Serendipity

After a fabulous dinner at Pok Pok Noi (southeast Asian cross between Thai and Vietnamese), we strolled in the summer warm evening admiring the local yards and gardens. We stopped to identify a fruit tree at one corner lot and struck up a conversation with the gardener. Suddenly she was presenting me with a bouquet of dahlias and gladioli, color after stunning color falling from her hands into mine. Back at our Portland headquarters we popped them into a vase, where they will bring great joy for many more days.

As for us, the travelers, we've now made our way to the foggy Oregon coast and are enjoying a bowl of oyster stew.