Smoke curling from the grills, the air thick with aromas, crowds spilling into the street. 🦞 Uplifting, joyful.

I was surprised at myself, welcoming the drops of rain on my face and hands, smiling at puddles reflecting the sky and the bridges I crossed.

Dancing and clapping continued while I went inside the Irish Museum of Modern Art to browse the shop and settle down to write in the most comfortable armchair overlooking the courtyard.

The conductor walks in to warm applause. The first notes begin, carrying us toward the Radetzky March and into 2026.

On the first morning of the year, they pull on gowns and suits and make their way to the hall, taking their seats beneath the weight of gilded leaves and a painted ceiling. Did anyone have one glass of wine or beer too many? Does anyone wish they were anywhere but there?

What was their New Year’s Eve like? Wherever they were, what could top sitting in the Golden Hall of the Musikverein? I imagine them turning in late, sleeping lightly, restless with excitement.

She got the job, and even met her future husband there! Thinking about how one event, one object, can move us forward in life and shape who we become. #LifeStories #nostalgia

Just finished watching the documentary - what an extraordinary find! Not sure if we’ll ever know the 100% truth, but the documents are compelling!

Unfortunately, he doesn’t come across very well in his interactions with Bair. I can only imagine the sting Kate must have felt reading about him in such an unflattering light. How random and peculiar!