In Love with France, At Home In Italy

Although friends came to Yale from California and Orvieto for my talk, many who wanted to be there could not, so I promised them and myself that I would write a written version that would allow them to feel as if they had been there. Most Yale Fellows presentations are in the evening, but I was asked to participate in a bit of an experiment by giving my talk over lunch. Although it was recorded by a well-intentioned student videographer, that recording contains some funny flaws that make it clear that the person behind the camera should not quit her day job. Despite the clattering of dishware and odd lightning and sound issues, I am very glad to have that video recording. But as a technodunce who prefers to rely on the written word, I’m going to record a written version of it here.     As attendees trickled in to what ended up being a full house, I had playing in the background Fats Wallers’ inimitable catchy version of “I’m gonna sit right down and write myself a letter, and ...

Everything was unusually calm and well organized at the airport. WHAT? Where was all the chaos that always tells us we're back in our adopted country? Instead of having to run around like a nut in order to find a porter with a cart big enough to hold our dog's crate (which happens to be larger than some Paris apartments), we stumbled on a cute guy named Luigi who said he'd be back for us once our luggage and dog arrived. The typical situation is that our dog Murray gets unloaded first and is plopped down in front of the "large and irregular baggage" department. It's usually no problem to find Murray because once he hears our voices, he starts barking very loudly, conveying the internationally comprehensible message, "GET ME OUT OF HERE!" This time, before we knew it, the bags had all arrived, and lovely Luigi brought Murray to us, whisking our entire load to where our friend, Roy, was waiting to pick us up with our car. Could ...

1. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU TRY TO LIVE AND GARDEN IN TWO COUNTRIES AT ONCE ? YOU GET THE DUNNING LETTER YOU DESERVE FROM LEE, THE HEAD OF THE COMMUNITY GARDEN WHERE YOU'VE HAD A PLOT FOR THE PAST 3 DECADES. NO GETTING AROUND IT:YOU'VE GOT TO COME TO TERMS WITH THE DIVESTMENT PROCESS When Dick Cavett asked Katherine Hepburn about the sacrifices in her private life that she had to make in order to forge a career, she said without hesitation or regret, "You can't have it all."   Then there's the play, "You Can't Take It With You" that I saw as a kid too young to "get it." Here I am at 67.5, still trying to "get it." Hi, Lee, Thanks for your thoughtful message. You have explained the situation tactfully, and of course you are right.  I have had that spot since the community garden began, and I remember fondly having Helen, Dottie, you, and Mildred as my gardening neighbors. I also recall wonderful conversations wit...