Meeting a Swiss Journalist
Ray and I returned home last evening from a getaway to New Harmony, Indiana.
We drove up on Thursday before our son and his family joined us on Friday. We had taken our children there many years ago before they were married. We loved sharing our special place with our son again and for the first time with his wife and children, who are already talking about when we can go again.
On Thursday evening, Ray and I went out to eat at the same restaurant we enjoyed during our first visit there in 1975. As we prepared to leave, we stood up to take a selfie beside our table. During dinner we had noticed the German accent of a fellow diner who was eating alone. The diner rose from his table and offered to take our picture. As we three chatted, Ray and I learned that our new acquaintance was from Switzerland. He had learned something of the story of New Harmony, and this was the reason for his visit. Seeing that we had similar interests, he invited us to sit down at his table. I don’t remember our ever joining a stranger for after-dinner conversation before, but the opportunity to visit with someone from Switzerland was very inviting.
We spent a delightful half hour with him, intrigued that he is a Swiss journalist. He spent many years in Washington, D.C., but now he and his wife divide their time between New York and Switzerland. The two of them were traveling to Kansas City to visit his wife’s sister. However, she had wanted to fly there, while he had wanted to drive. He had already stopped in West Virginia to write about Senator Joe Manchin. The next day he was going to spend some time at the Workingmen’s Institute/Library/Museum in New Harmony. These are some photos I took of the Institute during a New Year’s Eve visit in 2014.
The journalist seemed as fascinated with our work as we were with his. He asked great questions about writing history for homeschoolers, wondering in particular how we handle controversial modern issues. This gave us the opportunity to tell him that we write from a Christian perspective. We shared stories about how the recent paper shortages had affected both him and us.
He told us about writing during COVID quarantines. His wife’s mother was very ill during that time so he was given special permission to travel to America when other European journalists could not do so. This made it possible for him to be pretty much the only Swiss journalist who was able to be in America to cover the most recent presidential election. He talked of attending the Iowa caucuses and the primaries.
We never know what opportunities God has in store to surprise us. I am grateful that you have the opportunity every day to be there for the big and little surprises He has in store for you with your children.
The steps of a man are established by the Lord,
And He delights in his way.
Psalm 37:23
What a delightful encounter! So wonderful that you and Ray took time to converse with this gentleman and get to know more about each other’s work and lives! Also, I am amazed that y’all were able to eat at a restaurant that is still in business since your 1975 visit. The food must be quite good!:-)
Thank you, Betsy. You have been such a faithful reader for many years and have left so many encouraging comments. I appreciate it very much. It was certainly a delightful encounter for us. And, oh, yes, it is quite delicious.