Cannes

On Monday, 10 May, I had the opportunity to travel to Cannes in the South of France for a day trip. It was clear that the famous Cannes Film Festival was beginning in 2 days with all the press roaming around and people setting up the red carpet and preparing for events on ocean front venues all up and down La Croisette, which is the main road and boardwalk right along the beach. Talk about lifestyle of the rich and famous! The first shops I spotted were Bulgari, Hermes, and Fred Jewelers. It was really sort of a miraculous day- all the local weather reports called for rain and clouds so I brought an umbrella and prepared to spend the day (in which I was celebrating my one year anniversary) wishing that the sun was out and I could enjoy the beautiful city. However, there was not a cloud in the sky! And now I'm sporting the sunburn to prove it- I wasn't expecting the need to protect myself from the sun, and I was so excited to be in the beautiful city that I didn't even think about sunscreen! Around 4pm I started to notice that my shoulders had turned a nice lobster color, and I had been chalking that up to the straps of my bag digging into my shoulders all day.

Needless to say, Cannes is a magical place. I couldn't stop staring at the water of the Cote d'Azur- it was so clear you could literally see straight to the bottom. It's a teal-green color and then when it gets deeper a rich blue. We took a boat to the Ile Ste. Marguerite off the coast of Cannes, where the prison from the Man in the Iron Mask is located. The water was so clear there I just wanted to drink it! It was very cold though- I could barely dip my toes in for more than a second or two.

The entire La Croisette is filled with high end retailers such as Emporio Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Louis Vitton, and countless others. We were even stopped and our photo was taken by some people advertising their photo services- but it definitely made me feel like a celebrity!

It was only a 4 hour ride on the high-speed train (TGV) from Lyon, and we arrived at 10:30 and left at 6pm. We had a wonderful day exploring the city in the sun and I would LOVE to go back!

Loss

This post has no accompanying picture, no cute story, and no suave European lesson to be learned. This story is about loss. I lost someone very close to me on Thursday, April 29th, and from that day on I have been struggling with not being their by her bedside with the rest of my family. She didn't want me to return to France because she was so worried about my safety, and I begged God to let her see me come home safely. Little did I know that God wanted her to have the best seat possible to be able to watch over my safe return. Hundreds of people were praying for her when they admitted her to hospice; praying for her healing, for her peace and ours, and a little after midnight our prayers were answered. We don't know God's plans and I cannot question His decision. I was torn at losing her, but I know that she is no longer in pain and suffering. Instead she's better than us all. As one friend of mine put it- "she is the lucky one, not us. One day we will be as lucky as her." And he's right. One day I know that her and I will meet again, and until that day I pass notes to her through Jesus. I know that now she is watching over her family and smiling to see that we all love each other and are supporting each other through this difficult time.

There is a memento (one among many) that she gave me a few years ago, a ring with a beautiful deep blue sapphire in the middle that displays a large star in the jewel when it is held under direct light. She had it re-sized for me so it would perfectly fit my ring finger. I left it home when I came to France for fear I would misplace it in my travels and I do not regret that decision, but I want it so badly. I yearn to have a piece of her with me at all times; just a reminder of her beautiful life and the lessons she taught me. She is on my mind at all times, so it's difficult to explain my want for this ring just now, but I know that when I arrive home, the first thing I do will be to retrieve my ring from it's safe hiding spot and put it on my finger, where it will always be until I decide it's time to pass it on to my daughter and tell her about Mabert and how wonderful she was.

I have begun to write out my memories of her, and the things she taught me. When I sit down to type one memory, the others just keep flowing and i cannot stop them or the tears. I wish I had taken more pictures. I used to call her every week when I was back home in Charlotte and now I wish that I had realized earlier and more often that I could call her on skype. I was able to speak with her a few times and even on her deathbed I spoke to her twice and I am grateful because some people don't even get that chance. But to only be with her one more time, to have one more conversation or garner one more life lesson from her rich time on this earth, I would give almost anything.

I miss her so much and I am grieving her in the way that I think appropriate. It's difficult because she would not have wanted a lot of fuss, but she is more than worthy of it. She didn't even want a funeral so there was none. I don't understand this decision but at the same time I would not have been able to attend anyways. I look forward to seeing my Grandpa and embracing him and finally being able to have some closure. I want to talk about her and her life and her family and her legacy. I want to record all her memories so that I can tell my children. I never imagined my life without her because she was going to live forever. She was going to be at my wedding and know my children and see how my life turned out. It still tears me apart to know that she won't be doing those things here on Earth, but I know that where she is, she already knows all those things and so much more.

I love you Grandma.

French Mornings

Long has it been since I've returned to this page to recount my adventures in Europe. There are many reasons for that- none of them legitimate so I will not waste time writing them. I often find myself in a peaceful moment and feel the need to write about it. Through a series of unlikely events, I found myself at a bakery at 9am recently- and what a wonderful experience! Why have I never done that before? It's magical to walk outside of my apartment in the beautiful French early springtime and be amidst the first customers of the day as they make their morning choices from the large selection of treats. The boulangerie wants for nothing at this hour- nothing has been picked over, nothing is running out, and I get my choice of all these things laid out in front of me on a golden platter.

Unfortunately the man behind me was not so taken with the magic of it all as I was, and he and his business suit had things to do. I chose a selection of pastries and returned for a magical breakfast of pastries, coffee, tea, juice, and bananas. I wish I had photos to document that tiny amount of time which bored itself into my memory, but I do not so word pictures will have to suffice. It's just a small little thing...like most boulangeries. It looks simple on the outside, and as I push the glass doors to get inside a tinkling bell goes off alerting the lady that a new customer arrives. There's a long glass showcase of pastries that makes an L-shape, and I walk back and forth in front of it, prowling like a caged lionness in the zoo. I want to be sure that I don't waste my choices...and there are so MANY choices! I took two chocolat russe - which is a doughy bread in a sort of pretzel shape with chocolate morsels all throughout, and 2 chausson pommes, which I'm told is the equivalent of an apple turnover although I can't be sure because I've never had that American treat.

But the sheer amount of bread- yellows and golds everywhere! Different types of baguettes in large bins and baskets behind the counter for me to choose from- and nothing about 1 euro 50! I went in with 5 euros and came out with 4 pastries and change. The walk back to my apartment just around the corner was all too short- the morning was brisk and beautiful and sunny- oh how I love the sun in France! It's been such a rarety these last few months. I've missed my Carolina blue skies amidst the white and dreary French skies. So since I've been cooped up all winter, I'm chomping at the bit to get outside and take as many walks in the park and around the city as possible, and join the ranks of French people who are also venturing out from their apartments for the first time in a long time for the purpose of leisure time. I want to take my new huge book to the park and read while the children feed the deer and mosey through the zoo...maybe hear the lion roar another time. Maybe take a bike ride through the park..or a canoe on the lake. Is that even possible? I'm not sure but I intend to find out...these last few months will not go wasted on my journey!

a toute a l'heure...