And it all changes.

Travel seems like an escape sometimes, but real life can roll right back in front in an instant. The rest of the week in NYC with my two friends, and the 3-day weekend for the Memorial Day holiday went by in a flash. Hotel room overlooking Brooklyn Bridge, the Empire State building as night fell and the lights came on, authentic Czech food in Queens, Salt Lick, a backyard grill party, watching the bats leave Congress bridge, sleeping in, a champagne breakfast, twice, and suddenly I'm back in Manhattan at my desk.

Franz's friends message me with word for him to call them urgently. His dad died in the night. Not much he could do at the moment, he came to NY with me this morning with the knowledge that he was going home from NY today, and in fact he's on the plane to Germany right now. It certainly put him in a different frame of mind, and me as well. I'm fortunate that I haven't lost anyone while I have been on the road, but that might not always be the case. We got to the airport early and checked him in, then split a bottle of wine. "In vino, veritas" is the saying, right? He had lots to say, and is pretty concerned about his mother in Vienna. He was planning to visit here in the summer again, but things there will take precedence there. I hate thinking that he had the visit ending on a note like this, and told him so, but he said it was a good trip all considered. It was a good trip, especially if it helped give him strength to wrangle with the reality suddenly facing him.