In March 1980 when Lorraine and I were in Europe, the big news in the U. S. was President Carter's disastrous attempt to rescue the hostages in Iran. Another backpacker came running through the train looking for anyone from the U.S. to tell about it.

In April 1993 when Doug and I visited his parents in Ludwigshafen, Germany, we watched the German evening news reports of Los Angeles burning.

This time while we're in Europe we get the big news that the Supreme Court upheld the health care act.

If the news has to be big while we're away, at least this time it's good news.