At Playa’s Artist Retreat in Southeast Oregon

I’m enjoying two wonderful weeks at Playa, working on my next book Lost Salmon, hiking the area, looking at rivers and lakes, and meeting resident artists and writers.  I called Suz to report my good fortune, and added, “Listen closely because this is the most important thing you will hear all year.  I need you (pause) to send my fishing license.”

“Les Schwab says I need you to pay $2000 for my new tires and brakes,” she replied.

“I don’t know about Les, ” I said.  “You grew up on a farm.  Can’t you make your own tires, or download them, or something?”

“No,” she said.

“Well, anyway,” I said, “back to the more important matter.  Make sure you send my Oregon license, and not my Washington one, because they are both in the same pocket of my green jacket.”  We’ll see how that goes.  Sometimes she gets distracted from my fishing needs by less significant things like work, sleep, or food.