There is sadness in our home tonight. We took Christine and Bernard to the airport this morning, which basically means our “French” holiday is over. To try to have the feeling of their presence last as long as possible, we’ve been tracking their flight.

Last night they took Melinda and me out to dinner at a place called The Whale Wins.

It was an incredible experience, and not just because of the company, the quality of the food, or the brilliant service. Bernard noticed that this restaurant in Seattle carried his cousin’s wine, which of course we ordered and drank. The server was suitably impressed to send over the owner. Turns out she regularly visits France (and Normandy, where Bernard’s family is from) and has met his cousin.

The four of us sat in stunned awed, that here on our last special night with Christine and Bernard in Seattle we stumbled on to this French connection.

I took it as a sign that we were in the right place at the right time with the right people. To me, it’s that simple.