No one wants to be advertised to, but to be entertained. No one wants to be sold to, but to be understood. Mastery is to achieve both.

Small talk didn’t bore him, it terrified him. Each conversation presented a stage, where a performance must take place. Posturing, commenting, all done while walking the balance of being aloof while still engaged. Peppering trivia, facts, and just enough gossip to maintain a status of importance. In an ideal evening he’d leave feeling accomplished. And…

King Solomon touted forty thousand stables for his horses and chariots. Numbers of mind numbing volume. Poor stable hands.

Real loss. Real tragedy. Real hardship. Interwoven with magic the best fantasy is that which is reflective of the challenges of the human condition.

Gifts: moments that passed and are now reflected on with fondness. Gifts: stories of encouragement from others. Gifts: outpouring of hospitality.