun things to do along the way. Almost all the time I do the driving, and I view driving as a chance to think about whatever book I'm writing.

It never fails -- I'll be driving along and I'll get a great idea for a scene or a bit of dialog or the way a plot should go. I grab my trusty digital recorder and get the idea saved. I've taken road trip and had 20 or 30 entries by the time I get to where I'm going. It's great. It's like the act of driving frees my mind and allows me to think about other things, even though I am paying attention to the road.

I sure hope I never lose that ability because it makes road trips palatable. Speaking of which ... I'm stuck on a plot point. Maybe I need to hop in the car and go for a drive.