It's Almost like Being Home with Friends
The second time I went to Europe was in 1981 and, that time, it was with my mother. Before we left home, a friend of hers asked if we would be going to the Black Forest/Alsace region. When we said yes, she gave us the name of her daughter and son-in-law who lived in that area. One day, we just turned up on their doorstep and, out of that, was forged a very long term and wonderful friendship. Sue and I found out we knew people in common and she had had my summer job with the Canadian Hydrographic Service after I moved on to another summer job. Initially, I only visited them every two or three years but that has gradually escalated to annual and sometimes even twice-yearly visits. Their guest book attests to the frequency - and it has been noticed! In my defense, I have done my best to reciprocate their hospitality whenever I have been able to. Needless to say, these visits have given me a sense of having a "safe haven" and almost a se...