Optimism and the Covid narrative

I’ve been thinking about the state of the Covid narrative. Not the broader social and economic story, that will be … More

Out of the frying pan and into the lap of luxury

I feel like the future is simultaneously wide open and closed down. I’m not talking globally, though that’s certainly the … More

A one-way ticket to Paris

I love that sense-sharpened feeling of arriving in a new place. Taking it all in, eyes wide open, as you … More

The 80/20 rule

In the absence of going places, I’m thinking about things again. The Atlantic had an article where a self-proclaimed clutter … More

Note to self: an experiment

I’m going to start writing more frequently, on a schedule (-ish). To see if I can write without being first … More

Where I hang my hat is home (and there’s nothing to hang your hat on)

We’ve been nowhere but home lately, with very few exceptions. This feels strange for someone whose life’s aim is going … More

Like riding a bicycle, or getting back on the horse

It has been a long and tortuous road getting French driver’s licenses.  In an absolutely unfair twist of fate, I … More

We’ll always have Paris*

So here we are back in Paris, thoroughly bewildered, 7 months after departing on a long vacation and over 4 … More

Learning to settle

Early in our winter travels I said to Mark that I realized that we had everything with us that we … More

The town that would not let go

Our winter travels have had an unforeseen bookend:  Montpellier.  We’ve always liked this town as I’ve mentioned many times; it’s … More