An old Buddhist maxim: “Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.” The maxim comes to me now, not in terms of enlightenment but in terms of travel. Just got back from Mexico, and am off to Africa in just over a week. Six and a half acres to be mowed, garden to be weeded, hundreds of e-mails to answer, phone calls to be returned, bills to be paid, business to be set up, loved ones to be connected to. Chop wood, carry water.