The first time I really spent more than a hour or two with Jan was the summer of 1983. Jennifer and I had been dating for all of a few months when we decided to visit Jan + Chuck, who were renting a 17th century farmhouse for the summer in Beziers, a small village in
the south of France.
 
It was my first trip to Europe, and after a few heady, but exhausting days in Paris we took the overnight train to Marseilles before renting the smallest Renault in the world for the drive to Beziers. I was excited, but a bit trepidatious and running on fumes, about spending a week with my girlfriend’s parents. Well I shouldn’t have given it a second thought because they could not have been more open and welcoming. Jan was excited to share their favorite spots they had discovered in the area. We had excursions to many Roman ruins, secret swimming spots, local cave cooperatives where you brought along large containers to fill with wine, and the perfect picnic spots for leisurely lunches. She bubbled with enthusiasm when introducing us to these special sites and often managed to weave stories about how a place reminded her of such and such a spot in some far away country the Cusicks had lived in. There were long conversations, over many glasses of wine, with lots of cheese and olives, about art, architecture, music and a genuine curiosity about me, my family history, and my “hopes and aspirations” (along with gentle inquisitiveness about what future plans I had with her daughter).
 
After a week of great day trips, food, drink, and company, Jennifer and I continued onto Cassis, Nice, and Florence. Of course, Jan gave us recommendations for out of the way cathedrals, museums, restaurants, and towns to visit along our journey. By the end of that week, I felt like I had become a part of the family and had been afforded this portal to a big, beautiful world.
 
Enjoy being reunited with Chuck, Jan!
 
Love,

Chun