The Slice: Smoke gets in your daydreams

What do you actually think about when cooking out?

There is a limit to how much someone with an active imagination can concentrate on hamburger doneness. So the mind wanders. But where does it go?

Here are my top 25 guesses. See if any of them connect with your reality.

25. I was wrong about Bob over there. I used to think he was a piece of work. But he’s really not a bad guy.

24. What would this house fetch if we put it on the market?

23. Was that cashier flirting with me or am I totally delusional?

22. Remember what happened last time I ate too much potato salad?

21. What’s the name of that one song that was in that movie?

20. What do my co-workers say behind my back?

19. I know what I’d say to him if my dad were alive.

18. Is my memory going? How will I know?

17. Money.

16. Do I live as if I believe outdoor recreation is the meaning of life?

15. How to get an elderly relative who needs to give up driving to agree to do so.

14. Is there an honorable way to repair a strained friendship?

13. I need to stop thinking in a way that suggests I believe Spokane defines me.

12. Attending the big family reunion in August: yes or no?

11. Sex.

10. If Independence Day were in December, it would easier to stay up until after dark and watch the fireworks.

9. If you knew then what you know now, how might your high school sports career have been different?

8. Boy, except for the criminals, sociopaths, underachieving parents and people who vote against their own interests, Spokane can be pretty sweet.

7. I wonder if I could throw a curve ball.

6. Family health matters.

5. Tomorrow would be the perfect day to start my weight-loss/fitness regimen. I’m not kidding this time.

4. Should never have sold that old Impala.

3. Wonder where that bee’s hive is.

2. If people could read my mind, would they be surprised?

1. Good grief. I just put this on and there’s already a stain.

Today’s Slice question: When you are on a summer vacation far from here and mention that you are from the Inland Northwest, what do people say?

Write The Slice at P. O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210; call (509) 459-5470; email pault@spokesman.com. On this date at Expo ’74: Liberace.