Nancy, the wine connoisseur

Nancy first entered my life as a student in a literary theory class I taught in 2000. Years later, I was delighted to discover that she had become the head server at Bistro 33, where I hosted my first pub quiz. Nancy knew food and wine extraordinarily well, and Kate and I always looked forward to seeing her when we dined there. She helped make each visit memorable with her warmth, professionalism, and remarkable knowledge. Then came the biggest surprise of all. While researching my family history, I discovered that Nancy and I are distant cousins, one more reminder that our lives are often connected in ways we never imagine. One of the great joys of teaching has been watching former students become colleagues, friends, neighbors, and, in this case, family. Thank you, Nancy, for the many wonderful conversations, the excellent recommendations, and the unexpected reminder that the world is smaller than we think. If you’ve enjoyed this story, I’d be honored if you’d subscribe. This video is part of my year-long project to share 365 stories about former students who have enriched my life and taught me lessons I’ll always carry with me. #Teaching #FormerStudents #UCDavis #Genealogy #FamilyHistory #Wine #Hospitality #Bistro33 #PubQuiz #WritingLife #Gratitude #DiaryOfAQuizMaster