At the internet hub yesterday, we had a bunch of e-mails from Carl telling us where he was staying and giving a phone number to reach him.  The subject line for one of the e-mails was "Lone Wolfe", which we all thought was clever.

We didn't have to write him a response or make arrangements to meet him, though.  He just came up behind us while we were staring at our computer screens, and just like that, he was back.  Granted, in 3 hours, just like that, he was gone again, having failed to get on a bus the rest of us boarded.  Fortunately, we had to get back off the bus after a few stops when we realized it wasn't the right one, and we went back to the bus station and found him there.  We were close to losing him again in exactly the same way as before.  This second time probably got Carl's attention more than the first, even though the first separation lasted over a day, and this one only lasted 20 minutes.  We've all talked now, we understand each other, and I don't think it will happen again.

We slept on a  Normandy beach last night beside a campfire prepared by a small group of young French saints.  They seem like ordinary people, about our age, with ordinary jobs, hobbies, and occupations, but their kindness and generousity has been extraordinary and inexhaustible.  We happened upon the same cozy spot they chose for their after-work picnic-barbeque, a bit of beach with a miniature cliff beside it.  They waved to us like old friends the moment they saw us, talked to us familiarly and asked us questions with sincere interest in their best school-book English, which was quite good.  They offered us everything they had, which was drinks, sausage, chicken wings, bread, chips, and they wouldn't accept payment for any of it.  Without hesitation, they offered us even their homes to stay in if we get back to Caen.  It was a beautiful experience for us, and they enjoyed themselves too, if I'm to believe the short note above their e-mail addresses scribbled on a notepad--"Thanks for the little party on the beach!"  Just being nice to one another and treating each other with respect and care gave us all a memorable feeling of connection.  They set an example for me on how to chill out and love other people.  They've got something figured out about how to enjoy life.

Relax and share it.