On a recent flight, I took to observing the person sitting beside me. Along with her CD player and newspaper, she carried about a small personal journal with a pen attached by rubber band.

What caught my fancy is that every once in a while she'd lay down her newspaper, or stop her own people-watching, and pick up her journal. She'd turn to among the beginning, middle, or end, having likely sectioned by who knows what, and start writing. Nothing atypical.

Yet I loved the fact that she saw something in the world or thought something in her head and had to write it down. I loved the fact that she was looking for those things to admire in the world and oft found those things. And seeing the journal as a tool that not only reminds people of the past, but reminds them to look at the present, I decided I need one of those.

Eug'was tired of thinking politically'ene