You Say Goodbye I Say Hello

I had a mean case of the hiccups which kept me awake the night before my depart. It felt like I won the lotto when the seat beside me on the long flight to Geneva was left empty. Emporer Nero had lottery prizes of houses or slaves; Heliogabalus introduced an element of absurdity--one ticket awarded a golden vase and another six flies. I was pretty certain I hit the jackpot when I could stretch my legs.  SUCH a long trip, mais quelle récompense qui m'attends à la fin!