An Exploration of Curiosities
Cemeteries train the eye to glance downward. As if the thought of death weren’t somber enough, most are flat and grey. The only breath of life – the occasional wilting flowers that rest beside headstones. If you have the opportunity to visit the cemetery, Père Lachaise in Paris, you’ll …
I’m fascinated by individuals who make waiting tables their profession. My forearms have balanced trays. My fingers have pulled tap handles. And once-upon-a-time, I served cocktails and peanuts at 32,000 feet. The service industry is physically and mentally demanding, which is why a few months …
Fifteen years ago I attended a luncheon and met a delightful woman, Penny McConnell (former owner of Penny’s Pastries in Austin, Texas). Ms. McConnell gifted me a treasure, her famous butter cookie recipe. This paper relic, stained from use, has claimed a permanent spot among …
Scattered below, in no certain order, are observations I’ve made since moving to the land of lederhosen and schnitzel. If you have opinions you’d like to share, please leave a comment below… When greeting a couple, German men often extend their hand to the woman …
How did I find myself weeping on a church pew at a memorial service of a woman I didn’t know? By chance. The day my 4th grade daughter made the choir team, she was also asked to perform in a memorial service for the …
Grandma’s house during winter was filled with the scent of citrus and baked bread. Surrounding her home were acres of fertile land. You name it, she could grow it. Next to her house was a concrete storm cellar where glass jars filled with bounties from …
Balancing two trays of lunch specials on my forearm, it was impossible to avoid the Alan Rickman glare of distaste on Mr. Z’s pale face as I approached he and his wife’s table. As I set down their lunch fare, he grabbed my arm, “My …
I was nervous embarking on an international flight to Frankfurt with Fern and Edith, two ladies I didn’t know. Their expressions on board were a cocktail of mixed emotions. Doubt, love, anticipation and fear culminated into one mind numbing elixir, Remembrance. This wasn’t a vacation, …
I have a trail of crumbs to follow, some are my own… I want to visit Les Deux Garçons, where M.F.K. Fisher sipped sherry while her girls indulged in glasses of lemonade in Aix-en-Provence. I want to find the lounge in Paris where Craig Claiborne …
