When I left San Francisco and my old life, I was naive about backpacking and nervous about how I would spend my time. Judgmental and cynical, I was also sophisticated in understanding the workings of organizations and people’s minds, and excelled at asking penetrating questions to find the story. I had been on the leading […]
As the small plane rose above the African Savannah in Zimbabwe, and banked northeast towards Harare, my mind shifted back to another plane-ride during my short stay in New York, just before leaving for Africa. I found myself snatching glimpses of the recent past to mix with the present, perhaps because my mind didn’t have […]
After the short one day visit to the in-laws, I rented a car and drove three hours to Frank Zolfo’s in Kinnelon, New Jersey. The storm had temporarily abated. Flurries and calm. Alerts were out for the next day. When I arrived at Franks, we had a delightful dinner talking about my upcoming travels. I […]
The tension wasn’t over! After landing we took a bus from Scranton to Binghamton. That ride was equally perilous. But as dangerous as snowy roads can be, ground is better than air. Needless to say, since I am writing this account, I made it to Binghamton. There my two brothers-in-law, Mike and Joe, waited. And […]
If you have read the introduction to the book on the homepage you will have read a story of one man’s public meltdown. Many people look for ‘signs’ to guide their life. For some it is synchronicity; a chance meeting; a crossed line on the telephone that leads to romance and marriage, or missing that […]
I had this dream when I was very young. I would have a great family, and enough money so that nobody can pull my strings. Sixteen words! Enough to carry around. Short enough to drive a vision. It was a very ambitious vision as it turned out. Being great at anything is such a life-dominant […]
California to New York “No problem,” the smug passenger service agent said. “It’s not snowing in New York. Flying should be just fine, even though the plane is not a jet like you expected.” I recalled his words as our propeller driven plane circled the Scranton, PA airport at 9 PM, amidst brutal storm clouds. […]
“…the mind is constantly stimulated by observing new and unknown things. No propositions astonish me; no belief offends me, however much opposed to my own.” Frank Zolfo said, “it’s about living in a bigger box.” Traveling! How many of my initial judgments and biases about issues or other travelers were revealed to be wrong, or […]