Newsletters
Not bullshit
A Special Word
From one of our sponsors As you may know, we've had one of our kids here since just before Christmas in order to obtain her Italian citizenship. It's been wonderful having her here—for starters, she's an amazing cook, and also, it's
Pause
That is all. Pause /pôz/ 1 : to stop temporarily, especially due to uncertainty. 2 : to linger for a time. I’ve been thinking a lot about pauses lately. Big ones though. Not those vital, bite-sized interruptions where you deliberately slow down for some predetermined period of time and retreat from
Forging A New Purpose
On International Women’s Day Even before turning sixty last Fall and the weight of another new decade plopped itself down on my shoulders, my thoughts turned frequently to the question of purpose. Specifically, what was mine. Indeed, this newsletter is chock full of that subject and my notebooks are
You Spin Me Right Round, Baby, Right Round
“Reading departure signs in some big airport, reminds me of the places I’ve been. Visions of good times that brought so much pleasure make me want to go back again.” —Jimmy Buffett, Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes Hi there! Last week I had the good fortune of spending
Spirit Days
Welcome to 2025, the year of the Snake, number six of the twelve year cycle of animals appearing in the Chinese zodiac, and who’s story goes something like this: A race was held to cross a river, and the order of the animals in the cycle was based upon
Devouring Time
Blunt thou the lion's paws Support my writing with a paid subscription The American poet and novelist Jim Harrison (Legends of the Fall, True North) once said of turning older: "I used to explain to students…the difference between poetry and you is that when you gaze
Jante Rules of Life
Everything you need to know about societal living, inclusion, humility, a proper way of life, and achieving a unique state of balance without pride, greed, or jealousy
Episode I
Of all the grim journeys a soldier may face none may be more daunting and unpredictable than returning home from war. Read the first episode of my new novel, The Dead Lion, with a free subscription
The Steve and Francas
Flourishing together in a variety of roles
Repost: Time on Our Hands
This week, we're taking a step back in time to look at time itself. It fits in nicely with water, which holds, as I mentioned in last week's post, power over all other things. Except, perhaps, time. Particularly, as I quote in the article, mind time,
It Ain't Just the Money
The Secret to Living Longer support my writing Last week I wrote about the connection between income and cost of living, which can be either good or not-so-good news depending on where you are (it’s all bad news if you live in Mississippi—$30k lower than the US average)
Strings of Unknown Forces
By far the most often response we get when we tell people we meet—especially younger generations currently hard at work—that we left America to come to Italy is one part equal measure 🫶 of course you did to 🤌🏼 what is wrong with you? The latter opinion usually coming down