It took me a really long time to learn to walk.  That’s the way I’ve been about most big developments in life; I rarely just decide to do something on the spur of the moment. Instead, I hesitate, analyze, worry over what could go wrong.  Baby me probably didn’t want to… Read full post »

I take a breath.  How am I going to write this email without seeming overly upset?

After a few minutes, I begin:

Hi guys, 

I just want to thank you all, on behalf of myself and my brother (and Hermes) for all your help in spreading the word… Read full post »

OSer Ingrid Ricks’ new memoir FOCUS starts out like a nightmare:  During a routine eye exam, she’s told the slight vision problems she’s been having might be more than just a side effect of getting older.  Another examination reveals that she has retinitis pigmentosa… Read full post »

People are often surprised when I suggest a cemetery as one of the things they should see in Paris.

Of course, Père Lachaise isn’t like most cemeteries.  Named for a Jesuit priest and confessor of Louis XIV who once owned the land, Père Lachaise opened i… Read full post »

My friend Ellen had a dollhouse that had been constructed for her by a family member.  Made of thin pine boards.  The carpets of the tiny rooms, I realize now, were mere green felt.  But what a thing it was, an elaborate maze of stairways and small spaces.  Even the dolls… Read full post »

One day many years ago, my mother took my sister and me to the veterinary clinic where she was working.  Though she often let us visit her workplace (cats with tiny anesthesia masks on, kenneled dogs crazily barking, and the odor of benedyne pepper my childhood memories), this time was… Read full post »

Over the past few days, the boyfriend has single-handedly built a wall-to-wall sliding-door storage closet in our living room. Banned from the construction site because of my clumsiness (and rightly so; yesterday, for example, while carrying my computer, I somehow slipped on our non-slippery floor, c… Read full post »

A response to Beth Mann’s post, “My Secret Republican Side”.

It’s hard to see completely clearly within yourself, but I know that most of the major decisions I’ve made in my life point to love being what motivates me.  Which made it sort of funn… Read full post »

Our cat Ali tries his best to beat the heat.

 With some exceptions, including most office buildings, museums, and movie theaters, a majority of French interiors are sans air-conditioning.

When it comes to modern conveniences, the French often seem to be behind… Read full post »

Nearly two decades after their rough divorce, my parents still don’t exactly get along very well, to put it mildly.  One of my father’s constant criticisms of my mother is, “She likes animals more than people.”  Seeing that he was forced to live with at least… Read full post »

Yesterday, Poppi Iceland's Open Call about our immigration stories got me thinking.  As I looked for posts I'd written about my ancestors' immigration to the United States, and mine to France, I came upon one that still made me feel indignant.  When I got onto OS today and… Read full post »

Those of you lucky enough to catch the Oscars last night (here in France they were only aired on a pay cable channel that we don’t have…sigh….) probably saw the funny, handsome Frenchman Jean Dujardin win Best Actor for his role in The Artist.

As he accepted his award, Dujardin&r… Read full post »

“I got a job offer from a company in Luxembourg.  Great salary. I think I’m going to take it.”

“Luxembourg?”  I try to hide my shock. “But what about Singapore?”

“Well, yes, but I’ll make more at this job.  Singapore was a dream,… Read full post »

                                                      &n… Read full post »

Though hard economic times have led to lots of restaurant, café, and clothing store closures, it's rare that a Parisian bookstore fails.  On the other hand, I’ve read with sadness and horror about the closings of many US bookshops – be they chain stores like Borders, or smalle… Read full post »

I knew this year that things wouldn’t be the same.  All Saints Day falls on a Tuesday, which means that a lot of people could have a four-day weekend by taking off  the day before  (most French people do this whenever a holiday falls in such a way – there’s… Read full post »

Europe is full of beautiful monuments and historic sites.  Unfortunately, not all of them are open to the public.  The journées européennes du patrimoine (European Heritage Days), created in France as la Journée portes ouvertes dans les monuments hist… Read full post »