Advice and consent...

     As usual, the Professor has helped me to get right to the heart of things. We had a wonderful visit, during which I took him to my study and showed him the many interesting curiosities I brought back from my West African travels. It was there that he pointed out the necessity for me to return to what I do best and leave technical problems to the experts. Of course I had to remind him that was all fine and good if a person could afford them, but...

     "Widen your horizons, Lilly," he said to me. "There are other ways to get things besides using money. More and more people are resorting to the barter system every day. During times like these, they have to. Just take something you don't need and trade it for something you do."

     A thought which so intrigued me that I quite agreed. After that, we had a wonderful bit of lunch on the veranda and finished off the visit by talking about his latest research project. Something he calls the "Polarity Theory" that he feels might very well provide us all with an inexpensive alternative fuel. That and a vehicle that is such a marvel of simplicity that even I could drive it. Another reminder of why I consider him one of my dearest friends.

     He has such a great capacity for entertaining.

Current work-in-progress: An unexpected mystery has suddenly taken a grip on me I can't wrestle away from. It is titled Dreadful Sorry. Mysterious? Yes. Adventure? Of course.  Luring me to the north country and a cold, chilling sea...