3 November 2019

“Can’t you see it?” she asked me. “It’s Leonardo Da Vinci’s tiny French commune.” “I’ve been walking for like an hour and I’m exhausted. I’m going to sit on this bench over here for about two days,” I told my ephemeral guide. “Perfect. Right over there. Nope, one more bench over. There, you got it.”…

22 October 2019

The Lady and the Unicorn rained magic upon me. A Mon Sevl Desir – According to my will only. There she stood—a queen, a goddess, emerging from her royal pavilion. She planned to return the magnificent jewels once bestowed upon her to a faithful servant for safekeeping. Fantastical bestiary of the forest ensure her passage…

21 October 2019

Preparation for my upcoming trip was littered with travel expectations and extensive, more like obsessive, planning. France owned me. The kids made it clear they were over it. “All you think about and talk about is France,” my oldest repeated, deservedly irritated with a lack of parental attention. “What will you do when you don’t have…

22 August 2019

With about forty days left before I hit the skies for France, the pace of preparation is picking up. And so are the travel jitters. It’s no mystery that I’m excited for this research trip. Hiding my enthusiasm isn’t a thing. Nor is it something I attempt to muster the capacity to achieve. I let…