We had just crossed the border from Spain into France last month when Pat sighed and said, “It’s nice to be back home.” It was, to my mind, an odd thing for him to say. I think of Pat as… Read More ›
the world inbetween
Morning in Sevilla
9:15 AM January 19, 2023 Bar Alfalfa, Sevilla, Spain: I walk into a staccato of Spanish. Loud. Animated. Relentless. It sounds like a fight is about to break out, yet it ends with a slap on the back, a hug…. Read More ›
Beauty and the Beast
I came of age in the 70s—went to a travel agency to buy my plane ticket home from college, stopped at the bank to deposit my pay check and get a bit of cash, browsed the university library card catalogue… Read More ›
Thanksgiving and the Rest of the Story
The Callahans are convening in Charlottesville this year. A local French chef is preparing our Thanksgiving dinner. A baker in town is making the pies. My sweating and swearing days in the kitchen are—thankfully—over. As a family, we will gather… Read More ›
A story about wine—and life
This story begins in late August of this year at the restaurant Parc on Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia. My son Ryan, Pat and I had all ordered the steak frites. My job was to choose the wine; I wanted a… Read More ›
The World In Between 