The London of my imagination is a nighttime city, a city of twinkling lights reflected in the Thames, of old-fashioned lampposts, of warm windows full of laughing people glowing into dim streets. Sometimes it’s even like that in real life. One night I walk home from seeing a show at the Globe and I feel … Continue reading
Tag Archives: walking
The Apple
It is hot in London, hot-hot. Everywhere I walk are lobster-faced people, limbs sticky with sweat. Yesterday I walked home in the afternoon from Sunday lunch. I had walked there in the sun over Tower Bridge, mid-tourist season, the bridge clogged with hesitating crowds all wanting the same photo in the same spot, distracted by … Continue reading
Walking the Bounds
When I was young, we were forced to read Ethan Frome for school. I found this novel utterly infuriating because one of the major themes is that the titular character leads a depressed, reduced life because he’d “seen too many New England winters.” Now, New England winters are tough, but they don’t KILL people. Okay, … Continue reading
Staged Magic
I went to the last performance of ‘The Duchess of Malfi’ at the Old Vic. When I entered the theatre clouds of frankincense wafted over me. What an evocative scent, one that will always remind me of trying to find calm in a turbulent time. I burned frankincense candles in Egypt when all was going … Continue reading