A man from Fresno quizzed me in the parking lot, not about the car, but about whether I’d come all that way by myself. “Courage…courage,” he said. I hadn’t thought of it that way…or not …

I stopped at a CVS on the way out of town to restock on sunscreen and snacks — a warehouse-size store with slot machines by the checkout. At ten in the morning, most of the …

I began the day in a mood of grim exhilaration: the route promised the most daunting driving yet. The locals have accustomed themselves to it, no doubt, and developed methods of timing their drives and …

I’ve had Grandma on my mind a lot since Tuesday, the anniversary of her death. Thanks to the revelation the other day that the swimming hole is not an artifact of Twain’s America, but still …

I dragged my feet. I checked every room twice more than I needed to, in case I’d overlooked a cord, or a watch — I even “checked” outside, where none of these things would have …

It dawned hot, still humid, and I was up by then. I’d slept like shit — no dreams, but waking up every hour, forgetting where I was and why I had come there. I spent …

I woke up just after dawn. I hadn’t slept enough, quite, and I kept doing things like trying to wash my hair with bar soap and almost packing a cup of coffee. Once I actually …

It’s amazing how little time it takes for all my stuff — messenger bag; computer bag; duffel bag; suitcase — to explode across a hotel room. I try to repack as I go along, but …

As I write about Friday, it’s actually Saturday, and Pop-Up Chapel is underway back in NYC. I’m so thrilled and impressed; congratulations all, big and small. Go to Merchants’ Gate in Columbus Circle to feel …

Morning. Thursday was Biscuit Day at the Clarion Suites breakfast buffet, an “event” that had me more excited than it should have. I collected a few dough pucks and nibbled while answering email; then it …