This is about curiosity.

We were driving home. A notification came in from our neighborhood alert: there was an accident, reported gunshots, at a major intersection near our home. It was an intersection that we would soon be routinely passing through on our way home.

I was already mapping out the detour in my mind. My passenger, Flo, insisted on continuing on our way without diversion.

“Let’s see what’s going on”.

I had no interest in “seeing” – no curiosity -- but drove on toward the intersection.

About a block before the intersection, police cars, with lights flashing, prevented us from getting any closer and guided us away, and around. Because of the police activity, we were forced to take the detour that I had originally contemplated.

(We later learned that one of the cars involved was on its way to the hospital taking a person who had been accidentally shot - hence the initial report of gunshots.)

The different reactions of driver and passenger to the initial report made me think about curiosity ---an inherent trait that goes far beyond whether to take a detour on the way home.