Many people have asked me about my trip to Paris. I say, great, fabulous, wonderful, just what I wanted, needed, hoped. My favorite question though was from a thoughtful friend who asked what was my biggest surprise. I have a few.
The biggest surprise I think were the D-Day re-enactors. I had totaly not expected that and it held a sick sort of fascination for me. I liked that they were there and I felt sort of irked that they were there at the same time. Almost all of them sporting American flags on their ancient uniforms, American flags flying on their 1940 vehicles, but speaking with British, Scotch, German or Norwegian accents. I think I was disappointed that they were not actually Americans after I had a repetitive stress injury from waving at them our first day in Normandy.
Not far behind this were all the Vets that were there, just ready and willing to talk to the likes of me and share their stories. Old men, a little wobbly, using canes, with chicken necks, hearing aids, and gnarled fingers who are heroes! They share their precious stories of how they fought, won, lost and survived in that fateful battle.
Less important surprises were things like the amount of butter in a croissant. Seriously, I knew that there is a lot, but I had no idea! And how the heck am I going to get my stick of American butter pounded down like we did in class? I guess it will be a good work out after someone pisses me off real good!
And the Macarons! We made them and “I helped” (said with the same southern accent from the chicken commercial) and they were SO good! Pink ones with delicious raspberry filling, the Tan coffee flavored ones with the caramel or chocolate or both filling in between! The sweet little feet of the shells as they baked, and that I could accomplish this at home (Which I have). The camaraderie in the kitchen as we all made them for the first time. The gentle, engouraging guidance of Pino, our instructor. The realization that they were just as good as those of an unnamed Macaron God.
The trip to St Denis was very enlightening for me as well. It was incredible to see the tombs of those I have studied so hard. I had no idea that the royals had their “entrails” removed after they died and that they had their own separate tomb for those entrails. Puts a whole new spin on being a princess, at least for me! Seeing the tombs of Charlemagne, Francois, Catherine and Marie was a quick walk backwards through some of my recent learning.
I was not sure if at the ripe old age of fifty I would be able to maintain my weight and consume what ever I wanted. I had not done a very good job of that at home, though I did take off some weight prior to my leaving. To my great surprise my scales read that I had gained about 6 lbs on my arrival home. I was rather surprised as none of my pants were feeling tight, but that is what the scales said. Until I stepped off and noticed that someone had set them 10 lbs heavy! No one is taking credit for this fun little prank, but I have my own list of suspects! So in the end I did eat to my heart’s content and take off 4 pounds in the process. It had to be all the walking I did! If only I could do that here!
Lastly, I was not totally sure, in spite of my bravado, that I would not get home sick after being gone and alone for an entire month. But I did not. I missed my peeps, but to be honest I was too busy, entertained, engaged to get lonely. Did I mention that all what walking, frequent grocery shopping and regular shopping, cooking, and reading in the parks of Paris kept me too busy to get lonely. Did I mention the amount of time it took to blog every day? So I proved to myself that I can be somewhat self reliant and do, well, great, fabulous wonderful!
