Friday, March 30, 2012

Around the World: Geneva Reunion

March 30, 1992



Sabina and I spent yesterday talking and looking over our photos of Egypt.  She works at a nearby stable, taking care of horses.  Her life seems so idyllic, living on the outskirts of a small town, working at a job she loves with creatures she adores.  Her enthusiasm for life is infectious and inspiring.

This morning, I created a magnificent spread of toast and cheese omelets for breakfast.  Sabina makes wonderfully strong and delicious coffee with lots of warm milk.  She drove me to the train station after a very leisurely breakfast that lasted almost until lunch.  I'm off to Geneva, and hopefully a chance to meet Alain again, India's Ajanta caves' sanity saving jester.





I have been on a seasonal rewind.  I left at the beginning of winter, had a sort of leftover autumn on the west coast of North America, a few months of summer in the South Pacific and Asia and now it's spring in Europe.  In a few weeks I'll be home to do it all again in reverse, but in the right direction. 

Geneva appears to be a generic city with a spattering of parks.  There's nothing of particular interest that I want to see.  I find a public phone booth and call Alain.  He is thrilled to know that I am in Geneva and rode his bicycle to meet me.  We spent a couple hours talking and laughing at a bar on the patio over a few pints.  Unfortunately, our visit is brief.  Tomorrow, Alain begins his compulsory military service, as all Swiss males are required to do, starting with 15 weeks of basic training. 

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"You must take personal responsibility.  You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself."
~Jim Rohn