Michelle Nijhuis's essay "A Tenderfoot in Taos," about the mom, the baby and the concerned drunk in the park, made that issue more human (HCN, 7/20/09). Thomas Merton wrote: "I think the chief reason we have so little joy is that we take ourselves too seriously." People who are really concerned about what happens to this place deal with some pretty heavy issues. That little essay lightened things up a bit for me. I am glad she still thinks of New England as home. Emerson and Thoreau would be pleased.

Russ Brenneman
Westport, Connecticut