Dears, There are two “things,” or human behaviors, I witness daily that are perplexing when considered in tandem. Heck, they are vexing when contemplated in solitary. Thing One: The obsessiveness with which we hold doors open for one other. Seriously. Everyone holds the door for the next person coming through. I see it, day in…

Dears, I’ve been thinking long and hard about landscape and identity. Perhaps these thoughts began on the day I was born in an Eastern sea to a Southern family. Any mention of the Philippines causes me to imagine an ocean breeze coming into my nursery at Clark Air Base and lulling me to sleep. The…

Dears, As you may or may not know, we are residing at the Holiday Inn until we can move into our new house this weekend. This place feels like home, though, because we’ve gotten to know all the waiters, waitresses and desk clerks by name. They say good morning to us. And good evening. Our…