WEEK OF NOVEMBER 3^RD TO 9^TH, 2000

November 3^rd was a very busy day for me… The story starts quite a bit back. When Jean was in Washington DC, he visited the Office of Tourism of Quebec and met Monique Brunette, Administrative Assistant. She was awfully nice to him and promise to contact the " Quebec Trade Office " in Atlanta to inform them of Jean's endeavor. And so did she on October 23^rd (how funny, it is the day I bought my plane ticket to New Orleans). For sure it was a good omen!!!

There are 2 ladies working at the Quebec Trade Office in Atlanta. One of them, Virginia Hill, was away on a business trip at the time, so there was an exchange of e-mails between Louise Fortin, International Marketing Manager in Atlanta and me.

Louise was expecting Jean for dinner, that evening and I figured that he had around 50 miles to walk to get to Atlanta. He had Louise home and office's addresses, all her phone numbers but still it was not easy to set an exact time schedule when someone is walking. It takes a long time to cover a few miles… Louise was asking me Jean's preferences in eating and I answered that he likes everything except turnips. She made sure not to buy any… It was a very cordial exchange of e-mails!!!

Around 1:00 p.m., I receive this e-mail:

"Date: Fri, 3 Nov 2000 12:46:51 EST

Hello, my name is Jeff Melville. I met Jean today (Nov. 3rd) in Loganville, Georgia. This is a small town approximately 40 kilometers east of Atlanta.
I had heard that he would be coming through town the day before on a local radio station. It was pure luck that I had seen him walking as I was out
looking for an auto parts store. I pulled into a gas station after I passed him on the road and ran inside to buy him a bottle of water. By the time I came out of the station he was just coming up to the store. I introduced him to my 19 month old son, Cole, and offered him the water, which he gratefully accepted. We talked for a minute or so and then he was on his way. I was inspired by him and wished there were more I could do for him. So I decided to go to a grocery store and picked him up a few items (canned fruit and vegetables and a jar of peanut butter [I hope he has some bread!]). I drove back west on Highway 78 and found him a mile or so from where we had first met and gave him the groceries and told him I would write to you to let you know he was doing well.
You should be extremely proud of him and what he is trying to accomplish, my family wishes him the best of luck."

I immediately replied to Jeff, thanking him for his e-mail and his kindness to Jean and I sent a copy to Louise to let her know where Jean was. She was then able to figure out the time of Jean's arrival in Atlanta more accurately: around 6:00 p.m.

Around 3:00 p.m., I get this message:

"Subject: Hello from Snellville, GA
Date: Fri, 3 Nov 2000 14:36:35 EST

I met Jean today walking down Highway 78 headed towards Stone Mountain. I was on my way to pick up my 3 year old from preschool and I saw him with his
gear. I said to myself, I just have to stop and talk to this guy. My day is richer for it. How nice to meet him and hear him talk about some of his adventures. I hope you are doing all right without him. He looks very fit. What a strong handshake. That must be from hanging on to that stroller.
Stone Mountain is an awesome, bare looking piece of rock. I hope he will take a chance to walk to the top of it. Anyway, just wanted to say hi. I admire your husband and your family for taking this on. Peace to you.
Kristin Boykin
Stay at home mom of 3 young boys."

I answered Kristin with a copy to Louise. I locate Snellville on the map and try to figure out the number of miles Jean still has to walk to get to Louise's house. It seems to me he will be late and I feel bad being impolite to Louise… At last, everything went all right!!! Louise met Jean on the road and drove him to her house. Around 6:00 p.m. she writes:

" Jean is here, the wine bottle is being opened, will phone you after dinner "

When I talked to Jean, later in the evening, I ask him if he had run part of the way to be there on time and if he was tired because of it. He answered that he was in great shape and not tired at all!!! Funny, I felt I had been running all day… On Jean's Website, you can see photos that Louise sent me proving the wine bottle had been opened and Jean's high spirits…

Louise, I'll never thank you enough for your kindness and generosity toward Jean !!!

Jean stayed at Louise's all weekend. Monday morning, he goes to the Atlanta mayor's office, The Atlanta Constitution Journal, the CNN office and is walking toward Virginia's home when I receive a phone call at work. Suddenly, I am worried… Is there some kind of an emergency, calling me in the middle of the afternoon? Absolutely not… Someone from Ace lll Communications had seen him walking by and brought him in to their office where they prompted him to call me… At the same time, I was receiving this e-mail:

"Subject: your husband
Date: Mon, 6 Nov 2000 14:04:23 -0800

We have your husband in our newspaper office right now. He is trying to
call you.

John Hewitt
General Manager
Ace III Communications"

He reached Virginia's house where he stayed for 2 days. Virginia took very good care of him, just like Louise. Wednesday morning, November 8^th, Jean stops at the Canadian Consulate General in Atlanta and meets The Consul General, Ms Astrid Y. Pregel, the Consul in charge of Political, Economic Relations and Public Affairs, Mr. Denis Langlois and Mary Jane King, Communications and Cultural Affairs Officer. There is concern over Jean's safety as he proceeds into Latin America, where he does not speak the language and suggestions are offered as to assure his personal security. He is about to leave, after the meeting, when the Consul General, Ms Pregel offered him the hospitality of her house for that night.

Ah!!! Atlanta! What a marvelous city, filled with marvelous people!!! Be assured of all my gratitude!

On November 9^th, Jean sleeps in an abandoned stand in a deserted flea market, in Lithia Spring, GA. Even fairy tales do end!!!

Till next week…

Luce