I read an obituary today

belonging to a total stranger,

a lawyer. It was long,

but what was interesting

was that after the military,

after high school,

undergrad, grad school,

and law practice,

he took up flying over the Great Lakes.

And building miniature trains.

It turns out there are societies

dedicated to these pastimes—

these hobbies people turn into passions—

where members congregate

year after year

to put their energy into something

just because it makes them happy.

And when I read that obituary,

read about that man’s life and passions,

I got to work on mine.