Dream Fulfilled

When I became an exchange student to the Netherlands many years ago, my otherwise-reluctant mother commented that at least I would get a chance to see the tulip fields. By that spring, however, I was living in Brussels, and I missed the big event. Although I've returned to both countries many times in the intervening years, the timing was never right. So when I saw the dates for my conference in Copenhagen, I immediately decided to tack on a trip to Keukenhof. The long-awaited day was cold and wet and the blooms behind schedule, but I was with wonderful company from my exchange student days. When I commented that the gardens were more landscaped than I expected, Joy encouraged me to climb up a windmill for a view of fields striped with color. I was thrilled! Then we rushed to the tropical pavilion to enjoy orchids and WARMTH.