I needed this small break from full-time parenting. My godfather was kind enough to give me the keys to his summer place on Long Island and I drove out to finish up the book. My editor is FedExing me the rest of her notes tomorrow.

This home is so full of memories for me, so reminds me of my dad, who was a childhood friend of my “Uncle” Billy, actually my godfather. I came out here once before right after I’d broken up with a women that I had once thought that I would marry. And I was here just a month ago with Cris in one of our most-romantic vacations ever.

This time, alone, no kids, no noise, I’m hoping to reset something inside of me. I was inexplicably sad somewhere along Route 27 but once in the house I dove right into the pool and everything, magically, seemed all right with the world. I found one of those inflatable lounge chairs in the basement, half-inflated, so I blew it up with the bicycle pump and tossed it in the water. I’m almost forty-five(!) and have never once been in one of those things in a pool. I had no idea what I’ve been missing. Nero couldn’t have been any more happy atop his throne.

Before I left I was interviewed by the Times for my Lincoln Center piece. And I’ve written another commentary for NPR. I love being a loudmouth.