2 must-see classic French films

A story about first love, so sweet and tender — and so fragile. And a story about transporting a very special car from Paris to Amsterdam.

What could go wrong?

Of daffodils and tanks

Daffodils in the depth of winter: Will they stand against ice, wind and rain? A country overtaken by an invasion: Can it endure? Lessons amidst frailty.

Your new trip around the sun

A few days into the new year, a friend greeted me this way: “I hope you enjoyed these first days of your new trip around the sun.” — Say what?

Going nuclear is back on the table

For a long time, nuclear attacks were expected in any war in Europe. It was part of the fear we lived with.

And now the nuclear attack option seems to be back on the table.

About a backpack

When I was going train hiking in the summer of 1975, I purchased a new external frame backpack.

I had no idea it would still be with me on travels all these many years later.

The old man with the bicycle

Youth hostel. Old man choosing to stay there among all those ‘kids’. I’m glad he did, because I learned great travel lessons that have served me well in the decades since.

All that snow…

Winter x 3. I’ve lived through winters in Sweden and Iowa. With cold and lots of snow. But it’s in Arkansas we’ve just emerged from 10 days of being stuck in snow. Even so, I love winter. And snow.

Between 2 countries, finding a place to belong

What could a story about a woman moving from Ireland to Brooklyn in the 1950s have in common with me moving from Sweden to Iowa in the 1970s? Actually quite a bit more than I thought just from watching the movie trailer.

Shaping the story of your 2021

New Year. Resolutions made and then broken. We set goals and hope. Here’s a roadmap to shape your story in the next 12 months. With the end solidly in mind.