Three Travelers on the Porch

Darlene, her sister Deb and I compare expectations for France

Coffee on the Porch with Sophie

To hear the related 5-minute audio file that I uploaded today as my Morning Journal flash briefing for Alexa devices, please click on the play button:

Final Preparations

We leave tomorrow afternoon for France.

Expectations?

I checked in with Darlene and Deb this morning over coffee on the porch. Sophie will be staying behind here in Maine.

While journaling earlier, I came up with these three things to remember:

1. Eat slowly and mindfully.

2. Be a careful walker.

3. _________________

It seemed there should be three, but I wasn’t clear on the third one. Darlene and Deb were quick to offer suggestions.

Darlene: “Be nice to your fellow travelers…”

Deb: “…and be available.”

Got it.

We have traveled together, the three of us, a lot in past years—to South Africa, France, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Ecuador.

We have developed a helpful rule of the road: “Whoever is afraid calls the shots.”

By that, we mean if one of the three of us becomes afraid in a situation, that person is the one who says what he or she needs. The other two immediately comply.

“What’s our word to say we’re afraid?” Deb asked.

“Squirrel!” I suggested.

That made us laugh, and I hope we will remember it.

But what if someone sees a real squirrel?

I looked it up:

écureuil!