Working additional hours, I have grown accustomed to not sleeping in, even when given the opportunity. Today I had that opportunity, but was up at 5:00 a.m. worried that being Thanksgiving I would not be able to find a place that sold packaged coffee. Fortunately “America runs on Duncan” and in addition to the bagel and cream cheese and large cup of house blend marked with “Joy” I was able to get a pound of whole bean.

Not being able to sleep in on Thanksgiving should have its advantages. The only people I thought would be up at 5:00 would be the moms doing battle with half frozen birds and bags of giblets. It would be the perfect time to be out on the streets accompanied by only the morning star (by which I mean Venus.)

The morning star was there, but so were a few others, who for one reason or another did little to help my want of solitude. I have lived far from the place of isolation of late and I did not find it a selfish thing to want the time alone, but then again that is not what the day is for. Yes, I thought, I should just be happy with my “unwanted” companionship. Read more