All good things must come to an end and tonight was our farewell dinner to our group swimming friends. Five of them are leaving tomorrow. While they do not leave until tomorrow afternoon and will be able to get one more group swim in together, I will miss it because I leave before the daily swim to work on Leu Cat. Thus, tonight was to be the last opportunity for me to say goodbye.

The picture attached to this blog captures the group with (starting from the left) Steve and Lou (from near Brighton, England), Laird (from New York City), Joe and Marian (from Toronto, Canada) and, of course, Mary Margaret. The photo is missing Ed, Laird's husband, who had to return to New York City this morning to play in a gig on Tuesday. He is a well know jazz guitarist that many of you may be familiar with (Ed Cherry). He played with Dizzy Gillespie from 1978 to shortly before Gillespie's death in 1993.

Laird has been coming to La Sagesse Hotel each year since around 1990 and has watched it changed to what it is now. Joe and Marian also have a long history with this hotel and have returned 8 and 7 times respectively.

We had a wonderful time over dinner and desert, discussing a wide range of topics from this group with such a diverse set of backgrounds. It was most enjoyable listening to everyone's views and experiences and sharing our own. We will miss them all.

While this group will be breaking up after tomorrow's swim, a new group is already forming with the addition of new guests that arrive. A young couple, whose names I do not yet know, will be joining the swim tomorrow and along with Mary Margaret. They will continue the swimming legacy that Mike, the owner of the hotel, directs. It is a unique and great way for the guests to mingle and get to know one and other.