One of the great things about knowing so many people in France is that I'm never without a place to be. But it's hard to make sure that I can see everyone without hurting any feelings. Last year, my Poix colleagues organized a dinner in Pierre's garden so I could see the maximum number of people, and I think Viviane is going to try to do the same at the end of June.
Meanwhile, it was easier to see Véronique and the girls, because last summer they moved to Montreuil, a suburb just east of Paris. Véro got a new job as an assistant principal in a different region, and if you'll recall, most (and I say most, because it isn't the case for D&K) administrators have provided housing. So I hopped on the Métro, and met Alice in Montreuil. We got drenched on the way back to their place, but dried out in time to go to dinner later in the evening. The girls have grown and changed, but their kindness and hospitality haven't changed.
The next morning, I took a train to Amiens to work on partnership projects with Philip. We spent the whole day together, visiting and reminiscing on how far we've come in the past three and a half years, which is just as important as the plans we made for the future. We both agreed that it was nice to dedicate an entire day to something so enjoyable.
Back in Paris, I'm "Tatie Jen," helping out where I can with C & J, cooking, doing laundry, and going to the store. It's nice to feel like I'm earning my keep for once. D & K have been so good to me all these years. Tonight at dinner we realized that it's been ten years since I first spent the summer with them in St. Cloud! Je n'ai pas vu le temps passer !
No comments:
Post a Comment