Travel into ones past is often a perilous journey to undertake, even if it is only a journey of the mind, but the past is a country, which always offers rich exploration, especially from the unique perspective of age. While nostalgia is usually part of this mental journey, a return in memory to our long ago homes and neighborhoods, friendships, and experiences can inform and enrich the present. As the past is reflected upon, it becomes increasingly evident how often and consistently past choices impact life in the present. In the book, Early Evening, Gail Johnston uses poetry, much of it written many years ago, and personal essays, all written recently, to reflect on the juxtaposition of these time periods and the implications they have for the paths in life that have been chosen.