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Three books, free for the asking
Remember about a month ago, when I introduced the undisputed-queen-of-creative-inspiration, Keri Smith? And I listed 10 ways to make yourself miserable as an artist? No? Well, never mind. What matters...
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What’s your mid-year resolution?
Yogi Berra’s aphorism may be funny, but it rang true on December 31 as I pondered the year ahead. “What do I want to accomplish in 2014?” I asked myself. “And where do I want to go?” Although the...
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July 4 goes out with a bang
Caution: Contains a disturbing image. July 4 is a big deal to many Americans. Some people celebrate by gathering the family for a barbecue; others attend civic events or parades. But for an increasing...
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To my favorite companion …
I’ve learned many lessons during my trips to Bruges, Sedona, Venice, Rome, Reykjavik, Heidelberg, and Paris. (Especially Paris.) But here’s the most important lesson of all: Your choice of a travel...
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Want a revolution? Be afraid. Be very afraid.
“The Palace of Versailles helped us understand the French Revolution,” I wrote in 2006, after Steve and I took a day-trip out of Paris to see the (in)famous home of Louis XVI and his queen, Marie...
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What I did on my summer vacation
I’ve unintentionally copied the French and have taken August off. It’s not that I haven’t wanted to blog … as you can see, I have plenty to say: It’s just that I’ve had other priorities, like my...
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Catching up with Colmar
I haven’t felt much like shooting this summer, and I think I just figured out why: I still haven’t finished sorting through the 6,000-plus images I took while traveling with Steve last December! Well,...
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A lesson in life from the dying
Steve’s mom died yesterday. In happier times, and in matching home-sewn outfits. Although her passing wasn’t entirely unexpected, I cried when I got the news — mostly because she was gone, but also...
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The magic of Chautauqua, New York
I’ve lost track of how many times Steve and I have driven to Chautauqua — he grew up there, so we’ve gone back often to his beloved summer home. The view from the dock Steve’s family used to own. His...
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A World War II hero comes home
I don’t know whether it’s because of my father’s Scottish heritage or my mom’s literary roots, but storytelling runs in my family. Family stories can only be passed on if they’re preserved, though, so...
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In case of wild dogs, please call …
While I was out walking early one morning, I had a thought: “What if I keel over, or get chased by wild dogs, or am hit by a car?” (Because I think about these kinds of things during my morning walks.)...
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Walking in the foosteps of WWI
One of the highlights of my trip to Paris in December of 2013 was a visit to the Catacombs with my friend Des, author of the extraordinary Soundlandscapes blog. I was happy to share with him what I’d...
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I am not afraid.
I haven’t written about my stupid brain tumor in a while. Yes, it’s come to mind occasionally (please pardon the terrible pun). But — except for some temporary blindness and a bit of vertigo — it’s...
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The day Freiburg was destroyed
According to an eyewitness who survived the bombing, the residents of Freiburg never saw it coming. They had every reason to think they’d be spared: Their small city in the foothills of Germany’s Black...
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Make every day Thanksgiving
I admit it: I can’t top my 2012 Thanksgiving post. Reading it today, I was struck by how grateful I felt just to be alive. And please don’t get me wrong — I still am! Insignificant as I may be, I still...
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Why every kid should collect stamps
I admit it: I feel a bit nerdy confessing I collect stamps. I’m not sure how it all started, but I think it’s my father’s fault. He used to travel a lot for work, so he had friends all over the planet....
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Au bord de la Seine
I was walking along the Seine on my last night in Paris when I heard the soft strumming of a guitar and laughter coming from the quay below. I paused for a moment to listen, and it was only then that I...
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PLEASE KEEP BLOGGING
The post from Melody Moves to Bulgaria was the first thing I read this morning as I was lolling in bed like a walrus, my head still hazy and heavy with sleep. “So, here is the truth about why I haven’t...
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Birth of a new major religion?
According to Google, we have a fourth major religion! It doesn’t offer any festive holidays, but at least it’s easy to convert: Simply click “save as,” and then choose “PDF.” Happy holidays, friends.
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Looks like you’re stuck with me
Just got the radiologist’s report: ‘No change in the nonenhancing mass adjacent to the right atrium.’ (In English, that means, ‘the brain tumor appears to be stable.’) Looks like you’re all stuck with...
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