What makes you feel connected to the place where you live? — When this is over, I will never pass the musician in the black leather beret, who stands on Poet’s Walk in Central Park playing his saxophone, without tipping him. The sound has always just been there in the background, as natural as the birds chirping. …

Grandparent envy is a weird thing. And, as this year’s Grandparents Day approaches, I find myself at my father’s house. First, to answer your questions, yes, there is a Grandparents Day, and this year it falls on September 11th. Some may say, “too soon” — though not necessarily about that…

I am an approval junkie. Early on, when I told people the name of the book I was writing, some immediately smiled and said, “Great title.” No questions asked; they got it. A few looked concerned and said, “Really? I wouldn’t have thought that of you.” At which point I…