“I certainly don’t Google my name hoping to discover a buzz. That idea makes about as much sense to me as sitting down to a family dinner at 16 while peaking on a…

“The summer we fell in love, which was the summer of ‘72, we were both home in Schenectady, New York on break from our respective colleges, Kirkland and the Manhattan School of Music.…

“I am a victim of Greek Village Restaurant Syndrome. Anyone who has spent more than a week in a small Greek village knows what this is. You have three restaurants in the village,…

“Jonathan Raban, another gifted traveler, has addressed himself to why travel books and travelers who write are of such abiding interest. He might have been speaking of Leigh Fermor: ‘He is a creature…

“Tom Robinson of the Tom Robinson Band was—for me—the first queer punk rocker. I’m sure others came before, but Tom was the one who broke through into my consciousness—via the eclectic record collection…

“‘You’re so angry. Why are you so angry?’ he asked, almost in a whisper. ‘Life is why. So, tell me, my wise, calm friend, where I can register my complaint? Whom can I…

“After the Atlanta Braves removed Chief Noc-A-Homa’s teepee in 1982, and the team lost 19 of the next 20 games, our son, a devoted Braves fan, blamed the gods. The team’s creation of…

“When I was in the third grade, my unseasoned student teacher from Long Island insisted my use of the word ‘crick’ was incorrect and went so far as to contend that there was…

“For decades, Daddy made this yard a place for gatherings, a place to roll out a slip-n-slide, and a spot vitally important for the dogs. Its useful flatness and walkability make it an…

“One of the commands I give myself daily is the short Latin phrase, ‘Amor fati.’ This phrase means ‘Love of one’s fate.’ It’s an order from me to me. If you like, it can…