Happy birthday, Wil!

I hope you came away without getting sick. To greet people with politeness without skin-skin contact, why don't you adopt the Thai greeting - the wai. You may already know about this, but if you don't...you press your palms together in front of your face, as if in prayer, and bow your head slightly. A low wai, fingers at chin level, for any old us; a middle wai - thumbtips at nose level, for older, more senior, more respected individuals; and a high wai, hands at forehead level, for the King of Thailand or a Buddhist abbot should you ever meet one. When I was in Thailand a few years ago, I saw a rough-looking motorcycle gang greet each other with a low wai - a bizarre but telling sight.

It's about time you took off into the world of fiction. I look forward to your stories. Best of luck.