The document is a collection of quotes and descriptions from a vacation. It describes a storm approaching on a boat, the disorientation of being in a new place on vacation, spinning and feeling directionless but not rudderless absent usual routines, the infinite complexity and beauty generated from simple ideas, longing to travel close to edges, how mystery is the source of art and science and being in awe is living, and how fireworks represent the experience of vacation.

1. vacation 2008

2. “ Relaxing in her little boat with Lady, engrossed with her new toy, Ada has been slow to notice the darkening sky. The storm was almost upon her before she started the electric motor and headed for shelter.” Ashland . A sudden wind kicks up leaves and topples plants. She clings to me at the sound of thunder.

3. “ The zooming restarted, but in the reverse direction, and in a micro-universe now transformed by color. No one said a word until they were back at the original complete M-Set, now an ominous black fringed with a narrow border of golden fire, and shooting off jagged lightnings of blues and purples.” Family . Vacation takes you outside of your everyday to new places. Sometimes it’s hard to communicate when your vantage-point on the world is turned around.

4. “ Already she was trifling with five dimensions, four having proved too simple. Like Newton, much of the time she was ‘sailing strange seas of thought -- alone.” Playground . Absent her usual friends and places, she would spin around and around as if at sea, often directionless -- but hardly rudderless.

5. “ For who could have possibly imagined that so absurdly simple an equation could have generated such -- literally -- infinite complexity, and such unearthly beauty?” Beach . We so often long to travel as close as we can to the edge.

6. “ The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand wrapt in awe, is as good as dead.” Needle . Fireworks are, in the end, everything.