Today, I randomly opened Detour on the Eternal Road to page 67. With eyes closed, I pointed to the page. The word closest to my finger is “approach.” This is the prompt today.
Approach by John W. Howell © 2026
“Nice approach. Now let’s see you sink that one.”
“You know it makes me nervous when you are watching.”
“How can I help but watch. I’m right here.”
“Maybe you could just turn around and look the other way.”
“That is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. It can’t make that much difference.”
“But it does.”
“Why?”
“Well, I know you will be evaluating my technique.”
“Technique?” Oh, come on now. I’ve watched you sink hundreds. I don’t recall a technique.”
“So you say.”
“I’m serious. If you asked me to explain your so-called technique, I would be at a loss for words.”
“Could you humor me then?”
“And turn away?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, all right. I was going to offer some advice, though.”
“Like what?”
“Once you sink that bird, tuck it under a log. You can then come back for it.”
“That is a great suggestion. Where’d you learn that?”
“You know that old gator who hangs out in the West swamp?”
“Grumpy old fart?”
“That’s the one. That’s his approach to saving the game. He taught me that.”
“Well, okay. Thank you. Never mind the turnaround. Here I go. I know just the log.”
“When you come back, we’ll lie out in the sun.”
“I’d like that. See you soon.”
Fiction Favorites 
I have to agree. When you are being watched, it throws the entire process off. I knew golfers who couldn’t drive the ball if anyone in their group was watching, crazy! And there are a host of other examples of individuals who look like total dunces when they are being watched. The New York Jets, for example . . .
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Ha ha ha. Good one.
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Performance anxiety is a pain.
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Ha ha ha. Thanks, Charles.
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You’d think I would have figured out this one early since there’s plenty of gators in Florida, but … no 😉 I do recognize performance anxiety, rather too keenly.
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Yes. Too bad we all can’t ignore it. Thanks, Marie.
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For a minute there I thought you were approaching in a submarine and sinking something else.
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That would have been good, too.
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Almost sounds like we have hunting or bird dogs today. Or maybe Ospreys.
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Nope, just good old gators.
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Thanks for the clarification. 🐊
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Hah! You horns waggled me, John. I was thinking fly fisherman or fisherman. But I suppose you can consider an alligator a fisherman!
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They are close. Thanks, Noelle.
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Caught me! Good’un, John.
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Glad you liked it, Jim
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Cool one, John. It’s good that the grumpy gator was teaching by good example for others to preserve their game.
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A good way to look at it, Tim. Thanks. 😊
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😊
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Good one, John, for some reason I thought golf at first 🙂
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You were supposed to think of golf. Thanks, Denise.
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very good
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Thank you, Yvette.
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🙂
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😊
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Ha! I thought you were talking about golf! Joke’s on me … as usual. Well played, John!
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Ha! That’s some approach alright. Thanks for the grins, John, and the nod to the sun! Sounds good about now.
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We have some sun today but it is fading now,
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Oh, that is a good one, John. No way in hell I could figure that one out!!
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My job is done here.
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You led us along a merry path today, John. Well done.
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Yes. Very deceptive, Dan
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See ya later, alligator! (Sorry.)
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Seems appropriate.
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🙂
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You had me going John!!! Yikes.. i’m running..
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My first thought was a basketball, but I knew you wouldn’t make it that easy, John.
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Detour on the Eternal Road is a very entertaining and great book. This is a fun gator story.
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Clever one, John. I’ve seen enough of your style to know you weren’t talking about golf.😊
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