Valletta, Malta. October, 2015

Oh, the brave souls who've opted to sail with Costa. You may recall that it was a Costa ship that sank in 2012 when the captain (allegedly waving to a friend onshore) fatally mismaneuvered the Concordia, hit the rocky Tuscan coastline, and then (again allegedly) jumped ship into a nearby lifeboat to safety as the boat went down. That cruise, alas, was not so favolosa.

Newark, NJ. June, 1973

My fascination with open markets is a deep one, dating back to midnight trips to this farmers' market in Newark. I used to visit with my friend Nick. And often we'd run into our friends Bill and Pat. (All three can just barely be seen at the right of this low-light photo.) It was here on this night that I learned of the existence of the Crenshaw melon, a bit of information that has been invaluable in the 43 years since.

Rome. October, 1986

Ah, memories of meals here at Da Pietro, just steps from the Eternal Città's Piazza Navona. I remember seeing a table of four who'd ordered a whole white truffle that they then proceeded to shave over their pasta. At our more modest table, spinach gnocchi so light that a fellow diner dubbed them "little poems." And a wild strawberry risotto that should be in season right about now.

Cambridge, MA. December, 1980

I love holiday traditions. Like finding alternate uses for Christmas ornaments. I'm opting for an earring. And Dr. Blake seems to be eating his.

Cambridge, MA. June 26, 1982

I am sober 34 years today. And the world is a better place because of it. Here's a photo taken 34 years ago. (Also seen in this photo that I've posted before, is the wrist of frequent SLS commenter Ernest. In the past, Ernest has selfishly witnessed this historic photo and commented only about his watch. Imagine.)

Gloucester, MA. September, 2014

My friend James has a great garden in a plot within the Codman Estate in nearby Lincoln, MA. And recently he offered me two small plants to put into my own home garden. They're called "Kiss Me Over the Garden Gate." No, really. Here's the show-off bouquet of the same plants that he showed up with at our annual Labor Day Weekend party not long ago. He does know how to make an entrance.

Social Media. June, 2016

I have no idea who this woman is. Or even if it is a woman. Yet Facebook offered this photo to me as that of someone I might want to friends with. Excuse me? (When I sent this image to my friend Linda, she simply replied, "The gloves."