One cool spot when you need a getaway is WeekiWachee, where the mermaids smile and wear no scuba gear. Even a fast look at this quirky spot, a piece of Florida history, can be entertaining: https://weekiwachee.com/about-us/history/

Vacations are health-promoting. And that’s what stories are for too, really: a health-promoting vacation. If you can fly to Paris to meet your friends for a party tonight, or swim with the mermaids this weekend, either one might give you a refreshing new look at things. If not, stories make great escapes — inexpensive and always convenient.

I’ve been working on another batch of stories for you —and me— to enjoy in bursts, and another novel as sustenance for the longer go: reading material to add spice to your next long business trip or your transAmerican bicycle ride. To make sure you’re covered I’m faithfully doing my job — which, I admit, is a little like telling myself a story to see how it ends. You and I will find out together.

The first reviews are coming in for The Emperor’s Golden Carp and Other Stories. Good ones, fortunately. If you haven’t already found your own copy, the one left on your pillow by a loved one, why wait? You also qualify as one of your loved ones. You could just stop by and purchase one for yourself at your local bookseller, like the One Stoppe Shoppe near me, or order a copy online. Your reviews are welcome.

A little getaway here and there never hurts. Let’s all give the world another few weeks of our usual heroism, whatever it is we have to conquer, with some great escapes as mini-vacations between battles.