November 2006

Someone asked us about our recent visit to the newly constructed M.H. de Young museum in San Francisco. Without thinking I blurted out 'It was different.'

It was different.

Without realizing it, I was channeling my mom. Different is a word mom would use when she didn't like someone or something -- but wanted to be polite. 'That was different' meant that a restaurant was really bad. 'She's different' was the absolute kiss of death for my ex-wife.

That's how I felt about de Young. What with all the glowing reviews and positive press it has received, I feel too polite to say anything negative.

I'll show you around, maybe you can decide -- is the de Young good, bad or just different?