An update on cousin Sarah Simpson Grandin is way overdue! Since her wedding on 21 Aug 2009 to Olivier Pecquenard in Jaru, France, there have been many exciting events in her life. She is currently a Fulbright Scholar studying in Paris. Fortunately for us, Sarah is a talented writer who can transport her readers to the “City of Lights” to share in her life. Treat yourself with a regular visit to her blog, A Peasant in Paris. But... we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Here is her recent news, most forwarded on to us by her father, Mike Grandin. (Sarah is a 3x-great-granddaughter of Orson Thomas Johnson, brother of Philip Paddleford Johnson. For more about her family connection, see the end of this post.)

From Michael Grandin
“Sarah Grandin Graduates”
21 June 2011

Sarah Simpson Grandin graduated June 12, 2011 from Stanford University with honors and distinction. She double-majored in Comparative Literature and Art History and wrote her honors thesis on the art of Chardin. She received a 2011 Golden Medal, which are awarded to the finest theses in the humanities and creative arts, and the 2011 Kennedy Medal for best thesis in the humanities. She also won the Comparative Literature Best Essay in the Major award and the Hester-Franklin Prize for best original paper in French by an undergraduate. During her junior and senior years Sarah worked for AmeriCorps teaching gardening, cooking, and nutrition to children in East Palo Alto. While at Stanford Sarah sang a cappella and regularly performed in student theatrical productions. Sarah will spend the next academic year in Paris on a Fulbright Scholarship researching the history of the French food guide.

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We hear that Willie Ray and Betty Margaret Johnson Johnson (“Swampy” and Betty Margaret) will soon be enjoying a river boat cruise in France! They leave on 26 March and return to the States on 14 April 2011. Their journey will take them on the Rhone, Saone and Seine Rivers. Following the cruise, they will spend an additional four days in Paris. How beautiful will that be in Spring?! Betty Margaret is the daughter of Seth, Jr. and Kathleen VanHoose Johnson (Uncle Seth and Aunt Kathleen).

Bon voyage, Swampy and Betty Margaret! We will be with you at least in spirit. Don’t forget to send pictures!
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