Strangers And Friends

We arrived home after four weeks on the road; we were weary, jet-lagged, and surprised. Total strangers met us at our door and welcomed us home; we embraced, shook hands, laughed, and all started talking. They took us inside, served us drinks and sat us down for a sumptuous home cooked dinner; in our own home.

The strangers were Tom and Denise Neumann, a traveling tribe of retired transients. Tom is a semi-retired college professor and Denise is a recently retired Air Force Colonel and human force of nature that Tom attempts, unsuccessfully, to keep under wraps.

Last year Tom and Denise stayed in our home for two months while we were in Paris. They kept our plants alive and our cat bemused as they made a culinary tour of Sonoma and Napa; in addition they visited almost every winery that had a license on the wall.

When Mary and I have questions about Sonoma area restaurants we ask Tom or Denise. The Sonoma Chamber of Commerce was thrilled to hear they were coming back for another infusion into the local economy. Denise is the author of last year’s blog entry about their visit to the French Laundry in Yountville.

Mary met Denise on line in some long forgotten website for house sitters or female forces of nature or whatever and the two women bonded immediately. Last year Tom and Denise had to leave before our return, and this year they arrived after our departure. We had never met; the relationship was a virtual one on line and on phone. I know, I know, it’s not normal, nor is it our usual way but there you have it anyway.

They do not visit restaurants as much as dine and make friends wherever they go. While Denise is doing her human force of nature stichk; Tom is casually circling around dropping understated word cluster bombs. He is being very funny and endearing; like a bear that smiles and has a secret. Almost could be.