Jill Jepson's blog about never being far away in traveling these days reminded me of a birthday present my daughter gave me about twelve years ago. Maya was extensively traveling the world with her partner Bram to look for images of the future. She is a futures researcher. She decided to get me a beautiful, warm beige scarf: deciding between hundreds of nuances in the shop. Then she wrapped it and passed it on to someone who was going to Belgium, where I was at that moment, and who happened to know her father in law who delivered her parcel in my hands on my birthday. I cherish this gift for the thoughtfulness, the acceptance of synchronicity, and the gift of other peoples time for it all to work. it became to me also a kind of metaphor about writing and getting to your reader. You never know for sure what nuance will touch their heart, you're never sure who are, will be your helpers, you're never sure if the writing ever gets to the imagined reader, and you're never sure of the gratitude you owe to whom. I still wear the scarf... and am greateful.