It’s the holiday season, and often we’re inclined to be more generous this time of year. We give gifts to express our love and gratitude to those we care about and those we do business with. We even give to perfect strangers. It’s a great feeling to be on the receiving end of generosity, but … More Generosity: A Tricky Business
After relocating to Paris from Los Angeles several years ago and more recently combing through the belongings of Mommy Dearest, I’ve had, once again, time to consider the mixed bag that is material possessions. More precisely, I’ve had the chance to identify what makes a worthwhile acquisition, even as we try to streamline our lives … More Material Possessions: How To Define and Refine Your Choices
We can never be certain of what our legacy will be. What we leave behind after a life lived. We may work to instill values in our children that will serve them well after we’re dead and gone. We may strive to create a fortune so they might live without worry. Our body of work … More Serge Gainsbourg and The Concept of Legacy
It’s inevitable that we accumulate material possessions. We need to be sheltered, clothed, fed, and nurtured, so we buy or rent a house or an apartment and fill it with furniture. We buy pots and pans so we can cook. We purchase clothes which will, at minimum, keep us protected from the elements. We purchase … More Pretend You’re Moving
The last couple of weeks have been a little foggy. My apologies for the absence. And thank you all very much for your condolences during this time. It is comforting to hear such kind words from so many of you, most of whom I’ve never met. London, Los Angeles, and San Francisco have all figured … More The Kindness of Strangers
I’ve adapted to (and adopted much of) Parisian life over the past few years. My American ‘go go go’ mentality has been beaten, bent, reshaped, and refined. Instead of long hours of hit and miss effort, I now work intensely in focused and compartmentalized blocks of time, then walk away from the task at hand … More Getting Things Done
Sad news. Mommy Dearest suffered a stroke recently and did not survive. Even though she was in her eighties, we are still in shock: her health was much improved in recent weeks after a life-threatening downturn in August. She lead a nonlinear life. She had no profession or career in the traditional sense of the … More Mommy Dearest: 1936 – 2022
I just wanted to share the latest news on the film front. Our French Thriller screenplay was included in the Second Rounder nominations for this year’s Austin Film Festival. We’re honored and excited to have the script receive such recognition from our peers in the industry. I’ll keep you posted as things progress. Thanks again … More Film Festival News: Austin Film Festival Second Rounder
I am the first to admit that I live in a ‘bubble’, privileged, fortunate, and removed from many of life’s troubles, much of its harsher realities, and a lot of its drama. I reside in Paris. I’m healthy. I do work that is meaningful to me. I’m financially independent. I come and go as I … More Paradise Lost: Service in the Post Pandemic World
My apologies for the gap in posting. A series of out-of-town guests, numerous work projects, and a short trip to Nantes have interrupted the usual workflow. Our foreign correspondent David was in Paris recently. We had a coffee at the cafe across the street from my office and discussed all manner of things: solutions to … More Recommendations Update: The Rolex Dilemma