What is Home in a Place Like Baltimore?

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This post originally appeared on Murder Is Everywhere. Sometimes I like to close my eyes and just think about the various homes I’ve lived in over the course of my lifetime. While my husband and I have mostly lived in Baltimore, our marriage started off with two very unusual years in Japan. And while this blog … Read more

The Sun Also Rises

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This post originally appeared on Murder Is Everywhere. I’d planned to write in detail about my travels in India, but it’s been a hard day for me to concentrate. In Washington D.C. , the new administration appears to want to shut down many of the services the Federal Government provides to the people. An erasure of … Read more

A Fashionable New Year: Carry-on Tips for India

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This post originally appeared on Murder Is Everywhere. Happy New Year’s Day! And think of me right now, rolling along the streets of Bengalaru with my carry-on suitcase. Hopefully, all that I’ve crammed into the hardshell for a 2-week trip will actually get worn. Packing is an acquired wisdom, and every trip I take teaches me … Read more

Happy Early (Hmong) New Year!

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This post originally appeared on Murder Is Everywhere. Last week, I drove from Baltimore to St. Paul, Minnesota to be with family for Thanksgiving. To my surprise, I got a bonus holiday: Hmong New Year. And what a gift it seems to live in a country where people have arrived from so many different parts of … Read more

My Morning Shift

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This post originally appeared on Murder Is Everywhere. A few weeks ago, I had the fun of interviewing a literary lion in Washington DC—and I received a gift that went far beyond the signed copy of a book. Sir Alexander McCall Smith was touring the United States in support of one of his newest novels, The Great … Read more

The Delaware River’s Almost-Twin Sisters: Lambertville and New Hope

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This post originally appeared on Murder Is Everywhere. I walked all the way from New Jersey to Pennsylvania this morning. It was a breeze—taking just about 10 minutes to stroll across the historic 1000-foot bridge between two charming small towns: Lambertville on the Jersey side, and New Hope in Pennsylvania. Even though I’ve always lived in … Read more