Driving to eastern TN today. Hardcore Trump country, where some of the most “conservative” (think Handmaid’s Tale-style patriarchy and religion conflated with politics) population in America reside. Home of MarkWayne Mullins, our new Sec’y of Defense War Conflict WTF-we’re calling it today. Going to visit a very sick brother, and hoping that he’s not as ill as I suspect.

Age has been on my mind a lot lately – it colors almost everything I do and consider doing. This trip puts a sharp point on it – no one’s getting out of here alive, and the cold hard facts of life in one’s 70’s and beyond are attention-getting. At this point every good day is a big win.

Today I wish for safe driving down I-75. Trucker paradise, a bit dangerous for passenger cars. We might stop at Buc-ee’s today just to say I’ve been to one.