John Gregory Allen December 16, 1956-January 8, 2016 John Gregory Allen was born December 16, 1956, in Hardwick, Vermont, to James S. Allen, Jr. and Shirley (Gray) Allen. John was the middle child of five and the eldest boy. John grew up in an Air Force family, with his Dad being transferred from one … [read more]
Memoir
Mile Marker Zero
Mile Marker Zero Geoff O’Keeffe New Year’s Eve, 2014 The Sixties finally and ingloriously came to its last rest today here in Key West, Florida, southernmost outpost of The Conch Republic. And, quite possibly, in a dozen other iconic locales featured so squarely in the bygone legends of inspiration, illumination, excess, piracy and idealism, such … [read more]
Talking About Dominion, Reluctantly
Talking About Dominion, Reluctantly On the public pages and in the private salons of our culture, we casually discuss celebrity infidelity, weight loss diets, corporate malfeasance and the treasonous acts and petty peccadillos of elected officials. We’ve no reluctance to ponder the doping habits of baseball heroes or debate the degradation of the environment and … [read more]
Date Night
Date Night Geoff O’Keeffe For the parents, with thanks to David S. We arranged a casual dinner out, on a Thursday night, a luxury reserved for empty nesters and the childless, or the impotent, at our friend James’ local bistro. When you say “bistro” it implies some level of “no sweat shirt” sophistication, or … [read more]
Our Man-Child: A Love Letter
Dear readers, I puzzled over whether or not to publish this, but decided to go ahead. It’s very personal, but was originally a letter to twenty-six friends, most of whom are reading this now. A dear friend of ours woke up in an ambulance last weekend, and soon was informed he has a tumor in … [read more]
Wine Masters of Tianjin
Wine Masters of Tianjin The guy is so earnest, so innocent, so charming. And really young. (Everyone in China is young.) Trying so hard. I ordered a mixed salad and steak sandwich, and a glass of Banfi, 2011 Cabernet-Sangiovese. Fifty-eight RMB. About nine-fifty, US. I figure I can eek three of these into my … [read more]
