Soar-Dream-France

My Constant Companion

Home at my very own desk this morning, not too much the worse for wear...my Dal is on the terrace and Sam is under the covers. Sleeping in my own bed is always heaven, but it was MORE heaven last night. You see, I'm getting ready to head out again on December 5 to go to work. When I made these travel plans, work was scheduled to start mid-December, but as with everything else in this crazy world...that changed too. There are so few constants in my life. So, when I saw this photo of my purple backpack this morning: I sighed. It has been all over the world with me, my constant companion. Everyone teases me but I don't care. It's better than a purse, perfect for my bike, holds all the necessities for a village fête, fits nicely under foot or over head on the plane, and appears to be bottomless in the grocery store. This trip home, I noticed tears, spots, and iffy zippers. But, I'm not giving it up. Promise me you won't laugh at that crazy woman you might see running through the airport with all her clothes falling out of the bottom of her purple backpack. That...will be me!

 

Homestretching From St. Louis

Coming into the homestretch of this almost three week visit, I finally put the finishing touches on Mom and Dad's Christmas Tree. There's still room for a few ornaments so Mom can have a little fun, with Dad's direction of course. I tried to put their favorite ornaments on the side so they can enjoy them from their chairs. I hit the road again on Monday, scheduled to arrive home in Cadrieu on Tuesday night. I had expected to have 10 days to regroup a bit, enjoy my place of home, and snuggle in with my Dal and Sam. No such luck! As it turns out, the start date on my contract has changed so I'll be heading out a week earlier than originally scheduled. I'm very grateful that I did all the major stuff before I left for the states, but there are still a few things that need to be taken care of so I can be gone again for two months. Camping out at CDG looked like a great idea for one brief moment!

A Brother-in-Law for All Seasons and Reasons

Kathleen and I had decided long before this visit that we were going to have FUN...fun on International Overalls Day, fun on Thanksgiving, and just generally have quality time together. A number of things got in the way of our plan on many fronts, but her husband Tom manages to pick up the pieces as we go. Whether he's chic in his overalls, carving our Thanksgiving Turkey, picking me up at the airport, or hauling away thirty years of the shredables of my life in the back of his truck; Tom is the man! We are all lucky to have him in our lives. So, on this day after Thanksgiving-a HUGE MERCI to Tom for taking such good care of us...and we aren't the only ones!

Happy Thanksgiving!

This Thanksgiving, I'm most thankful that I am able to spend it with my family. Last year, I was working in Holland on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year. I must say, I'm also thankful to be returning to Holland for another assignment shortly after I get back to France. This year, I'll be working Christmas and New Year, but who cares. I plan to be singing lots of Christmas and winter tunes, reading lots of holiday stories, and maybe sharing a Christmas Mouse or two. As you can see, I'm already easing into the holiday spirit!

Buster Boy and Friends

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My blogging partner is by my side again this morning. My first welcome to Michel and André's each morning greets me on the left, but then Buster settles in beside me. He's sitting on my netbook cover as I write and even lets me stroke his chin from time to time so I can channel my Sam who I'm missing desperately! We both love it! I'm so fortunate that my guys live across the street from Mom and Dad. I have my own key and can  walk over to blog, pay bills, catch up on emails, and just have a few cherished moments of peace. HUGE MERCI to Michel and André...and of course my Buster Boy.

Best Laid Plans Bomb But...

Our best laid plans for International Overalls Day bombed at almost every turn on Sunday evening, but we still made the most of it and had lots of fun. I won't bore you with the bombs, but want to share the surprises in overalls above! I expected my brother-in-law Tom to show up in overalls, but not looking quite so chic! Then, Michel (of Michel and André fame) actually went out and found a pair at the Salvation Army to wear for the evening. I was busy in the kitchen with the pizza. As we moved from pizza, to salad, to dessert; I disovered my overalls guys were discovering the wonder and practicality of overalls. We ate together in the living room. When I checked to see if everyone had silverware, I discovered forks and spoons in the front of their bibs. Tom and Michel raised them, a silverware toast to International Overalls Day!

Happy Third International Overalls Day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy International Overalls Day to Everyone! Whether it's on the Brussels Ferry crossing the river or across the street from Mom and Dad's at Michel and André's; I am very grateful to have this pair of overalls on. You see, I arrived here expecting my overalls to be where they always are when I return from France..hanging behind the door in the guest bedroom. No! Overalls Crisis ensued! Now, I did have my dragonfly pair with me, but it just wasn't going to be the same! Mom and I looked everywhere for almost a week. I unhatched lots of possible explanations and plots to rid me of my overalls, but in the end the MIA Overalls turned up under the bedspread in the guest bedroom. I'm  just grateful I found them, making International Overalls Day even more special because I have them on and with me. I don't think I'll be leaving any more overalls around the world!

Brussels But...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...not in Belgium! Spending Tuesday with an old friend turned out to be a trip down memory lane and adventurous exploration. We'd already talked about what I'd like to do. Over a quarter of a century ago, we used to cross over into Illinois and take two ferries. I remembered the steaks at the restaurant by the second ferry and had it all worked out in my mind...ferry over, stop at this sweet, ancient cemetery, get a steak at the restaurant, and then take the big ferry back across. It didn't quite work that way-We made the free Brussels Ferry without a problem, explored Brussels a bit, visited the cemetery, and headed over to Kinders to discover that it had closed for the season just last week. The Golden Eagle Ferry was pulling in, but we opted instead for a day in the country and turned back. Almost everything was closed, so we hit the Brussels Red and White Grocery Store for pecans, cheese, apples and cookies. The beer was another story. Stopping in at AJ's for beer and a bathroom break, we experienced even more middle Americana! (I was glad I was in my overalls.) But even as I walked out of AJ's in my overalls with our six pack of Michelobs under my arm, I knew that everyone knew I didn't really belong! My friend and I picniced the rest of the afternoon beside a river...I'll leave you with some some fun and beautiful shots below. Happy Saturday!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flying Across the Bridge

Prior to the levee breaks in New Orleans, I saw myself working to bridge two places I loved. I'd return to New Orleans from France, and I found myself wanting to take the bus, ride my bike, walk, shop in the neighborhood, and capturing my place in photos. As I was trying to put those pieces in place, it felt as if one side of my bridge had been bombed. Everything I knew was different and fragile. I found comfort in those bridging activities, but everything around us had changed. I had changed. Throughout all these years, I have tried to make that bridge. But this trip, my bridge materialized out of the mist just when I stopped trying to make it happen. I see the pieces clearly. This is the meant to be in the moving on. I expect that once the house sells, I will continue to come back to New Orleans to visit family and friends. I know I can stay with Stew and Eric. I'll be: riding Eric's bike every morning, taking the bus and chatting with the locals, roaming the French Quarter, shopping at Terranova's, loving on City Park, taking photos, and enjoying visits with my friends and this place who has played a huge part in making me the person that I am.

Feeling my bridge has been important. Riding my bike the other morning, I watched a huge, beautiful pelican fly over the bridge across Bayou St. John. I remembered Faith RInggold's memoir called: "We Flew Over the Bridge", and I was flying with that pelican. As I head to St.Louis this morning, then return to France at the end of the month, I leave you with a quote that says it all:

"Anyone can fly, all you have to do is have somewhere to go that you can't get to any other way and the next thing you know you're flying among the stars."-Faith RInggold's Tar Beach

Kings of Place and Parking

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What better way to say thank you to your friends, than lunch at the Napoleon House. Saturday was my fourth visit since my arrival, but this one was definitely the most fun. Eric and Denise began with the Napoleon House signature drink-the Pimm's Cup. We shared a charcuterie board, on to sandwhiches, and shared sides of Jambalya. We caught Denise up on the Cadrieu doings, enjoyed having the "gang" together again, and were particularly pleased when Stew found the perfect, legal, place right across the street from the Napoleon House to park the cadilac! I thought I had French Quarter parking karma, but it appears that Stew is the Parking Karma King!