On May 27th, just a few short days from now, a dear friend of mine will retire from teaching. To be fair, this isn’t the first time. He first retired several years ago, certain that he had done his duty. Bored out of his skull a few months later, he rejoined the campaign to stamp … More An Educator Retires
The slow retreat of Covid 19 and its Omicron variant have allowed me to safely plan a trip back to the United States this month. My last visit was in November of 2019. It’s been an eventful time in between, to say the least: a once-in-a-century pandemic, subsequent global travel bans, local and national lockdowns, … More The Mixed Bag: Returning to the US…Two Years Later
Of all the words that come to mind when you say ‘Paris’, ‘simpler’ and ‘less expensive’ are probably not frontrunners. The news media consistently lists Paris, London, Tokyo, and New York City among the Top Ten most expensive places to live. What’s more, Paris is often promoted–and often promotes itself–as one of the more glamorous … More The Simpler, Less Expensive Life in Paris
July 14th is Bastille Day in France, the date which the country celebrates its independence. Unlike Americans who threw fought to gain their freedom from a foreign ruler an ocean away, the French struggled to gain their liberty from home-grown rulers (royal heirs and self-appointed emperors) who often lived down the street. And it wasn’t … More Bastille Day: An Appreciation
I received an email the other day from a new reader. She was a little confused and asked me for an explanation: why was a blog about Old Money talking more about politics and Paris? It’s a fair question, especially for someone coming to the blog fresh, without the benefit of being on board since … More Old Money, New Ideas
I’ve recently received a couple of emails from American men who planning a move to Paris as soon as conditions permit. Both asked about how to purchase/pack/plan for the weather and the culture with regards to wardrobe, so I thought a post about my experiences in this regard might prove timely, and helpful. Hindsight is … More The Paris Wardrobe: Pack the Black
First, I wanted to say how much I appreciate the articulate and insightful comments so many of you have offered recently on our various topics. The detail and nuance in your perspectives is highly valued. Please continue to read, think, and engage with passion and civility. Second, I wanted to say a very heartfelt ‘thank … More 2021 Here In Paris…and Thank You
The Local France is an English-language site that covers news, politics, and culture, especially as they impact the expat community. I subscribed earlier this year as the pandemic hit France. The Local had current, relevant, and invaluable information posted on their website during the nerve-racking early days when separating fact from fiction was key. And … More French Table Manners from The Local
STANDARDS. I enjoyed and appreciated the contributions everyone made on the topic of ‘standards’. As I may have mentioned before, the comment that has stayed with me the longest has been this: your commitment to excellence will determine your quality of life. And that circles right back to standards. One of my resolutions for 2021 … More Standards, the Paris Update, and Vaccines on the Horizon
A few friends from the states–and our friend David here in Paris–have mentioned the Netflix series Emily in Paris. Initially, I could stomach only the first episode, so predictable was the writing. But with the encouragement of an American friend here in the neighborhood, I buckled down for more, eventually watching the entire series with … More Emily in Paris…Hit and Miss