ROBERT TOWNSEND

a series of life story posts

Modern concrete sculpture under a blue sky in a park.
18 Nov

Birthday in Berlin

ROBERT TOWNSEND
On my 77th birthday,  27 October 2024,  Patrice and I traveled from Paris to Berlin for four days. It was disappointing. We should have spent four weeks. Airlift Memorial, Tempelhof...
Satellite view, Chevigny Castle, 11th Century fortification, now a farm
03 Oct

Our Town: Gleason; Our Town, Chevigny

ROBERT TOWNSEND
with apologies to Thornton Wilder I am a local history buff, intrigued with the ghosts that had walked the forest trails, roads and streets where I have walked.  In my...
Two people walking arm in arm along a waterfront promenade.
28 Sep

US election 2024

Military intelligence / ROBERT TOWNSEND
Sunday, 29 September, 2024. In France, we're good.  My office is wondrous save that I must be disciplined not to stare out onto the horse pastures. and mist-draped hills. Financial...
Historical printmaking scene with a press and two workers.
16 Sep

Time of troubles

The Long War
We live a near idyllic life in France. However, in late of this my seventh decade, I am concerned .  Is much that I value in my western world is...
Illustrated cityscape with traffic and ocean in background.
15 Sep

New Yorkers

Adolescense / ROBERT TOWNSEND
They take some getting used to! How New Yorkers see the United States. If three New Yorkers enter a taxi without arguing, a bank has been robbed. Phyllis Diller, New...
Foggy morning over a green field with grazing cows and garden furniture.
03 Sep

East Southeast France, Summer 2024

ROBERT TOWNSEND
Rock wall along river This summer 2024 in SSE France has been exquisite. Cloudless skies, soft breezes, flowers blooming in succession.  Morning fogs descend the hills burning off by 9AM....
Memorial stone honoring Père René Menard, erected in 1925.
27 Jun

A Park for all Seasons

Publishing / ROBERT TOWNSEND
My hometown, Merrill, Wisconsin, on the Wisconsin River, was French trapper, trader and missionary I-90/94 in the 16th. and 17th century . The region supported transient populations of French and...
An elderly woman with an owl on her shoulder, wearing a bonnet and ruffled collar.
07 Mar

The Netherlands, 2-12 February 2024

Publishing
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Avenue_at_Middelharnis The Avenue at Middelharnis is a Dutch Golden Age painting of 1689 by Meindert Hobbema. It shows a road leading to the village of Middelharnis on the island of...
Ancient stone tablet with engraved text mounted on a weathered wall.
31 Oct

Plitvice Lakes, Croatia

The Long War
Gribovac, Plitvice Lakes, and a novel During the week 18-24 October 2023 Patrice and I visited Croatia’s Plitvice Lakes region to 1). take a one-week vacation and 2) to ‘ground...
Two men sitting together, smiling warmly.
30 Oct

The Robert Olen Butler with Clara Herrera Visit Semur-en-Auxios

ROBERT TOWNSEND
Bernard Loiseau restaurant, Saulieu, France and Clara Robert Olen, long-time buddy, and his wife, Clara Herrera, visited Patrice and me in France ( 15-22 August 2023).  They first spent a...

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