Greetings! 

  

Once again, the best laid plans got derailed by the unpredictable and unavoidable!  This time a nasty bout of the flu, the first in eighteen years, kept me from my long list of self-appointed tasks.  As we prepare to leave for a long-awaited Mediterranean holiday, I wanted to say au revoir and share a few brief thoughts and news with you.    

 

It was wonderful seeing so many of you at our open house

February 5, and I thought you might enjoy a few pictures of a very lively gathering with old and new friends.  

 

In true Napoleonic fashion, The Eagle continues to expand its territory. We have received orders from as far away as Moscow!  Lyons, Brussels, Nice, and Calgary, are other international cities in our expanding market.  Closer to home, a customer from New York City wrote:  "It is really beautiful!  I love it!  Thanks so much!"  A reader from Las Vegas wrote:  I think that your design is awesome and it would look great framed.  Excellent work!!!  We hope you will consider adding The Eagle to your collection and will help spread the word about this piece of wearable - and framable - art.  

 

Our holiday begins in Barcelona, where we plan to take as many of the city's architectural and artistic attractions as our two days' stay will allow.  We then board the Norwegian Jade for a twelve day cruise of the Eastern Mediterranean - with stops in Rome, Athens, Istanbul, and Valletta, Malta.  Only Istanbul will afford time for some serious sightseeing (since the planned stop in Alexandria was cancelled), so we will have to decide what we really cannot miss - such as the Museo Napoleonico in Rome!   

 

During my absence, Liza Wasinger, whom many of you have met, will be in charge of Swan Ways Boutique and you may e-mail her directly with any comments or questions.  I will, of course, continue to monitor my e-mail and will be happy to hear from you anytime! 

 

Our last newsletter generated some fascinating comments, which is only to be expected from my sophisticated readers!   A Foreign Service colleague who served in India wrote a particularly astute message, quoted below. 

 

I'll be looking forward to sharing highlights and pictures of my trip shortly after we get back on March 21.    Until then, with all my best wishes and

 

Warmest regards,