Thanks for the “hello from Europe” reminder. I was born in Scotland and lived there, and then in Holland, before living full-time in Alaska for most of my life. I reside in Austin, TX now. Perspectives other than the little island that is the contiguous 48 states are numerous, broad and largely forgotten here. It’s so easy for us to isolate and forget that our political, social and cultural scene isn’t center-stage. I think part of a writer’s job is to keep that broad-minded perspective; to travel, if not physically, then at least mentally, outside our own boundaries.