In the movie the old man spoke the names of businesses as he passed them. It drove his son-in-law to distraction. I realized that my husband does that. He will read the names of 100 restaurants as we pass but not stop at any.

Does he do things like that to hear his own thoughts? How can I possibly know. The thing I do know is "I am very hungry, I don't speak Spanish. We are in Mexico.I can order for us at KFC." On Good Friday in Mexico KFC should not only be spoken but stopped at.

The muffled, artificially cheerful voice came on over the loudspeaker, startling the miniature dog across the aisle. A head poked out from a pink plush prison, alert and searching. Ears cocked, it listened attentively to the newest update.

I had read somewhere that some animals have no sense of the passage of time. To them, a flight delayed two hours would be no different from one that departed on time.

Among the rolled eyes and exhaled sighs, the tiny head retreated. We both settled in to wait until freedom was granted again.

When I travel, it seems that my soul travels slowly and stays behind for a while. If I travel for three hours, it will take until tomorrow. If I travel around the world, it will take at least three days.

This is not jet lag. I am not tired. I feel a disembodiment, a total lack of connection with where I am. I am certain I have left my soul behind.

I sit with friends in the evening and I stare into space

They say, "Are you thinking about a story?"

"No," I say, "I am waiting for my soul".