Rome I

On the Atlantic flight, my seatmate is actually Italian, Pisan. He works for a chain of fitness centers that are just expanding in Italy, and I rudely suggest that I thought European women didn’t exercise. The chain is like 24 Hour Fitness, or Curves, he explains. Yes, I’ve heard of them. Do I belong? I […]

Borrowing the Car

When I was eighteen, I could already drive a stick shift. Definitely. I had to learn to drive on a stick because that was the car my mom had. It was drive a stick or don’t drive. But I had never driven a European car– we had a Corolla. So at eighteen, I sat alone […]

This is the Place

In two weeks, I am flying to Rome. I’m going because if I died without seeing Rome, I’d be pissed. I am also going because I am very legalistic and proper, and Rome is the third in the tier of European cities that are must-see. And lastly, I am going because I am strongly identified […]

The Last Frontier

On a day like today, I think about Going To Alaska. I escaped work by trudging over to the gas station on the corner. Slowly. Slowly. Keeping the snow below the edge of my sneakers, and keeping my feet under me. I drive a stick. I live upstairs. I can’t be breaking my ankle. It was […]