Last Tango

Full of good laughs and stinky cheese, my week here has been wonderful! Perhaps I should have given a bit of background earlier...my relationship started with Karine when her brother came as a summer foreign exchange student for 3 weeks when I was in 3rd grade. Karine eventually came to live with us while attending school and her whole family (even grandpa) has been to Wisconsin, and likewise us to them! They are affectionately referred to as the "French family" but they do indeed feel like family. There have been many changes since I left 4 years ago - Karine & Laurent got married and had Manon, but also the dear father of my French family died unexpectedly at work. Louis was a very special man - so full of life and love that it was impossible not to get infected with his energy. We spent the weekend at the family house and though for me it was the first time to be there without Louis, he was still there in the joie de vie of his wife, children, and now granddaughter. Annie made her famous paella (I politely skipped the mussels) - we spent lots of time around the table talking & laughing, just like it should be!

On Saturday afternoon Karine and Laurent took me to the town and chateau of Chantilly. (sing it with me: Chantilly lace had a pretty face and a pony tail hanging down...) The chateau was built in the 16th century and is filled with furniture, artwork, and household items - mostly gilded- and one seeing all this one can really understand why the revolution happened! There are beautiful, typical French gardens and while we were there we saw 3 weddings taking advantage of the perfect picture spots! The surrounding city is quaint and very... French. Have I mentioned that I could live here?

Tomorrow I leave for the UK via the Eurostar. Yes, yes I've heard about all the terrorism... I'll be careful. Glasgow is next weekend, so hopefully things will calm down and we'll still be able to go. I am sad to leave France and the family. Manon's perfect curls are a delight, and though I haven't been graced by many, I got a goodbye bisous at bedtime. I won't wait 4 years for the next visit!