Closer to Heaven than Earth: Milo, again

I detest airplanes. The food isn’t real. The schedules are make-believe. Even the smiles are forced. On airplanes, everyone wears a mask. Give me a trainride any day. People show their real selves on trains: happy, sad, grouchy, horny,
all the emotions out in the open. On a train, people see and feel the motion of time and are swept along with it. No one has “train-lag!” On airplanes, except for take off and landing when people are gripped with the idea the plane could explode any second, you don’t feel the passage of time and space.
The fact that we’re following the same route that our dear departed Prof. Lockwood took several weeks ago is not doing wonders for our moods. At least the wine, while inferior, is plentiful.
Just as Prof. Lockwood was on his way to get his first look at the area of Sybaris, so we are bringing Esperanza and Danny back with us, to smell the salt air and intoxicating scent of the Bergamot oranges---- “the scent of the saint!”
Esperanza would not be denied. She means to “hook up”(her words) with the spirit of Mia and that’s final. Maxine just shakes her head, but I think she understands what Esperanza is experiencing. After all, in just a few months she has gone from helping her sister at a brothel to a recognized and true Goddess! And besides Danny is coming along, someone with whom Maxine would like to “hook up” (her words!!!)
Danny has agreed to take over the job of “Scribe” for this computer site. As part of his Master’s program, he will document what occurs in Sybaris, as well as assisting me in editing my biography of St. Sybian. He will take over once we get settled back in Sybaris.

I must quit now. I've just discovered an Email from Fr. Raynor has come in for Maxine.