May the Fourth Be With You.

**Disclaimer: this is soooo old. I hadn’t realized my mistake of saving draft and not publishing. My heartfelt apologies to those who care! **

Have you heard that one? Apparently Star Wars nerds celebrate May 4th.... regardless, it makes me chuckle. : ) How is it already the middle of May? How is it that my mom's visit has already come and gone?! May in France is holiday-packed. May 1st is French Labor Day. Though it was a Saturday, which means offices and schools didn't close, it did definitely mean that everything else did. And boy, do I mean EVERYTHING closed. No boulangeries, no shopping, no movies even. May 8th marks the celebration of the end of World War II and the end of Gestapo presence in France. Parades were held Wednesday the 5th - Saturday the 8th; and again, everything was closed! Living abroad has become a piece of cake; there are still definitely arduous struggles with the kids, homesickness for drive-thrus and burritos and family and friends. But given the opportunity to share my life here with one of the most important people in my life really makes it that much better. When I came back from Costa Rica [double-07] I had a rough time with reverse culture shock. I thought that reverse culture shock meant that I wouldn't want to come back to the States, that I would hate American culture, etc. I am sure that is what it is for some people; but for me it was just an awful state of loneliness. I won't get into all of that, but what I realized was that the hardest part of returning was that everyone asked "how was Costa Rica?!" and expected "so great!" to be my entire answer. I am sure you know by reading this, and by your own experiences abroad, or just apart from your comfort zone, that there is always so much that is great, yet still a percentage that really blows. I felt like at that time I couldn't say that parts of it sucked, so I felt like no one could relate to this life-changing ordeal. Fortunately, this won’t be the case upon my return home this time. Having my mom, Mrs. S. Renee Stone come to visit has meant the world to me!
Friday I headed out to the airport to pick up Mom, and we proceeded to lug the bags across town via RER trains. Finally getting to the hotel and having had lunch, we took some naps and then came out to Le Vésinet where Mom wooed Alexandra, and got to meet Jen and her mom Betsy. Sebastian is ever shy and tends to turn away in that cute way where he is still eyeing you with the peripherals! Luke had just come home and he is cute even though he is very much in that squnched-up lizard stage. : )

The evening was spent in honor of the birth of one lovely Becca Hare; a full-out French appetizer dinner was served, and though delicious – 14 courses later, we were both in some serious pain. You just can’t refuse French hostesses – we truly tried!

Saturday we spent a wonderful lazy morning in the hotel eating breakfast and trying to get our pestering cleaning lady to leave us alone! [Only complaint of the week: the maid didn’t wait for us to put the tray out when we were finished, she knocked on the door on her own about30 minutes after delivery so there always seemed a pressure to eat quickly… yikes. We walked to the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs Elysees then went back to Le Vesinet to get some lunch and picnicked at Ibis, the park and lake at which I run, hang out, and play with the kids at the playground. We fed ducks and ducklings, geese and goslings. So much fun and completely reminiscent of my childhood in Carrollton spent at the park doing the same thing! [In fact, I am still getting chased by mean old swans!]

We went to St. Germain-en-Laye, and upon our exit from the RER tunnel, encountered a full-on Scottish bagpipe and drums band marching through the square. After a few performances we headed on to see the chateau, the gardens there, some cute shops the town has to offer, and upon stumbling upon the marche [market] area, we found an international festival and a German [lederhosen and all] band marching through! That night we went to dinner at one of the restaurants I really enjoy here, Suffren, in the 7th arrondisement – quite close to Eiffel Tower. Mom and I each had some fabulous food and a great time feeling ‘very French’ in it all. Our table-neighbors truly added to the ambience: imagine the most classically French old couple you can. Do you have a mental image? Does it look like a balding man in a suit with a pocket square who orders brings his dog to sit under the table? Is he ordering a platter of oysters and guzzling wine? Is his wife wearing a fur coat, with bushy hair and out-of-the-lines red lipstick? Well then, my friend, you are indeed spot-on. Giggles most definitely ensued.

Sunday we went to church and I got to show Mom off to my friends there! My typical Sundays include a slow breakfast and getting ready routine, maybe reading and doing some Bible study, church and then picnic at the Eiffel Tower… so that is what we did! We also visited Montmartre: the district which houses Sacre Coeur, an incredible basilica as well as Moulin Rouge and the other cabarets. Then we beat it out that part of town which is quite dodgy after dark!

Monday, we went to Notre Dame, and then to Ile St. Louis for some famous gelati. At 11am. You know that’s how we do! We had a blast checking out the shops on the island; I got some jewelry, Mom found some gifts and souvenirs, and we had fun with the comical oddities the French come up with as house wares! We had a good lunch in a corner café on St. Germain, a major street on the right bank that is lots of fun to stroll. It is also the beginning to the University area in the Latin Quarter. After lunch we walked by the Conciergerie [where the guillotine was famously held – the one which decapitated thousands of prisoners as well as Marie Antoinette, I believe.] We kept going after having crossed the river and saw the Hotel de Ville [City Hall] and its wonderful Manege [Carousel]. Then, to celebrate Mother’s Day, although a little late, we went to Bazaar Hotel de Ville [BHV] to get some Chanel lipstick. Fabulous, dah-ling. Fabulous. We shopped and hung out in the Marais, got a café and enjoyed some down time.

Tuesday we went to Bible Study and then Mom helped me with work! We picked up Alexandra at school, and tried desperately to find a parking spot in the rain for the library. After half an hour of futile efforts, I let Alexandra and Sebastian help with a tour of our favorite spots – Park Lorraine [affectionately referred to Boogly-Boogly Park, wherein lies the merry-go-round namesake, Boogly Boogly] and where we go to gymnastics twice a week. I packed up all of my coats and boots that could possible fit into a suitcase for Mom to take back for me, and after vacuum-sealing and having to sit on it to shut it, we carted it back across town.

Wednesday definitely more bitter than sweet. I had discussed with Mom the night before how much I would love if she could just stay here. If any of you comforting people could just be here with me! Her wise response, of course, was that if that were the case, then I would never actually be myself, and I would never be so independent. True words, and well spoken. Though I do miss you all sorely!