It’s a grammatically butchered term, and I’m sure sociologist and psychologists have a more technical or clinical label for it. However, regardless of what we call it, it’s a behavior pattern that is easy to recognize: acting out in public like a teenager. Like someone who’s in high school. Like someone who is probably old … More The High-Schoolization of Society
In the introduction of The Old Money Book, I talk about the scenario of two people who receive a financial windfall. One person handles the inheritance poorly. The other person handles the inheritance well. It may surprise you to know that many people, not just the wealthy, are going to receive an inheritance or some … More Anatomy of a Windfall
We usually associate bravery and courage with specific acts of physical prowess involving danger and risk. The person involved could be injured or killed. The consequences of failure are definitive and real. Success is victory. Little lies in the space between. But there’s another less acknowledged kind of courage. It’s the courage to examine certain … More A Special Kind of Courage
In addition to being stunningly beautiful tokens of love, diamonds have enjoyed an enduring reputation as being a highly portable, highly liquid, and highly desirable asset. While not as predictable as gold or real estate as a hedge against inflation or as a safe haven for wealth, they nevertheless gave a sense of security to … More Diamonds Are Not Forever
As many of you already know, I write nonfiction books (The Old Money Book et al,) screenplays, this blog, and songs (a new addition, The Brooklyn Side of Town, has just been uploaded. Enjoy!) And like most everyone else, I write emails and texts regularly. So I have a little experience and a lot of … More The Medium and The Message
One of the unique anthropological/cultural experiences I’ve had with the purchase of the chateau is meeting some aristocrats who live in the area. I met a few in Paris, of course, but the ones who’ve remained in the country, with their estates and way of life in tact, have been more accessible, and perhaps more … More The All-Important Perspective
After ten days of entertaining American friends in Paris, I am back to the welcome quiet of the house, fairly recovered. While I’m the most sociable of people for short periods, I find myself a little burnt after extended visits. But I love my friends, and I was happy they had a good time. Sitting … More Correct Me If I’m Wrong…
Not too long ago, one of our longtime contributors (The Salty One) forwarded a link to an insightful and timely article by well-known columnist George F. Will. You can read it HERE. Mr. Will makes a few good points. He bemoans the creeping 24/7 casual nature of dress today. He notes the reverse-snobbery of a tech … More The Lost Art of Dressing Appropriately
This article recently appeared in the Washington Post. As someone who’s attitude toward social media fluctuates between ‘suspicious’ and ‘hostile’, I find it refreshing and somewhat comforting. Coupled with the Surgeon General’s warning, perhaps we’re slowly but permanently turning a corner on this health hazard. Enjoy. I quit social media in college. This is how … More Leaving Social Media: One Woman’s Journey
As many of you know, I’ve been living in France for a few years. It’s offered a distance in which to view current events taking place in my home country, the United States. What’s more, I am exposed to the much older history and the much more nuanced perspective of Europeans in general, and the … More Our Country’s Biggest Decision Ever