Croutons
On our Cultural Differences handout, there was no missing the only sentence written in all capitals: NOTHING IS STABLE. YOU CANNOT PLAN.
Phishers of Men
Say what you will about jam bands and hippies—Phish fans have enthusiasm. More than the music, more than the thrill of seeing famous performers, I liked the concert for its energy.
Pretty as a Peach Pie
I lingered over the sultry sweetness of that slice of pie…and then had peach pie and hot black coffee for breakfast three mornings in a row.
Tongue Ties
Between the cobblestones and the hills, nothing is level here in Perugia, Italy, and although I’ve wandered through almost all of the piazzas, vias, and alleys of the historical center, I still haven’t found a right angle. Nothing is flat. Nothing is straight. ...
Seussian Politics
I’m not calling for a retreat into idealism. That said, I do see the merits of altruism. So what if it isn’t practical or realistic or the way things work?
Making it Happen
I had been camping once in my life, the summer after graduating from high school. I went with a few friends and contributed by helping hold the tent up after it fell down.
Digging
Between my finger and my thumb
The squat pen rests; snug as a gun.
Signs of “The World that Ought to Be”
Real writing, writing that involves careful feats of attentiveness, helps us discover not simply one opinion or another about the way things are, but rather it helps us realize the way things ought to be.
Swimming in Tongues
I began to think that being immersed in another language feels something like being in the ocean. Once you get through the initial fear and shock, it’s an addictive feeling.
Steely Dan at The Fox
That relentless perfectionism is a big reason why, 35 years after their commercial peak and 10 years since their last studio album, Steely Dan is still such an incredible live act.
