Enfin, I am back in Paris! To say I'm overjoyed to be back is a huge understatement. I got the most wonderful welcome when I came into the courtyard, too. First, Georges started to walk towards me, and then the little boy next door shouted "LISA!" and then I heard our Little Guy asking "Elle est là?" and Georges confirming it. Well, I barely had a chance to throw myself into my husband's outstretched embrace when a small projectile came hurtling toward me and LEPT into my arms... and he wouldn't let go. It was all I could do NOT to tear up in front of him but my heart completely melted from the huge hug he gave me. (I was told later that he'd been asking every day for several days "When will she come?" How cool is THAT?) Especially since when I left I didn't think I'd be seeing him again until August but things just worked out nicely this way, that he happened to be here to spend a few precious hours with him before his vacation started. Lots more hugs and kisses all day... can't get enough of those from this adorable boy; he is truly his father's son, so affectionate and loving with people in his life, even his older siblings. When he wants a hug he has no trouble at all asking for one, and I think that's a wonderful quality. He even gives kisses to the little toddler next door, who adores the Little Guy like an additional older brother (which he already has) -- so cute!
And now, our youngest gone off for his July holidays with various family and friends, including lots of young cousins to play with; he'll have a great time. Our two older kids have taken off as well; the oldest left yesterday and will be gone at least three weeks if not longer, traveling with his girlfriend, and the girl left about an hour ago for most of the summer and our paths may not cross again until end of August. We'll have the Little Guy with us for all of August though, and we'll be hanging out at Georges' sister's place in Saint Raphael where we will indulge ourselves with lots of mini-golf, trips to various beaches, gelato, trips to the Fréjus Zoo and who knows what else. I loved beach vacations in New Jersey (where the beach is never called the beach but is called "The Shore", and where you never go to the beach, you go "down the shore") as a kid and although the feel of the beach towns here is different than in New Jersey, I still love being around a sandy plage and some salt water. It'll be wonderful. I foresee much building of sand castles and water-gun fights in my future.
But for the moment, Georges and I have a rare thing: several weeks completely alone, with the house all to ourselves (well, the cat's still here although if she doesn't manage to catch the MOUSE that surprised me when I opened the garbage can cabinet this morning, she's gonna be out on her tail PDQ). He's still working this month but we're taking a long weekend on Friday to visit his sister and also to celebrate our first wedding anniversary over on Melon Beach where we first decided to get married (well, officially decided since we'd actually been talking about marriage since 2 weeks after we met!) Then, next weekend it seems we're invited to visit Georges' good friend from university who lives in Caen with his family, so if that works out I'll finally get to visit the Normandy Beaches!
So this summer, it will feel a bit like having a revolving door in our house, with all of the comings and goings around here. But that's what summers are for... getting out of your routine weekly grind and being outdoors and out of town as much as possible. And I'll say one thing: the French have got it right, with this 5-6 weeks of vacation time a year. No one's in the mood to work much anyway at this time of year... we might as well enjoy life instead!
What are YOU doing this summer? Going on the road, or doing a "staycation" (i.e. staying at home for your vacation because the economy is so messed up)? Tell us your plans!
