I was on the receiving end of such quality care in a nice restaurant in Milan many years ago. It was quite the experience. It seems being a waiter in Italy can be considered a career, not just a job, and career wait staff take enormous pride in properly attending to their clientele’s needs. I was all the more stunned and horrified sometime afterward when wait-staff in the US began to actually sit down at the table with the diners to take their order. Trust me, every time this happens I notify management that it invades my personal space and is not appropriate. Unfortunately, the “folksy staff” approach has begun to trump clientele being the center of attention in many establishments. One of many developments not to be applauded.

I suppose, though, if these home owners liked the idea of having a resident hermit, complete with garb and hermit-ish idiosyncrasies, it’s entirely up to them. Could be fun. Although… I do have doubts about the possibility of being a good hermit while also being jacked-in. But then, obviously, I’m a purist about some things. So let me know how that works out for ya, ‘kay? ;)

It’s well worth looking at both links. Redfin has way more photos, but the WSJ feature includes all sorts of tidbits, like the fact that the bedroom wallpaper, found in Belgium, originated in 1820s China and was hand-painted in France. Because these things matter. Really, I’m just happy that someone finally understood the elegance, yet understated restraint, of Doric columns.