Driving before sunrise and away from the black hole of Silicon Valley is always very fast. As if the universe is encouraging me to leave (irony again). The reverse commute commonly takes three hours, but I may wait until sunset to help shorten it. Today I don’t have “my appointment” in Menlo Park, so I have a bit more flexibility in my schedule. I walk through the metal detector without issue: I long ago gave up all my jewelry, partially to match my public persona. No ring. No watch. No phone. I do carry a money clip as a memento, but simply place that in a bin for the belt. I am well armed, but not in a way any normal machine could detect.
❧❧❧ I did not enter this room — The room seems to be in a hospital, which does strike a memory. I came into a hospital recently. I went to Stanford Hospital. I was very sick and ultimately couldn’t move without help. My family drove me to the hospital. Is this Stanford Hospital?
❦ I find Nancy’s office — and wait for our appointment. My ability to predict traffic enables me to be about ten minutes early for our meeting. I wait patiently. Some things need time, and I have all the time in the world. But only for things that ‘age well’. Many things rot over time, so speed is essential. Hence the morning coffee-powered interaction. I focus on the digital clock behind the secretary.
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