I grabbed a taxi in Seattle the other day, and asked my driver my customary question, "Where are you from?"

"Ah," he said, "now that is a very interesting question. Maybe you mean, 'where do I come from first?' is that it?" Well, sure, that's a good place to start. "Very well, how about if I answer your question with a question?" I didn't know there was going to be a test on this ride or I might have studied up. "What was the first country to recognize the sovereignty of the United States?" OMG, today's quiz subject is US history.

Thinking, thinking. I remembered that Benjamin Franklin was off in France somewhere around that time. Maybe he secured French recognition of the newly minted United States. "France," I confidently declared.

"Nope. I'll give you a hint. Do you want a hint from classical music or classic rock?"

Let's go for classic rock.

"Crosby, Stills and Nash sang a song called Marrakesh Express, so what country is Marrakech in?"

"Morocco." Whew! I know that by luck: there's a Moroccan restaurant in Portland named Marrakesh. "Really, Morocco?"

"Yes, in 1777!" Cool, I did not know that. I don't think that I even knew that once and then forgot it. But Morocco? Really?

Yes, Morocco really was the first country to recognize the independence of the United States of America, with references cited.

We arrived at my destination and I paid my driver and thanked him for the history lesson. And we didn't get to where else he was from.

Now I've got some reading to do.