Dune, On and On

Three travelers watch a tracked vehicle cross an alien desert beneath twin moons

Many of us have genres we avoid or particularly love to the exclusion of others. I'm not too fond of the mystery genre, but I love science fiction. There are exceptions, though. One of my favorite science fiction novels of all time was Frank Herbert's Dune. And my least favorite series was all the add-on …

Transport

Bearded man beside rusted Mustang; Texas plate reads “RUSTY73.”

Airports and I have a distant relationship. Distant because I am rarely near enough to them to have a relationship. Best? Worst? Those are qualities that I am not well enough versed in to venture educated guesses. For many years, my primary means of transport was by highway, by way of using my thumb to …

Getting Your Kicks On Route 66?

Vintage pickup truck towing a camper beside a rural prairie highway

A genre of stories, tales, novels, and movies is the "on the Road" variety. Before I began my life as a Pius Itinerant, I consumed lots of the genre in movies and television. The series Route 66 was required viewing for any young teen at that time who had dreams of adventure on the road. …

A Garden

My family was die-hard New Yorkers. Ahhhhh, concrete! Brick, tall buildings, and views of the urban canyon! But when I was in about sixth grade, my father was lured into taking a job as the maintenance chief for a large suburban residential development on nearby Long Island. The country. No, not really. But to folks …

The Grey Menace Arrives

I was living in Ottawa, Ontario, in the fall of 1969. A bunch of us had gathered on the corner to discuss some plans for a get-together, and all of a sudden, there was this grey kitten striding towards us. He looked determined, and he looked directly at me. The group grew silent. The kitten …

Generosity

I describe the years in which I wandered, performed, and did wild things as my time as a Pius Itinerant. It was years afterward that I realized that it was made possible only by the generous gifts and acts of kindness of others. At the time I was doing it, I assumed it was my …

No Thanks, Once Was Enough

No thanks, not interested. I'm standing pat. Yes, when I worked as an applied anthropologist, I had the capability to turn research into exhibits, programs, presentations, and various projects. I enjoyed it, and for many years I expected to return to it. What an optimist. At some point, I conceded defeat, developed new interests, and …

Hide and Seek!

Marcus

Hi! I'm Marcus. My sister Sabrina and I have had a new hobby these past few months. It's a version of Hide and Seek. My sister and I get into a fight, and she rips my collar off. We then continue the fight and wind up hiding the collar with the name tag on it. …

Vacation Time?

Two men standing on a futuristic starship bridge with crew at consoles

Although it's County Fair season in New England I could be persuaded to take a brief vacation in the United Federation of Planets. You know spend some time on the Enterprise, perhaps to meet Kirk, Sulu and the one with the pointy ears. They are a veritable triad representing the values of an enlightened, if …

Lets See…Time Tourism!

Map of Cultural Destinations, Arenas & Temporal Routes in Temporia, featuring labeled landmarks, routes, rivers, and sea

Tourism of historical events? We can make a hunk of money on this one. You know, run hot air balloon tours over Gettysburg, fill the local hotels with temporal tourists trying to get a good exchange rate on their cash with the local money changers, whatever. However, we'd better plan on a separate commissary service. …