Taking the long way home

The direct route gets us there. The longer route sometimes reminds us why we went out in the first place.

There is a turn on the path where the sea comes into view all at once. The road above is faster, but the path offers this small change in scale: a few minutes ago, a shopping list; now, a horizon.

I used to think of a detour as time borrowed from something more important. These days I am less certain. A little unplanned time can return us to our plans with more room around them.

The long way home is not always available. Some days are tightly arranged. But when there is a choice, I like to take the turn that lets the afternoon last a little longer.