September 18, 2024

Each of us have had struggles in our lives. And we can easily regurgitate them for others so that we may get a more sympathetic ear. However, we have each had positives, blessings, good things happen to us as well. We can all remember the struggles against the tyrannical rule of parents as we strived to achieve our own identity. But, thanks to those overlords, we were fed, clothed, housed, and educated.

A large part of my memories growing up was traveling. I was not a wonderful Stepford child. I am sure I gave them reasons to drink. But they gave me a perspective of the world that I realized most of my peers would never have. Before I was even eighteen years old, I had been to England, Ireland, Finland, Scotland, Italy, and had gotten to see the Soviet Union before it ‘fell.’ It helped me realize that America wasn’t THE country in the world, it was but one. There were people in far away places going about their lives as happy and content as we were. The propaganda at the time was that everyone in the world wants to be just like America, or even American by sneaking into the country.

Travel helped me understand that though people speak a different language, use money that doesn’t look like ours, that we have so much in common. We eat. We drink. We have jobs. We raise children. We farm. We ask whatever God we believe in for forgiveness and advice. We have communities with local governments, schools, grocery stores, and pharmacies. Doctors heal our sick. And restaurants feed our souls.

Over the past week or so, we have been in Switzerland and France. We have a friend who has become engaged in ‘house swapping.’ It’s actually a brilliant concept that Leigh Anne and I have begun to ponder now. Anyway, there was someone in France who wanted to come to the US for a couple of weeks. So, a proposal was made, and dates were agreed upon. Then my friend said, “Hey John…there’s a big house in France that I am taking some family to enjoy for a week or two, would you and Leigh Anne like to join us?” Duh…” YES!!”

Leigh Anne has had it on her bucket list as long as I have known her that she wanted to go back to Switzerland. She spent a couple of college years there and had not returned, yet. So, the plan developed that we would go to Luzern, Switzerland for a few days, then head over to Roanne, France to meet our friends. Switzerland is a land of several languages. Where we were in the North of Switzerland, they speak Swiss German. In the Western part of the country, they primarily speak French. In the South, they lean towards Italian. Luzern is a city of over 80,000 people. Yet, I did not see any homeless people begging in the street. And the streets were devoid of trash. Somehow this really struck me. Google claims there are about 2,000 homeless people in Switzerland…THE WHOLE COUNTRY! Now, the cost of living in Switzerland is rather high, but so are the salaries. There were several cultural aspects that I found interesting including health care, and a lack of minimum wage (yet about $22/hour seems to be the going rate).

We took a train from Luzern to Geneva, and one from Geneva to Lyon, France. Stepping off that train was like stepping into another world. Lyon is a big city. At 520,000 people, it is the second largest city in France. It felt like dealing with a New York subway at rush hour. Lots of people, all in a hurry, don’t care, no time to help… It was an adventure to try to get a French SIM card for my phone so that I could use a GPS. It would take too many pages here to go through that story. We rented a car and drove out of the city for about an hour and half to a small village called St. Alban outside of Roanne. It seemed the lack of ‘civilization’ made it far more civilized. People said, “Bon Jour” (‘Good Day’) and meant it. Through Google Translate and imaginative charades, meanings and communication could be established with people wishing to be helpful. I am sure it is my age, but a slower pace of ‘country life’ really makes life far more enjoyable, in my humble but accurate opinion.

Of course, we are foodies. So, we have explored most every dimension of French cuisine available to us. We had a lunch at a soup and salad food truck. And we have had food that elevated the very concept of Culinary Art and everything in between. In every instance, Leigh Anne and I found ourselves talking about the food, how it was prepared, flavors, textures, ingredients, and whether it was something we could or should make in the States. As we are staying at a large country house, we have even tried to duplicate a few dishes with some reasonable success!

A few of you know that I spent about five years selling single estate French and Italian wines. I learned a lot about wine at that time, the grapes involved, regions, methods of fermentation, etc. I could point to a map and tell you the region, and villages, and grapes they were allowed to grow in those regions, and special blends they were famous for. However, I had never set foot on French soil…until now. To be here now is amazing. The ‘local’ wine is wine that I studied…hard…and now it is in front of me. And it is EVERYWHERE! Six, eight, ten dollars a bottle for wine! And it’s delicious! Yup, I love wine. I especially love wine from the Rhone region of France. And…HERE I AM!

In Switzerland, Leigh Anne and I got to spend time together, just the two of us. That was wonderful. Too much of our time lately is spent apart. I may be working the food truck, she will be getting food ready at home or working on other aspects of our lives. But, for a few days, it was just the two of us. In France, we are with my friend, his wife, and his in laws in a large house which sits on seven acres. It is so quiet out in the country that it is almost deafening, while also being remarkably relaxing. The village is five minutes away, and the city of Roanne (about 32,000) is about 15-20 minutes away.  The shopping has been fun, and the time spent with great people has been priceless.

Here and now, it is Wednesday evening, and we are about six hours ahead of the East coast of the United States. Friday morning, we start our way home flying from Lyon to London, London to Baltimore, and driving from Baltimore to home. Best estimates say we will walk through the front door of our home around midnight. Then, we get up early.

Saturday, September 21st is the Food Truck Fest at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds to benefit Open Doors, a nonprofit that helps take care of our homeless population. The festival is from  11-7. Check out the Open Doors website for admission costs. There will be eleven different food trucks  there with a variety of cuisines. Please come out and enjoy some great food, beer, wine, entertainment, and even a kid’s area!

After that, we are getting a lot of different caterings and events booked, and I will do my best to keep you informed. Thank you all for your support and friendship.

Below, you can see what we will be serving Saturday!!

September 21, 2024

Food Truck Fest

¨ Jambalaya                                                                      $10

    Smoked Turkey Kielbasa, Fresh Shrimp, and Orzo

¨ Bowtie Pasta Salad                                                            $12

     Edamame, Corn, Roasted Red Pepper, Snow Peas,

     Lemon Dressing on a Bed of Baby Spinach

¨ Zucchini Bread Grilled Cheese                                                $12

    Muenster Cheese, Apricot Goat Cheese, Oven Roasted Tomato

    Side of Watermelon

¨ Pork Belly BLT                                                                 $14

     Killer Dave’s Bread, Duke’s Mayo, Fresh Tomato,

     Bibb Lettuce, Thin Sliced Pork Belly, Watermelon Side

¨ BBQ Pulled Chicken Nachos                                                  $15

    Corn Chips, Mexican Cheese Blend, Ranch Crema,

    Tomatoes, Lettuce, BBQ Sauce, Jalapenos

¨ Soft Pretzel Sticks                                                             $6

    German Mustard Dipping Sauce

¨ Fried Potato Ribbons                                                          $6

    Chipotle Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce