Traveling down remembered paths allows
me to see the past from a different angle.
In the wilderness excursions with my family there
was an emphasis on peripheral vision – paying attention
to the details that surrounded us.
In books, the traveler pays attention by learning to
read between the lines: to factor in personal experience
and historical context.
None of these inquiries are about constructing an
idealized past or ignoring the flaws of earlier eras,
but rather to gain perspective and a clearer under-
standing of the flaws and hidden messages embedded in
the now.
As a writer, retro-vision enables me to access the spice
of a given moment and those vivid details that provide
an unseen depth to the story.
