“To awaken quite alone in a strange town is one of the pleasantest sensations in the world.” — Freya Stark
(It continues: “You are surrounded by adventure.” With that second line, I’m sure I would have realized the author’s name was Freya, and not Freda, as I first attempted. This is the first quotation from Ms. Stark since I’ve been posting these spoilers. It looks like there’s a theme on the merits of traveling developing. Traveling to new places can be very rewarding. New experiences keep the brain limber. Be well and do good, friends.) — YUR
Unclerave's Wordy Weblog 
I once went back to one of the cities I’d lived for years, unannounced and without telling my friends I was there, checked in a run of the mill motel (another old sorta dream I had) and walked the place as if it was my first time there. Exhilarating experience. I walked and walked, always looking over my shoulder lest not be recognized, though it was easy, since I’m not famous, there or anywhere else. More haunting though was scrutinizing faces, checking to see whether I’d laid eyes on them before. Lots of ‘almosts’ but no one I was particularly sure I knew. But everyone seemed familiar, which was probably my brain anxious for find a visual connection. It took a while but it finally happened: someone did spot me and, as it goes, was somebody I had not just not seen in years, but I couldn’t recall ever having spoken with. We’ve exchanged pleasantries and went our separate ways. No earthshaking revelations. I thought I could trust this person not to give in on my secret trip to anyone who would’ve cared about it, until I got an email, months later, from a friend: ‘so how come you didn’t call me?’ I rest my case.
Like you, I wanted to say FREDA. Through the Cryp, I met a new author today. Impressively, Ms. Stark lived to be 100!
Great story, Wes. I kinda go through the same thing every other week when I go up to take care of my mom. I don’t tell any old friends that I’m up there, partly because I’m not really there to socialize. I very rarely run into anyone I know. It’s almost like going to a “strange town”. — YUR
It’s nice to know, hal, no matter how old we get, we learn something new everyday. — YUR