"Sprrring is here, a-suh-puh-ring is here, Life is skittles and Life is Beer..."
(sorry, sometimes I can't help but to burst into song, ala Tom Lehrer).
This week for the first time, I feel like we have truly Arrived in the south of France. I know that seems a little slow in coming since we have been here for a full two months (two months!) already. Maybe it is because spring is here and we are spending more and more time in our gorgeous garden. I am starting to have the sort of moments I would have imagined a sabbatical in Provence would have included: Lunches alfresco in the shade-dappled sun; Afternoons reading lazily on a comfy chaise lounge listening to the birds twittering raucously in the trees; Evenings on those same chaise lounges chatting with Mark while sipping on local wine. So, life is seeming pretty damn good. And as the weather becomes more consistently sunny and warm I am sure we will be spending plus en plus time in the garden.
This week I went for a walk with Nathalie. She loves go for walks (promenade) and knows the trail system around town like the back of her hand. The weather was lovely and the air crystal clear in the way it can be around here. We could see for miles around and it was lovely. She is a great guide, knowing lots of history of the area (from medieval history all the way through the recent history of fires that swept through).
Le promenade was satisfying to me on a number of levels. First and foremost it was a beautiful day and felt great to be out in it and exploring the area. Secondly, I felt like I was handling it physically pretty well. And finally, the walk was satisfying for me in that we spoke in French most of the time. I am better able to hold up my end of a simple, relatively concrete conversation. We did slip into English when we ranged into more complex and abstract concepts (such as mental illness). Still, I felt pretty good about the French. I find it is a little too easy to live a cloistered non-french-speaking life here, so I feel good about finding opportunities to speak en français. In addition to just chilling out and enjoying Provence, my main goal for our time here is to improve my French.
Life seems to be improving for Maddox as well. It has been weeks since he has said anything about not wanting to go to school. It could be that he is feeling the spring in the air as well. As in, you know, l’amour? He has a girl friend. Her name is Hannah. I realize you folks have already read about this in Mark’s post (hogging all the good stuff!), but I will share my thoughts anyway.
Mark told you already about how yesterday, when I dropped Maddox off he saw Hannah by the front door and silently gave her a huge hug. But he missed out describing the soulful way they gazed into each others eyes and how afterward Maddox leaned his forehead on hers. So sweet. I had heard from Hannah’s mother that she talks about Maddox all the time, asking her how to say things in English, words like le dauphin (dolphin) and l'amour. Today, Maddox went on a field trip to an Olive grove. I asked him who his partner was for the walk.
He said, “You know -- my friend.”
“You mean Hannah?” (he nodded) “She likes you, doesn’t she?”
“Yeah! She likes me A LOT!”
Maddox is also beginning to discover the joy of the written word. Tiring of him going through pages and pages of my notebook, I suggested we get him one of his own. He was ecstatic. Seriously. Dancing-in-place excited. Who knew that 2 euros could buy so much goodwill?
This is what he has written on the outside of his notebook:
MADDOX
BOOK WRITE
KEEP OUT
DEEP
He fills his book with pictures and words here and there choosing pages at random. Pictures of houses and rainbows, and the words, “PRESENT” and “METAL” each on their own page and in no particular order. It is hard to fathom what is going through his mind. I just provide the spelling.
On the other hand, Jasper has discovered the joy of reading the written word. For hours on end. A couple of weeks ago she stayed up until 10pm reading James and the Giant Peach. Now at night, after we have read her a chapter from a book (she still enjoys us reading to her) I kiss her good night and try negotiate with her how many chapters she will read before going to sleep. For the most part she seems to turn off the light early enough to get adequate sleep.
It is raining today, but it has not dampened my spirits. I am still convinced that Spring is in the air.
(sorry, sometimes I can't help but to burst into song, ala Tom Lehrer).
This week for the first time, I feel like we have truly Arrived in the south of France. I know that seems a little slow in coming since we have been here for a full two months (two months!) already. Maybe it is because spring is here and we are spending more and more time in our gorgeous garden. I am starting to have the sort of moments I would have imagined a sabbatical in Provence would have included: Lunches alfresco in the shade-dappled sun; Afternoons reading lazily on a comfy chaise lounge listening to the birds twittering raucously in the trees; Evenings on those same chaise lounges chatting with Mark while sipping on local wine. So, life is seeming pretty damn good. And as the weather becomes more consistently sunny and warm I am sure we will be spending plus en plus time in the garden.
This week I went for a walk with Nathalie. She loves go for walks (promenade) and knows the trail system around town like the back of her hand. The weather was lovely and the air crystal clear in the way it can be around here. We could see for miles around and it was lovely. She is a great guide, knowing lots of history of the area (from medieval history all the way through the recent history of fires that swept through).
Le promenade was satisfying to me on a number of levels. First and foremost it was a beautiful day and felt great to be out in it and exploring the area. Secondly, I felt like I was handling it physically pretty well. And finally, the walk was satisfying for me in that we spoke in French most of the time. I am better able to hold up my end of a simple, relatively concrete conversation. We did slip into English when we ranged into more complex and abstract concepts (such as mental illness). Still, I felt pretty good about the French. I find it is a little too easy to live a cloistered non-french-speaking life here, so I feel good about finding opportunities to speak en français. In addition to just chilling out and enjoying Provence, my main goal for our time here is to improve my French.
Life seems to be improving for Maddox as well. It has been weeks since he has said anything about not wanting to go to school. It could be that he is feeling the spring in the air as well. As in, you know, l’amour? He has a girl friend. Her name is Hannah. I realize you folks have already read about this in Mark’s post (hogging all the good stuff!), but I will share my thoughts anyway.
Mark told you already about how yesterday, when I dropped Maddox off he saw Hannah by the front door and silently gave her a huge hug. But he missed out describing the soulful way they gazed into each others eyes and how afterward Maddox leaned his forehead on hers. So sweet. I had heard from Hannah’s mother that she talks about Maddox all the time, asking her how to say things in English, words like le dauphin (dolphin) and l'amour. Today, Maddox went on a field trip to an Olive grove. I asked him who his partner was for the walk.
He said, “You know -- my friend.”
“You mean Hannah?” (he nodded) “She likes you, doesn’t she?”
“Yeah! She likes me A LOT!”
Maddox is also beginning to discover the joy of the written word. Tiring of him going through pages and pages of my notebook, I suggested we get him one of his own. He was ecstatic. Seriously. Dancing-in-place excited. Who knew that 2 euros could buy so much goodwill?
This is what he has written on the outside of his notebook:
MADDOX
BOOK WRITE
KEEP OUT
DEEP
He fills his book with pictures and words here and there choosing pages at random. Pictures of houses and rainbows, and the words, “PRESENT” and “METAL” each on their own page and in no particular order. It is hard to fathom what is going through his mind. I just provide the spelling.
On the other hand, Jasper has discovered the joy of reading the written word. For hours on end. A couple of weeks ago she stayed up until 10pm reading James and the Giant Peach. Now at night, after we have read her a chapter from a book (she still enjoys us reading to her) I kiss her good night and try negotiate with her how many chapters she will read before going to sleep. For the most part she seems to turn off the light early enough to get adequate sleep.
It is raining today, but it has not dampened my spirits. I am still convinced that Spring is in the air.
Oh my gosh, quincy-robyn, the description of Maddox and his amour is so charming. Yours too, Mark. But pow! I'm blown away by the sweetness. Whew. Good stuff.
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