The pursuit of happiness should not be the chase of a lifetime.

I moved for the third time when I was 15 years old. I was just finishing my Freshman year of High School. My crush of two years, Joey DiWilliams had finally kissed me! And, I had a job lined up at the local city pool for the summer. Life was very good.

My Dad felt he would have more business success living and working in the suburbs than he would have living in the city.

When he told us “suburbs” we pictured cookie cutter houses all in a row with a park at the end.…

Amtrak's Southwest Chief comes gliding past the old ATSF depot, sounding only after the locomotives clear the building. I look away for a moment or two, thinking about traveling. When I look out the window again, the sun is glinting off the stainless steel of the coaches as the last of the train cross the trestles toward Illinois. I'm reminded of the silvery sides of a fish flashing as it leaves the water. only to disappear once again beneath the murky depths.

I can't shake…