A former colleague asked me to trade my book, The Wanderer, for his latest book—and to inscribe it.
Tired from a day of work at the local health department, I searched for quotes about wandering. There were some good ones such as “Not all who wander are lost,” but they are so recognizable as to be clichés.
An author can’t plagiarize the inscription in his or her own book. Unthinkable.
I’m only looking for inspiration, I told myself…and then I typed it: When you wander, everywhere is a destination. I think that statement is original. It feels original. I didn’t see it in the endless lists of quotes and sayings. Then again, is anything original, or is it just a clever variation on a theme?
The folks who oppose California’s governor were also trying to vary a theme: vote rigging and violation of constitutional rights. It was yet another Trumpism poisoning our democratic system. I’m no fan of either political party, but the anti-maskers and anti-vaxxers and conspiracy weavers are not originals. Hitler used the same playbill.
Carole J. Garrison 