I'm in awe. Another truly SPECTACULAR essay. And just the thing we all needed on this particular holiday. All my life I've thought the 4th of July was the day we celebrate our independence. But now I realize I've had it wrong. It's the day we rejoice at the removal of a TYRANT KING and his ilk. And if we got the job done once, we can surely get it done again. Happy 4th to you!
A confession: I'm finding that I sometimes miss seeing your column here on Substack, for no other reason than that my habituation to your Facebook presence seems to be dying really hard. I must work more diligently to get over to Substack and find you, because when I do I always feel that your pilgrimage is becoming ever more profound and mysterious. I want to continue travelling with you. I will do better.
Thank you, Kevin, for this poignant piece. I recently returned to NYC after two months in Spain. I didn't want to come back, even though I love NY. The heaviness of corruption, coupled with outrage and a feeling of helplessness, fills the air here; it was a relief to be away from it. I envy your pilgrim life. You put into words, so eloquently, the feelings I'm actively trying to suppress out of exhaustion.
so very beautifully written, and being the same age as you and with an alc/opiates addiction history that brought me buckets of misery, I can relate to most everything in this piece, but Budapest is totally worth a visit, despite Orban... love from Madrid
thank you so much … i’ll wait for Orban to be defeated though just as I await 2026 and the Democrats taking back one or both houses in congress. Maybe then i’ll head to America for a month or so. But we’ll see …
Such a poignant brilliant grasp of our common sorrows and horrors and hope. You are such a gift, Kevin, and as your wisdom has deepened across all these years you have shared your voice, so have my love and appreciation.
You certainly captured an enormous amount of thought in this one! The America we knew has certainly turned into the new Gilded Age, and it may never recover; but then, we who have passed our numerical prime may not recover either. We will never be the same as were were and will lament some days and remember others as if they happened yesterday. A pilgrim, like you, we are seeking something. But as I sit surrounded by waves of heat and some breezes from the verdant Taygetos mountains of the Peloponnese and the Messinian sea, I'm in awe of little kindnesses. Smiles, an extra cookie from the baker, a smile from the hunched old woman in black. We can't lose kindness.
Not to cast aspersions on a Gilded Age reference but I see this as more of a tarnished brass age. They are all tarnished and have big brass ones that clang when they walk. The entitled simply have no use for us.
I believe that mrs bezos (I don’t even remember her name now) needed to be a billionaire bride as the upkeep of the massive bosom and swollen-beyond-belief lips is pretty costly.
One of your finest posts, Kevin. Thank you.
thanks so much - means a lot
I'm in awe. Another truly SPECTACULAR essay. And just the thing we all needed on this particular holiday. All my life I've thought the 4th of July was the day we celebrate our independence. But now I realize I've had it wrong. It's the day we rejoice at the removal of a TYRANT KING and his ilk. And if we got the job done once, we can surely get it done again. Happy 4th to you!
Thank you so much - it means a lot when people actually read these columns - have a mindful holiday weekend
What an inspiring, thoughtful post, Kevin. Thank you. I hope to see you in London in November. Coffee?
thank you that means a lot
A confession: I'm finding that I sometimes miss seeing your column here on Substack, for no other reason than that my habituation to your Facebook presence seems to be dying really hard. I must work more diligently to get over to Substack and find you, because when I do I always feel that your pilgrimage is becoming ever more profound and mysterious. I want to continue travelling with you. I will do better.
Thank you, Kevin, for this poignant piece. I recently returned to NYC after two months in Spain. I didn't want to come back, even though I love NY. The heaviness of corruption, coupled with outrage and a feeling of helplessness, fills the air here; it was a relief to be away from it. I envy your pilgrim life. You put into words, so eloquently, the feelings I'm actively trying to suppress out of exhaustion.
thank you for your thoughts - they mean a lot to me
so very beautifully written, and being the same age as you and with an alc/opiates addiction history that brought me buckets of misery, I can relate to most everything in this piece, but Budapest is totally worth a visit, despite Orban... love from Madrid
thank you so much … i’ll wait for Orban to be defeated though just as I await 2026 and the Democrats taking back one or both houses in congress. Maybe then i’ll head to America for a month or so. But we’ll see …
Beautifully written, Kevin, all of it. I love Fatima.
thank you so much, my friend and colleague
Such a poignant brilliant grasp of our common sorrows and horrors and hope. You are such a gift, Kevin, and as your wisdom has deepened across all these years you have shared your voice, so have my love and appreciation.
Thank you - comments like this mean the world to me
You certainly captured an enormous amount of thought in this one! The America we knew has certainly turned into the new Gilded Age, and it may never recover; but then, we who have passed our numerical prime may not recover either. We will never be the same as were were and will lament some days and remember others as if they happened yesterday. A pilgrim, like you, we are seeking something. But as I sit surrounded by waves of heat and some breezes from the verdant Taygetos mountains of the Peloponnese and the Messinian sea, I'm in awe of little kindnesses. Smiles, an extra cookie from the baker, a smile from the hunched old woman in black. We can't lose kindness.
thank you so much
Another captivating column and the struggle of the midriff (Battle of the Bulge?) is well known and appreciated. Also the salmon.
Here is another way to prepare salmon if you get fatigue.
https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/spiced-salmon-kebabs
thanks - I will check out that recipe - very thoughtful of you
Woke up to this. Simply beautiful. Captures all my thoughts of late. Thankful for you today.
thank you so much - that means the world to me
Not to cast aspersions on a Gilded Age reference but I see this as more of a tarnished brass age. They are all tarnished and have big brass ones that clang when they walk. The entitled simply have no use for us.
I believe that mrs bezos (I don’t even remember her name now) needed to be a billionaire bride as the upkeep of the massive bosom and swollen-beyond-belief lips is pretty costly.
I LOVED Hum! Thank you so much.