“Where do we come from? Where are we going?” These are the questions posed in the new Dan Brown thriller, Origin.  I enjoy his books because they incorporate mystery, treasure, history, religion, literature, symbolism, cryptography, and travel.  At least three of his novels have been made into movies, including Angels & Demons, The Da Vinci Code, and Inferno, exploring landmarks in Rome, Paris, London, and Washington D.C. – all cities where I have already traveled, as seen through the eyes of his Harvard University symbologist Robert Langdon.  Langdon also appears in the Lost Symbol that also takes place in our nation’s capital, but has yet to be made into a film.  His first novels, Digital Fortress that takes place in Seville with main character Susan Fletcher, NSA’s Head Cryptographer, and Deception Point that explores extraterrestrial life along the Milne Ice Shelf failed to sell.  However, Origin, his newest creation,  takes Robert Langdon to Barcelona, Spain and focuses on the works of architect Antoni Gaudi is at the top of the best sellers.  I was not familiar with Gaudi’s bizarre style and have not been to Barcelona or any other part of Spain, so I’ve added a couple of lines to my always growing bucket list.

I especially love how Brown blends together fiction and carefully researched history.  All of his books are great stories, but I also leave with a sense of learning about the past. He makes history interesting just like Bill O’Reilly, who surprisingly does not incorporate his politics into his stories. Killing England, that I read just prior to Origin, was an eye-opening perspective on the Revolutionary War.  They are both books that make you think, and motivate you to learn more.  The free time associated with retirement has given me an opportunity to expand my knowledge of the past, through books and documentaries.  Unfortunately, my mind doesn’t seem to retain this information for long, just another reason to write things down.  I next hope to finish the Civil War documentary from Ken Burns.  I’ve started watching it on Netflix, but it’s another major time commitment.

On a totally different subject, the fall colors seem especially beautiful this year, reminiscent of the Midwest.  Is this just because I didn’t take the time to notice it during those working years?  Maybe the rain hasn’t been heavy enough to strip the trees of their leaves yet?  Or, maybe I just see a little more daylight now, since I’m not involved in a dark work commute, or working in an area without windows?  Could it be that I’m learning to smell the roses?  I give myself credit for noticing the beauty of Fall in the Northwest, despite the rain.   We’ll be back from New York in time to greet the trick-or-treaters.  As I think of costumes, I fondly recall my last attempt to dress-up for a Halloween party.  My wife’s neighbor back in Indianapolis invited us to a party, while we were just dating.  She posed as Betty Crocker, dressed in an apron and carried a rolling pin, while I wore a chef’s hat, dressed completely in white, including white-face and scarf.  Then I stuffed a pillow under my chef’s jacket to magically transform myself into fat-tummied, Poppin’ Fresh, the Pillsbury Dough Boy.  I might have even taunted a few of the other guests by saying, “Go ahead – Poke Me!  Or are you afraid I’m Casper the Friendly Ghost?  Hoo-Hoo!”  We’ve never been invited to another costume party, so it’s not “where we are going.”