Wandering through the rubble from last night's festivities, I followed a path of tiny, cardboard labels from the white chocolate covered cabecous all over the Chatette. I'm not complaining. I specially requested chocolate when Madeleine asked what she could bring. She knows me well. She brought my favorites. What's even better...there's enough left over to pack up with the rest of the goodies to take to the states.
I wandered on the road in front of the Chatette last night before the party, wondering what the evening would hold. It was a clear, beautiful, stars exploding, kind of night. All I could think was "here I am in the south of France getting ready to have a houseful of friends (some of whom have become almost family) for an evening of fun in overalls." I still ask myself how I got here? How did this happened to me? I pinch myself regularly. The hard thing now, is that I'm looking ahead to next year when I'm going to be working more, traveling more and here less. My heart breaks. But no matter what happens, I have found HOME again in my life and know that there is no where in the world that I would rather be than just right here.
I should mention a few things about my gang and their overalls from last night. Patrick was voted by my friends in the states as "the man they most wanted to see in his overalls." Jean-Pierre and Françoise Martenot made a special trip to Toulouse to get their overalls and were a very chic couple-they are always so photogenic. Christiane was ready with a forest green pair with lace pockets, a lace shawl and only she could get away with wearing her special rhinestone "bitch" pin that was a gift from our friend Kelly Kerr. Eddie and Helen Luscott came in white coveralls and looked great, but they reminded me of the HAZMAT suits we used to see all over New Orleans after the storm when debris removal was in progress. Therese made a bib out of African material to attach to her pants. Last but not least, Annie and Willie Braun were coveralled and overalled and looked right at home. We celebrated life in overalls well last night, but better than that...all of my friends came out to share a night that was special to me and reminded me once more how grateful I am for them and this wonderful life in Cadrieu!