Excerpts from an email, from an acquaintance, a couple of weeks ago… “I had success young, which was not completely a good thing. I tended to confuse ‘right place/right time’ with expertise, and took my licks accordingly. “After a setback, I managed to dig my way out and become financially independent. I had just turned … More A Change At 40
I’ve reposted a couple of articles from Tatler, the iconic British magazine that chronicles all things royal, aristocratic, old money, as well as the newly minted and just plain famous. If you want to follow lords, ladies, dukes, and duchesses and keep current on who’s currently dating, marrying, giving birth, divorcing, or dying, Tatler is … More Fulfillment After Success
In response to a blog comment/question (which I cannot locate now, for some reason) I wanted to offer some insights into what makes a rewarding, relaxing, and enjoyable vacation. My apologies for misplacing the comment. And thank you, dear reader, for the inquiry. First, I would suggest that you really do some soul-searching first. This … More The Old Money Vacation
I recently had coffee with a friend who is a few years younger than me. He had returned from a vacation abroad with mixed emotions. Alas, the experience had not been all he’d hoped for. Yes, he had seen memorable monuments and enjoyed some exotic cuisine. He’d slept late at a luxury hotel, a much-needed … More Not The Demographic
We all have people in our lives who have the admirable and sometimes irritable ability to dissect, analyze, compliment, and condemn with uncanny accuracy. Some are close friends or colleagues. Some are strangers to us and remain at a distance in the public sphere. Critics of art, literature, or film, fashion editors and media publishers, … More The Role of the Snob
David, our steadfast foreign correspondent, recently brought this article to my attention. While I follow a vegetarian diet (vegan if it weren’t for croissants and pastries), I believe the suggestions presented below have merit. Enjoy, and thank you, David. No snacking and plain food: Why an upper-class diet is better for your health Do you … More The Upper Class Diet
One of the bigger challenges for those of us not raised by wolves is interacting with people who were. Like many of you, I was raised to be polite. To have an awareness of others and to be courteous whenever possible. I habitually open doors for people, usually ladies, but sometimes elderly men or people … More Being Polite in a Rude World
My apologies for the extended absence. My non-writing life has been quite a mixed bag recently, and my work has suffered as a result. But the issues have all been resolved, and a somewhat more structured work schedule can now resume. Earlier this year, I received an email from a young lady. She had been … More Back Among The Living
I returned to Paris last week and was lucky enough to catch up briefly with another American expat. He and I are about the same age and our backgrounds are similar, so conversation flowed easily. One topic we discussed was inflation was inflation: how it impacts people in different ways, depending upon their age and … More Inflation…and What We Remember
We are often told about the importance of making a good first impression. It is wise advice because it is timeless and often accurate: make a good first impression, and odds are you have a good chance to experience a productive social, personal, or professional relationship with the other party. Make a bad first impression … More The Last Impression