Y’all, this travel-writing life is the way to go. Seriously, it’s the deal. Except for the getting up early part, I’m loving it. That being said, it’s go-go-go, even by my standards. This morning I got up at seven-forty-five, and it’s been non-stop ever since. (It’s ten-thirty now.) The day started at the National Civil Rights Museum, located at the Lorraine Motel, the place where Martin Luther King was assassinated in 1968. It’s honestly one of the most striking and well-done museums I’ve ever been to. Powerful. Then it was off to lunch, and–my word–there was so much food. I’ve only been here two days, and I’ve already undone all the “good” those two flu viruses did for my waistline last month. Like, I’ve probably gained ten pounds. I can’t believe I’ve got a week of this constant indulgence to go–I’m gonna HAVE to start ordering salads.

Surely I can find a modicum of self-control SOMEWHERE in my suitcase.

After lunch our group split up, and I went with several lovely people to the botanical gardens. This is one of the things I am LOVING about this trip–we’re doing all sorts of things that I love but would never think to do on my own, or at least would never make time for. We were only at the gardens for an hour and fifteen minutes, but it was so beautiful and relaxing. Our guide referred to it as “forest bathing.”

After the gardens, we went to the Memphis Zoo for an hour. Again, it was a whirlwind tour, but–like at the gardens–we were on a golf cart and had a private tour guide. This is why I say this is the only way to travel–less walking, more shade, and tons of good information. Like, at the zoo we learned about a species of penguins who despise cold weather, as well as some monkeys with rainbow-colored bottoms. When I asked why nature would make such a thing, our guide said, “They follow each other a lot, so their rears need to be easy to spot. Plus–who wouldn’t want one?”

I mean, I know I would.

Y’all, at the zoo I was like a total kid. I literally gasped out loud when I saw the elephants, polar bear, and giraffes. Seriously–for all the bullshit that life creates, it also creates some AMAZING creatures (ourselves included). Maybe we just get used to seeing certain amazing creatures and take them for granted. But when I saw the giant pandas and the hippopotamus, I was simply stunned. What a phenomenal world we live in.

When we left the zoo, we went straight to the Peabody Hotel for the daily duck walk. If you don’t know, the Peabody is famous for their ducks, these five mallards that march down a red carpet and into a fountain each morning, and march right back out in the evening. People go nuts for this shit, myself included. I shot a live video of the big affair, if you’d like to check it out. On one hand, it’s kind of ridiculous, but then again, it’s fabulous.

When the duck walk was over, our group got a private tour of the duck “mansion” on top of the hotel–by the Duck Master himself. No kidding, that’s an actual job and job title. (Remember this the next time someone tells you that you can’t make a living doing whatever it is you want to do.) Here’s a picture of some of our group and the Duck Master in one of the Peabody elevators.

Here are the ducks and their master on the rooftop.

Having a couple hours to kill, some of us went to a museum, and the rest of us, including me, toured the hotel and got VIP tickets to a party on the rooftop. (VIP meant that we got two free drinks and access to extra food.) And whereas the party went on until eleven, we left just before seven-thirty to go to dinner (and eat even more). I could go on and on about the food (and gorgeous waiter), but I digress. Suffice it to say that the atmosphere was stunning (in addition to the waiter, the restaurant used to be a silent movie theater), and the food was even better.

More than anything today, I’ve enjoyed the company of the other writers. Everyone I’ve met is so kind, and it’s like we’re an immediate tribe, all these independent and freelance writers, everyone trying to make it on their own. We get each other. So far everyone I’ve talked to ask questions and listens. They’re interested and interesting. One guy used to coach swimming and tennis, and another lends his voice to a character in a popular anime series. (Anime is Japanese animation, Mom.) A husband and wife couple who own a magazine in Florida also used to teach cotillion.

People are fascinating (even if they DON’T have rainbow-colored bottoms).

Okay, now it’s just after eleven, and I HAVE to wind down. Tomorrow morning we are supposed to be out of our rooms just after seven, since we’re driving to a different part of the state (I think)–and I still need to pack. For these reasons, I’ve been telling myself all day that I’d keep tonight’s post short, which I haven’t. Still, I may need to keep it un-profound, as that might require more time than I currently have. But surely it’s profound enough to simply acknowledge and enjoy a great day, a day full of fascination and wonder, a day full of beauty from sunup to sundown, a day such as this or any other.