
What places make you happy just to think about? This morning I woke my sleeping computer to the Microsoft picture of a hump-backed whale swimming in, of all places, Va’vau in the Kingdom of Tonga in the South Pacific. The island group of Va’vau is a place I visited and loved decades ago when I joined an Earthwatch team to save the giant clam. Such a happy surprise to see this image today and be reminded that now, when I no longer travel far beyond Philadelphia, I can Google places I’ve been and take a mental trip or enjoy a memory. I’d love to see Istanbul again, Paris, London, and many places here in the U.S. Places evoke memories. Where is the place that makes you smile? Please tell us and we’ll smile with you.