Have you ever wondered what might have happened if only you had made a different decision? A few weeks ago, I tumbled headfirst into That Place and while there, I atevery well.Quite possibly as well as I’ve ever eaten anywhere. Upon graduating college, I had several choices about where to pursue a Master’s degree in International Relations. Boston and Washington, DC were the frontrunners, but there was a third option – a Johns Hopkins program which offered the first year of studies in Bologna, Italy. At the time, some 40 years ago, staying stateside seemed like the solid choice – presumably, it would offer more job opportunities with long term potential. As a financially-strapped 25 year old, I prioritized this aspect. But now that I’ve just spent a week in glorious Emilia-Romagna, home of Bologna and equally-worthy foodie destinations like Modena and Parma, I can’t help but wonder deeply “what…

“Hey”, I say. “Well…hello…” “Sorry”, I mumble. “I WAS beginning to wonder,” comes the reply. “Everything ok?” “Well….” I venture, “not really. I haven’t been to a grocery store in more than 4 months. I’m beginning to look like a reject from the Humane Society, given no haircut since March 5th. Had to cancel my daughter’s May wedding, reschedule it for late October and am now on the verge of cancelling again. Above all, you and I were supposed to be sailing across the Atlantic right now, on the heels of a bucket list trip to Bulgaria, Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Paris and Vienna.” “Oh.” “But don’t worry,” I soothe my loyal friend. “We WILL get back out there together. The world is just a bit broken and out of sorts right now. We’re not used to having our plans disrupted by anyone or anything – least of all an invisible germ.”…

After four visits to Berlin, three over the past seven years and one when the city was famously divided into East and West, I’m still no expert on the city. I haven’t “done” many of the famous attractions which you probably know – the Bundestag, Museum Island, even a boat ride on the Spree. Perhaps if my relationship with Berlin were different, I would be regaling you with stories about those places today. But I’ve come to know Berlin through the eyes of my father, a native. This provides a wonderful and very different vantage point from which to embrace the city. Things feel, well, personal. It starts with where we settle in. Not the Marriott or Steigenberger, a German hotel chain, but a simple rental apartment in the neighborhood known as Wilmersdorf. Two bedrooms, two bathrooms, eat-in kitchen and living room. The kitchen is stocked with just a few…

“Isn’t this EXXX-CITING?” exclaims the sophisticated British woman standing behind me in the queue. We are about to embark onto Her Majesty Queen Mary 2 to traverse 3632 nautical miles from the port of Southampton, England to her berth in Brooklyn, NY. I couldn’t agree more. I am experiencing my own anticipatory jolt as I ascend the multi-level gangway to be welcomed onboard by a committee of nautically-clad officers from the ship’s “Company”. As I officially step foot on level 3 of the ship (please, not a boat – she is a ship!) and start to consider the indulgences awaiting me, I find myself in the Godiva Café. Oh! An entire café devoted to chocolate. And espresso drinks with chocolate. And espresso drinks with alcohol and chocolate. This bodes very well indeed. In truth, I am not an OTO (one time only). I was fortunate to have been invited by…