REALITY CHEQ MAGAZINE (SUMMER 2015)

Our Greying Society
By: Atika S. Jilani
The aging of America is not a new concept.
We are well aware of the changing
demographics of our society. With each
passing year, the percentage of people over
65 increases and by 2030, the older adult
population will outgrow the number of
people 15 years and younger. That means
we will have about 72-1 million older
adults--more than twice their number in
2000.
So what impact does this aging trend bring
to society on micro as well as macro level?
Researchers, medical scientists, policy
makers and humanitarians have come
together on a common platform to address
the challenges of aging society (Wiener &
Tilly, 2015). They are trying to equip
themselves to deal with vast range of issues
in coming years. Older adults are the one
great consumers of health care and as the
baby boomers are entering the age of 65,
America’s health care system is not very
prepared to deal with the growing demand
of this age group. The changing distribution
of population growth due to increased
number of older people, also known as
“reverse of pyramid” or “Squaring of
pyramid” (Hobbs & Stoops, 2002), has put a
great strain on public health care programs.
We have relatively fewer people working to
pay taxes necessary to provide services to
older people. The increase in aging
population will require medical
professionals to focus more on chronic
diseases rather than acute. Chronic illnesses
will require more long-term care services
like nursing homes, assisted living facilities,
home health care and adult day care. The
doctors and paraprofessional staff need to
change the intervention strategies from
focusing on one single problem to ongoing
management of multiple diseases and design
ways to help elderly cope with diseases
rather than curing them. There is also a
growing concern of a potential shortage of
medical professionals and other staff as the
number of elderly patients increases (Facts
and Fictions about an Aging America).
Photo Credit and license: By Mabel Lamour
The aging of the population does place a
substantial burden on our country’s
economy and policies, and no doubt we need
to be ready to face the challenges. Aging has
also been viewed from another angle. A
view that needs to be brought into focus
more and to be presented with some
positivity and optimism. Many advocates
and visionaries of aging emphasize that
aging should be viewed not only as a burden
to society and family and consumer of
resources, but an older person should be
considered as a useful and productive
resource for the society, community and
family (Aging in America, General Sessions,
2015). Being old doesn't necessarily mean

eing frail and sick. Many older adults are
contributing members, providers, and
preservers of values and culture. They have
so much to offer to the next generation. It is
a time to disrupt aging—to change the
perspectives of what it means to get old. It is
really not about aging, it is more about the
way of living. On a personal level, it is
something to embrace with open arms and
look forward to in order to discover the real
possibilities that life has yet to offer.
The nature and power of maturity has been
re-imagined as a result of increasing
longevity. The horizons of new lifestyle
choices influencing decision making, work,
family, leisure will not only bring a positive
change on a personal level but at a societal
level as well. We need to make our homes
and communities more ‘aging friendly’ and
develop a system that assimilates our elderly
with intergenerational work force,
educational models and as keepers of
society. We also need to change our attitudes
and move beyond the stereotypes of decline
and dependency to explore vast potential of
longer lives.
America is growing old. By 2030, one out of
five people will be 65 or over (Wiener &
Tilly, 2015). We are hardly prepared to
address the needs of our aging society.
Transforming our society to be more
suitable and livable for older adults is the
only way to meet the healthcare, financial
and personal challenges that older people are
currently facing. Only if the society provides
opportunities to the aging generation, then
they will have more potential to give back to
society by optimizing their productivity,
wisdom and manpower which is mutually
beneficial for both society and older adults.
References:
Wiener, J,M. & Tilly, J. (2015). Population
aging in the United States of America:
implications for public programs.
International Journal of Epidemiology,31
(4), 776-781.
Facts and fictions about an Aging America.
Macarthur Foundation Research Network on
an Aging Society. Retrieved from
http://www.macfound.org/media/files/AGIN
G-CONTEXTS-FACTFICTION.PDF
Hobbs, F., & Stoops, N. (2002).
Demographic Trends in the 20 th Century.
Retrieved from
https://www.census.gov/prod/2002pubs/cens
r-4.pdf
Photo Credit and license: By Mabel Lamour
2015 Aging in America General Sessions.
Retrieved from
http://www.asaging.org/2014-agingamerica-general-sessions
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-ncnd/2.0/

MSG: The Culprit
By: Donald Daniel
Do you enjoy eating foods that really
taste good, but realize that it should
not have MSG included in the
ingredients? You still want to consume
foods like processed meats, salty and
sweet snacks, and the like, but learn if
it has MSG included, it is not healthy. If
you read the label to see that MSG in
not included, you may think it’s okay
to eat.
Is it really okay?
In time you realize there is not any
difference in flavor and content of your
food. It is still delicious, but has just as
much salt, sugar (maybe more) than
before. What is worse is that you still
have the same reactions as before (i.e.
drowsiness, dizziness, headaches) if
you eat too much without drinking
enough water. Reasoning with
yourself, the label says that it contains
no MSG. Why am I still having the
same reactions with what I eat even if
it does not contain MSG?
The answer is simple. Your food still
has MSG within it.
Before you find out why MSG is still
included in your food, let us find out
some background about MSG.MSG or
monosodium glutamate is a food
preservative used to make food taste
better. It was invented in 1908 by
Kikunae Ikeda, a Japanese man who
identified the natural flavor enhancing
substance of seaweed. He and a helper
realized the potential of this, therefore,
creating MSG. It did not come into use
in the western world until after World
War II when it was discovered that
Japanese rations were tastier than
American rations. MSG was considered
safe by the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) in 1959
(Mercola, 2009).
Ten years later, since Japanese meals
usually are highly concentrated with
MSG, is when trouble began in the
United States. “Chinese Restaurant
Syndrome” or “MSG Syndrome”
describes the numerous side effects
experienced after eating MSG
(Mercola, 2009).

People have always believed that
MSG helped make food taste better, but
in reality, it has another hidden
substance in the glutamate called
umami. It tricks the tongue into
thinking foods with MSG are more
delicious and taste heartier than those
meals without it (Mercola, 2009).
Many doctors have concluded that
MSG is dangerous because it is
considered to be an excitotoxin, which
means it is an overstimulation of your
cells to the point of damage or death.
This can explain what can cause
anyone who consumes MSG
continually to eventually have
conditions like Alzheimer’s disease,
Lou Gehrig’s disease, and more. It
could even explain why young athletes
have sudden death.
One of the best overviews of the
very real dangers of MSG comes from
Dr. Russell Blaylock, a board-certified
neurosurgeon. According to Dr.
Blaylock, numerous glutamate
receptors have been found both within
your heart’s electrical conduction
system and the heart muscle itself. He
said “When magnesium stores are low,
as we see in athletes, the glutamate
receptors are so sensitive that even
low levels of these excitotoxins can
result in cardiac arrhythmias and
death.” (Blaylock, 2005).
FDA tells food manufacturers they
must put ingredients on product
labels. Now the labels read “contain
no MSG” as many of you have seen on
labels before. To confuse the
consumer, they place it under another
name. Beware of products containing
hydrolyzed soy protein, hydrolyzed
wheat protein, anything that contains
the words “hydrolyzed”, “amino acids”,
and/or “protein”. Also, E54, contained
in Saccharin, is in soft drinks, candies,
and cookies (Zellar, 2013).
Food manufacturers are aware the
public does not want MSG in their
foods. Unfortunately, they continue to
use these and many other names in
their list of ingredients. Making the
list so long will discourage the
consumer from reading it. Their
intention is for consumers to settle for
labeling which says “no MSG or MSG
free”, and continue to buy their
product (Truth in Labeling, 2006).
If you care about your health and that
of your family, continue to say NO to
“MSG, The Culprit”.

References:
Blaylock, Dr. Russell (2005, April 25 th ) Athlete Alert: Renowned Neurosurgeon Identifies Aspartame & MSG in Sudden
Cardiac Death. PR Web. Retrieved from http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/04/prweb225071.htm
Mercola, Dr. Joseph (2009, April 21 st ) MSG: Is This Silent Killer Lurking in Your Kitchen Cabinets. Mercola.com. Retrieved
from http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/04/prweb225071.htm
www.TruthinLabeling.org (2006) Misleading and deceptive use of “No MSG” to hide MSG. Retrieved from
http://www.truthinlabeling.org/nomsg.html
Zellar, Sassafras (2013) Ingredients to Avoid Besides Monosodium Glutamate. Say NO to MSG. Retrieved from
http://saynotomsg.com/basics_list.php
Photo credit: Health Freedom Alliance (www.healthfreedom.org) article" Warning­MSG­in­American­Foods­
Disguised­Under­40­New­Names­You­Havent­Heard­Of Hidden in Foods."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The Healing Power of Laughter
by Mike Moore
Laughter isn't just fun and enjoyable; it's good for our health. Each month modern medicine is discovering more
about the therapeutic dimension of humor and laughter and is encouraging us to add them to our wellness program.
The Health Benefits of Laughter
When we laugh we...
* lower our blood pressure.
* promote relaxation and reduce stress.
* increase the oxygen level in our blood giving us more energy.
* increase the endorphin activity in our body resulting in a sense of well­being.
* are able to keep things in perspective
* banish boredom
* are more socially attractive. People enjoy being with those who laugh easily and often.
* increase our enjoyment of life.
Laughter has been called social glue because it bonds us to the people we laugh with.
The message is clear: To live better....Laugh more.
If it feels good to laugh, then laugh to feel good.
This is an excerpt from Mike Moore's latest book Light Up With Laughter
available at www.motivationalplus.com/store.html
Subscribe to Mike's FREE newsletter Lifeline at
mailto:sendlifeline@sendfree.com Committed to the enjoyment of life
Mike Moore is an international speaker and writer on human potential,
motivation and humor. He can be reached at http://www.motivationalplus.com

7 Reasons Why attractive men marry less than attractive women
By: Mika (Ann) Frank @ datingann.com
1. He wants depth: A real man will not marry a woman solely based on looks. When he decides to marry
someone he considers the entire package. Physical attractiveness, mental stimulation,
emotional compatibility, spiritual connection, etc.
2. She got her own: Men don't like being used. With that being said, ambition is a
desirable trait for many. If a woman has a successful career, her own money, and she
motivates him in his career and life goals...why wouldn't he lock her down?
3. She can cook: Some women are so independent and hard at work that they fail at being domestic.
Most men want to come home to a clean house and home-cooked meal. Looks aren't as important as
someone who can throw down in the kitchen. You know what they say: The way to a man's heart is
through his stomach.
4. The sex is bomb.com: A priority for just about all men. This usually puts a woman in the running
towards becoming wifey.
5. She takes care of him: Just as women like to be pampered, men like it too. Massages, gifts,
compliments, affection...it's all love! But not every woman does these things for their man. The other
woman may have mastered this and it has him hooked!
6. She's honest: Everyone hates being lied to and there's nothing like having someone that will tell you
the truth...even when it hurts.
7. Her life doesn't revolve around him: She isn't the needy, nagging chick. She doesn't bother him when
he's out with the guys or unable to cater to her. She knows how to give him space, because she has her
own life to tend to.
Mika’s blog can be accessed at datingann.com and her Twitter @DrAnn721, Facebook @DatingAnn,
Instagram @DatingAnn

Metabolism for the Fit Individual
By Andrew Mills
The dictionary defines metabolism as the sum of all biochemical processes involved in life, or the sustaining of life.
In application concerning our health, metabolism is related to the intake and use of food. In reference to the case in
point it is our ability to utilize our food to the fullest extent.
Right now, the greatest results in raising our metabolism come from exercise and building our muscle mass, while
reducing our body fat. Adding more muscle to the body, in turn causes us to burn more calories, and this helps to
elevate our metabolic rate.
Our metabolism functions also depend on how well we have taken care of our nutritional needs. Some people have
really high rates of metabolism. In other words, when they consume food, their bodies burn it up almost as fast as
they consume it. Then there are those of us who use our food intake so slowly, as to not even notice that we’re
burning calories. These people who burn quickly are often slim and trim, the people who burn more slowly are the
people with a tendency toward obesity.
The body’s metabolism is a unique process for each individual person. No two people metabolize food at the same
rate therefore no two people have the metabolism. We all use our calories at different rates, with different results.
Our metabolism, like our fingerprints is unique to each of us. But the need to understand and accommodate this
metabolism is an issue that we all face.
All of this metabolic process is related to our calorie intake, our vitamin and nutrition needs, our thyroid and
endocrine production, and how well all of these processes come together. For years, people have sought ways to
raise the metabolic rate. If you can raise someone’s metabolic rate, you are then better able to control the burn of
calories, especially for overweight or obese people. This would make the goal of better or improved health a much
easier reality for those people. Efforts to date have produced very little results. There are foods that we can
consume that naturally raise our metabolic rate, but not to a great extent. What we need is a way to directly alter
the rate. We need to be able to raise our metabolism to a point where we can actually see a benefit.
This is where the effort to stay physically fit and active provides tremendous payoff. Over the course of your life, if
you stay active, exercise, and maintain optimal health for your muscles, you will see a tremendous difference in the
rate that your body metabolizes food. As people age, their metabolism quite naturally slows down. The greatest
way to prevent this from happening is through exercise and staying fit.
I believe through careful analysis, exercise, and attention to each person’s unique needs, we could bring about a
more natural balance of the metabolic burn vs. the calorie intake. To a level where optimal health and weight
control are in equilibrium. Read more articles about health at http://www.anabolic.ca and
http://www.dietpost.info or http://www.takingsteroids.com and http://www.fitnesspost.info
webmaster of http://www.anabolic.ca and http://www.takingsteroids.com http://www.dietpost.info
http://www.fitnesspost.info and many other websites for over 5 years.

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My New York Story: Jeffery Albert
By: Merlyndi Prosper
“Oh darling, you are no ordinary genius. You are a
Jeffery and we Jefferys are far more genius than the
other geniuses out there. How do you think we
Coils the color of midnight: that's what stood out
about her. Big puffy coils that hugged her head. She
strutted into the spa last week wearing the bluest
dress he had ever seen. It clung to her bosom and
waist and, as if knowing that she could only be held
in momentarily, released its grip and hung loosely
down her legs. “Saphire,” she said, “My name is
Saphire, like my dress!”
“Albert,” he replied. “My name is Albert.”
“Oh, you're Mrs. Jeffery's son. Pleased to meet you!”
she responded pleasantly, stretching out her hand. His
hand sank into her sponge of a hand. Her fingers
curled around his. Her perfume wafted over to him
and hugged him gently. He remembered every detail
after all this time.
“Albert?” interrupted his mother. “Albert darling,
what are you doing? Isn't there something important
you could be attending to? A piece you could be
working on for the show tomorrow?”
“I am just taking a break before I head to the gallery.
Even geniuses need to decompress Mother.”
managed to work our way to where we are today
Darling?"
It was always the same with her. Somehow, the
conversation always worked its way back to the
greatness of the family, the superiority of the Jeffery
gene. A gene that his parents had exploited to the
fullest. His father had amassed a fortune, always
giving credit to the Jeffery gene for his success. In
reality, however, Mr. Jeffery had embraced
underhand business practices and tax evasion on a
massive scale. His latest enterprise was this spa,
Banya, which he has created to keep his wife
occupied, and more importantly, to write off as a tax
loss.
Although Albert loathed his mother's intrusion into
his thoughts of The Saphire, he knew she was right.
His entire artistic career depended on this show. He
had spent hours locked in his studio, fussing over
every minuscule detail on each piece. As much as he
desired to reminisce about that encounter with her, he
had to prepare for tomorrow.….
Albert glided up the steps into Banya the day after
the show. He planted his long, tan legs firmly on the

marble floors. His head stood erect on his perfectly
browned neck. He looked everyone he met dead in
the eye, daring them to speak to him. No one did. The
show has been a success, in his opinion. Although he
hadn't sold any pieces, he was confident that his
vision had been communicated and appreciated.
Soon, the offers would come pouring in. He just had
to be patient.
As he approached the front desk, he saw her: the coils
were held back from her face by a black, thin hair
band, her dark eyes glistened like the jewel she was.
She looked up from her computer and smiled at him
warmly.
“Mr. Jeffery how are you Sir?”
“Please, call me Albert.”
“Okay, Albert.”
“How do you get your hair like that? I noticed those
curls the first time I saw you.”
“What else have you noticed?”
He smiled. Before he could respond, an article on the
computer screen on the front desk captured his
attention. From the distance, he made out his name in
the headline. “Excuse me” he mumbled to Saphire
and ran to the computer.
The headline ran, “Art but no Artist.” Albert's legs
wobbled like that of a calf taking its first steps. He
continued reading:
Last night's showing by Albert Jeffery at Canada Art
Gallery on the Lower East Side was a profoundly
disappointing affair. Mr. Jeffery's work showed no
distinction between that of my 3 year old doodling on
a wall and that of an “accomplished” graduate of the
finest art school in the country. His pieces gave not
the slightest indication of either artistic depth or of an
understanding of the artistic process. There was art, if
I dare call it that, but the artist was absent. It was
simply paint on a canvas.
“I braid it at night with coconut oil.”
“Ah, I was wondering how you got it so shiny.”
“You noticed that?”
“Yes. I'm an artist. I notice everything.”
Defeated, Albert fell helplessly to the ground. Saphire
noticed his despair from across the room and ran to
him. “Are you okay?” she asked, grabbing his arm
gently to help him up.
“I am fine!” he shouted in an angry daze. “I don't
need your help.”

She walked away without saying a word.….
As far back as he could remember, heat had always
soothed him. Albert was a summer fellow. But in the
middle of December, the sauna at Banya was the only
place he could be embraced by cleansing, soothing,
detoxifying warmth. After that review, he needed to
be cleansed, soothed, and detoxified. He had
considered every angle of the critic's argument, yet,
he could see no plausible justification for such a
thorough dismissal of his work. He had spent hours
working on those pieces; exploring every emotion he
had ever felt and laying them bare on canvas to be
appraised by people who knew nothing about him.
He felt used, vulnerable.
At that moment Saphire walked in. It was the first
time he had seen her since the morning after.
“Oh, I didn't know anyone was in here. I heard a
noise and came to see if anything was wrong. Sorry
to bother you, ” Saphire stated nonchalantly and
started walking out of the sauna.
“You're not bothering me,” he responded. “I am
actually glad that you're here. I wanted to apologize
for the way I acted the other day...the things I said. It
seemed like you have been avoiding me.”
“Yes, I have been,” she shot back, raising her voice
slightly. “I understand that you were upset. You had
reason to be. But that gave you no right to yell at me.
I did nothing but try to help. What you did was unfair
and I didn't deserve it!”
“You're right. I'm sorry. It won't happen again.”
“Ok. You're forgiven,” she replied, fixing her
chocolate eyes on him. “What's that?” she asked
suddenly.
“What?”
“That thing on your chest. I never noticed it before!”
“Oh that,” he stated somberly. “Well, this is a scar. It's
a constant reminder of the worse day of my life and
the most pain I have ever felt. It's quite sad.”
“Really? Were you shot?”
No.”
“Stabbed?”
“No.”
“So what is it then?” Saphire asked impatiently.
“Well, for my 18th birthday, my parents rented out
the biggest yacht they could find to throw me a party.
They invited all my friends, including this girl, Lyot,
I was in love with. Before the party, we were all on
the lower deck fishing. I'm not sure how this
happened, but when I tried to throw my line out, the
hook got caught right here,” he said, pointing to the

scar on his chest. “It was so painful! I yanked it, like
an idiot, and it ran up my chest! There was blood
everywhere! I was terrified! I thought I was about to
die! And what made it worse was that Lyot laughed
hysterically at me and said that I was an imbecile.”
She never looked at me after that! I was so hurt. To
make this worse, I asked her to dance at my party and
she said no. She laughed at me and said, “I don't
associate with stupid.” I went to the bathroom and
cried for a few minutes at my party!”
Saphire couldn't stop herself. It started as an innocent
giggle in her tummy and by the time it made it 's way
to her lips it was full-blown, uncontrollable laughter.
Tears ran down her checks. That story was possibly
the funniest thing she had ever heard. “Please tell me
that you're kidding. That was a horrible birthday. I'm
sorry.” she said, as more tears streamed down her
cheeks.
Jeffery looked at her with cold, dead eyes. He
couldn't believe that she had found his tragic story so
amusing. “Wait,” he exclaimed, “You find humor in
my misery?”
“Ornery? Absolutely not! I open myself to you, I tell
you about the most tragic, hurtful experience of my
life and you laugh at me?”
“You're serious? That was the most tragic experience
of your life?” she asked perplexed.
“Yes it was,” he responded definitively.
“Please tell me you're joking.”
“No I'm not.”
“Wow! I'm not sure what kind of bubble you've lived
in, but the world is bigger than your crush not
wanting to dance with you. People in this city have
real problems.”
“And I don't?”
“No you don't, if that is the worst thing you've ever
experienced.”
“Please tell me about you're tragedies!” Jeffery
demanded. “Tell me what you have been through that
was oh so terrible!'
“That story was hilarious. Please tell me that you're
just being ornery.”
“You wouldn't begin to understand.”
“Try me.”

“Ok. My parents died when I was 16. They were
coming home from their anniversary dinner and their
car was hit by some idiot. The driver was drunk. He
got off because he had money and could afford a
spectacular lawyer. The state wanted to separate my
brother, sister and I but I fought to keep us together. I
dropped out of school and worked three jobs to take
care of us. I recently finished my GED at night
school. So when you talk about pain Jeffery, yes, I
know what that is.”
'Well, it doesn't matter what caused the pain, pain is
pain. And I know pain!” he retorted. “I have been
through things too! I lost my cat when I was 10, my
mother refused to get me a pair of shoes that I
wanted. I know pain too!”
examined every possible reason as to why he would
allow this “girl” to affect him so much but he could
come up with no plausible explanation. It was
obvious that she understood nothing about him, after
all, she had laughed at his misery. But then, maybe in
contrast to her life, his experience was a joke. Was
that it? Was his life, his work, his entire being a joke?
Was that what the critic had seen in his work?
Nothing? Nothingness? A man whose whole life has
been a series of empty experiences with no depth?
Was that what he was?
The walls seemed to move in on him and the p uppets
crushed his body, squeezing the life juice out of him.
They laughed and jeered at all he was and all he
wasn't. Air left his nostrils and refused to come back.
In the silence that ensued, a divide that never existed
before between Saphire and Jeffery suddenly
appeared and grew exponentially. A transparent
space, yet filled to the point of bursting with
unspoken disappointment, seething anger, unfulfilled
desires. Saphire walked away without saying a word.
….
Sunlight filtered through the lace curtains, creating
odd puppets that danced with abandon on his face
and partially clothed torso. He had gone to bed in his
At that moment, he had an intense desire to paint
something. Anything. He frantically jumped out of
bed, pulled the curtains apart, silencing the puppets,
and ran to his studio. The canvas in front of him was
no longer an ally. It was his nemesis. He attacked it
with hard, intense strokes that seemed to pierce
through it. He had no time to clean the brush and the
colors melded together. Every emotion he had ever
felt came surging through his arm and clamored to be
set free on the canvas.
black silk boxers. Saphire plagued his thoughts. She
was the puppet dancing on his brain. He had

He painted frantically for what seemed like hours,
expending all of himself, the parts he knew and the
parts he was oblivious to on the canvas: anger,
Saphire, responsibility, family, loneliness, Lyot,
disappointment, the critic – everything came through
in frantic, schizophrenic lines and non-lines.
He opened the door and there she was at the front
desk lovelier than he remembered. She noticed him
and smiled shyly. Without saying a word, he walked
up to the desk and placed the painting wrapped in a
white sheet in front of her. There was a note.
“Don't open it until I leave.” he said.
When he was spent, he stood back and examined his
work. He noticed streaks of light coming through the
blinders. They hit the canvas at specific spots and
seemed to lift the strokes off the canvas. His
emotional outburst had produced a masterpiece of
color. Shapes, he didn't know he was capable of
producing were juxtaposed next to and on top of each
other, creating undefinable conflict and palpable
tension. Lines with no beginning and no ending were
scrawled all over the canvas. He stood in front this,
his best work, raw and austere. The streaks of light
caught the tear that ran down his cheek. Staring at the
canvas, brush in hand, he had no idea where he was
heading.….
He walked up the steps to the spa. It would be a while
before he made this trek again. The bag on his back
She obeyed him. Suddenly, it seemed, he could
compel her to obey him. He smiled openly, at her and
walked out.
After he left, she removed the sheet and was
astonished at the colors, the intensity, the raw
emotion that was let loose on the canvas. She could
scarcely believe that Albert had painted this. Had he?
“Why would he have given it to me if he hadn't
painted it?” she thought. The note. She foraged
through the sheet and retrieved the note.
“I'm sorry. Thank you. See you when I find my truth
and become the man that I was supposed to be.”
She smiled and stared at the painting, wondering
where he had gone.
contained everything he would need for an extended
“vacation.” To where? He had not even the slightest
clue. Fate would point him in the right direction.

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