Made a quick trip to Manhattan and to Buffalo a couple of weeks ago: To Manhattan to visit my new niece, Joey, to see one of my sisters, Jen, and to take in the sights (MOMA’s exhibition of Women Photographers was magnificent); to Buffalo to hang out with my med-student son, Miles, living across the street from the hospital in which he was born, and to meet up with my other sister, Maria, and our Mom and Dad at one of my favourite old haunts for a delightful Saturday brunch.

Both cities reminded me, with great force and some surprise, why I love and consider them, with Vancouver, home.