Quelle surprise!

The time I spent recently in Montreal was fundamentally sans agenda. Yes, there were a couple of jazz shows for which I had tickets, but we didn’t have as much as a single reservation for dining or specific plans for the majority of the roughly 72 hours we were in Canada. Being wide open leaves … Continue reading Quelle surprise!

The deliciousness of Montreal

Twenty -four hours after I arrived home after a three night getaway to Montreal, I was still at risk of gushing about the experience. The accommodations, the live music, the epic walks and numerous bottles of wine enjoyed, the morsels consumed and the Canadian economy supported - all of it. It was delightful. None of … Continue reading The deliciousness of Montreal

Thankful for…

Yoga classes in dim light that leave me feeling peacefully strong. An Asian riffed soup with baby bok choy, mushrooms, scallions and chicken meatballs. A few nights ahead in Montreal. Two planned evenings of live jazz, a yoga studio, two bakeries, and a bagel place, all marked on my Google map of Montreal. Freshly baked … Continue reading Thankful for…

Thanksgiving, eh?

When one of my sons, a few months ago, suggested that we spend Thanksgiving in Montreal, I immediately ran with the idea. This holiday, which had been my favorite for many years, just doesn’t feel like a celebratory occasion when one learns about the atrocities (far beyond the singular Trail of Tears lesson taught in … Continue reading Thanksgiving, eh?

Saying goodbye to a generation

My Uncle Eamon’s kitchen, Broomall, PA, Fall 1989 The first time I met my Aunt Rosita was at a family wedding. This event marked the second time in my life that I shared space with a relative other than my mother and brother. I had been collected from the airport by Uncle Eamon and Uncle … Continue reading Saying goodbye to a generation

Whatever gets you through the night (and day)

I think it’s pretty clear that my moods (and mental health) are being determined to a great extent by the current situation in the States. Guess we should all get accustomed to being dictated to, right? I can’t understand why the population of what was once a rebellious, independent country, is allowing this travesty of … Continue reading Whatever gets you through the night (and day)

How can we sleep at night?

I’m tired of living in a country that exhausts me. Yet, still… I can’t sleep. The first couple of weeks of school always kick my ass. Trying to reacclimate to being constantly amongst other people professionally, while attempting to continue all the social activities that I enjoy, takes some time. Especially when sleep does not … Continue reading How can we sleep at night?