30 hours and 5,000 miles later…(each way, of course!) YOU know what it’s like, because many of you have made the trek, just to come see us! 🙂
Today I was the
LIVING DEFINITION of GRIME!
In the last three weeks, I have flown on 13 different flights, three trains, the metro (92+ degrees, no AC, windows shut on the trains), Uber (good), Parisian taxi (bad), and popped up all over the eastern United States, like a guest that just won’t leave!
The prevailing diet was Mexican, the A/C was a continuous 72 degrees, and the water came with ice. The car keys never left my hand, I didn’t bring my own bags to carry groceries, and I was delighted to hang with Robert, Leslie, Brendan (several times), Mom, Myrna, Larry, Cheryl, and of course Mom’s posse on a regular basis – Jody, Carol, Eleanor, Cindy & Gerald, the crew at Phill’s Diner…
We won at the Casino (well…ahem, De De won….), lost and celebrated the life of a dear friend Jack, and kept the Viber conversations going between France (Tanner) and my various adventures in the US, despite our seven hour time difference! I DID actually do some French review, so I wouldn’t just be an idiot upon ‘La Rentrée.’ [http://mamalovesparis.com/la-rentree-france/] The four hour wait for the train from Paris today gave me the opportunity to remember just how bad my French proficiency is with local people in the Parc de Bercy…but I’ll go down swinging! K K ꓘ (for you baseball-ophiles*)
De De proved she will eternally be a kid at heart and her little dog learned to hide when I had the bottle of ear drops in my hand. Sinatra, Hepburn & Tracy ruled, Perry Mason solved the crime nightly and there was Blue Bell ice cream – BEST EVER. In cones, of course.
I had some lovely hours with Myrna, Larry, Leslie, Brendan, and Robert – and saw my niece Heather before she deployed for the first time on a ship with the Navy. Had GREAT dog-time with Riley, Bear & Neo (temporarily satisfying a dog-fever itch!) and played in mom’s little slice of Eden – I miss a yard of flowers!
Yes…Jacks…really! 
I DID get to see the 4th of July televised fireworks from the New York City harbor — but missed the fireworks for Bastille Day on July 14, La Fête Nationale in France, from our rooftop terrace!
What I MISSED on this trip was deeply satisfying time with life long friends – but in three weeks (just about the time it will take me to recover from this voyage!), Tanner and I will be back on the plane heading west across the Atlantic (Déjà vu) and doing it all over again, with our kids and friends on the South Carolina coast.
WHICH WAYYYYYY TO The BEACH???
More to come. Zombies have nothing on me…walking dead, right here!
Bisous,
Mindy
PS! I know that ‘going down swinging,’ baseball-lingo, would read “K-K-K.” However…that connotation didn’t seem so good (ya think??), so I decided on the backward K (which is striking out without swinging…didn’t want you to think I didn’t know the difference! ) #scorekeeperonceuponatime
So glad to read your blog and know you’re home in CF and recuperating from some very strenuous travel. Already miss you bunches! XOX