Podcast (play or download) A reading/slideshow of an essay in my new book, American English, Italian Chocolate.More
Category Archives: Essay
Bridge–getting up off the mat
My freshman year of high school the wrestling team had no one to put in the 95-pound weight class. That meant at every meet the team would forfeit that match, giving the opposition five points for free, and an automatic advantage in the final score. The coach at the time was a guy named Jack…More
Hello, Mr. President (a reading)
Podcast (play or download). A reading/slideshow of an essay in my new book, American English, Italian Chocolate. More
Coffee Me
Where to find a good espresso in Italy? Everywhere, of course. But what is it about train stations in Italy and coffee? Train station bars have the best coffee ever. You order at the cashier, present your receipt at the bar, and get served coffee that, well, just makes you want to travel by train,…More
Bean, Fagiolino, Haricot Vert
Why do green beans in Italy taste so good? I’ve been feeling lonesome for green beans since we got home from Italy. Early Tuesday mornings over there, in the piazza just up the street from our building, Marco Stanchini sets up his fruit and vegetable stand. He’s open for business until noon. By the time…More
Dear Family and Friends,
Some years ago I had a very depressing conversation with my brother, Tom. We were talking about how quickly time seems to pass, and as an example, how the summer months, which seemed to last forever when you were a kid, fly by when you become an adult. Tom, you probably know, is a math…More
The Sway of Earth
Are you not moved when the sway of the earth shakes like a thing unfirm? We have clams for lunch. For dinner, earthquakes. First, a food report from a restaurant on the Adriatic. The photos below were taken at a fish place called La Marianna that my wife LOVES. It’s in Rimini, next to the Roman-era…More