Six weeks without living out of a suitcase,TSA, packing, boarding airplanes, which might be a record for me. I’m on my way to Little Rock from Pheonix via Memphis. I’ll be at schools in Arkansas all week, then Harding University Friday night and Saturday, then I head to Texas next week.

Marie woke up at the crack of dawn to drive me to the airport. She and her mother will head back to The Sea of Coetez early this week. I’ll join them in a couple of weeks…hitching a ride with Ruth and Al, a couple of very kind sunbirds, heading back south from chilly Wisconsin after a two week stay to visit family. I’ll catch up with them in Phoenix for the ride south and settle into the desert through most of February to write.

I’m at the Peabody Hotel tonight. Talk about contrast and cultural shock! I’m in my beautiful room chowing down on delicious room service food working on a book.

When I was in Pheonix I caught about 15 minutes of news. It hasn’t changed in 6 weeks. Michael Jackson, the ballon boy hoax, explosive underpants… It was like watching bad re-runs. I guess I don’t have to switch on the TV for another 6 weeks.