France jour 6 - saying goodbye, and saying hello

The strangest part of online friendships is when the opportunity presents itself to actually meet someone you have "known" for some time. Maybe you have talked on the phone, exchanged endless emails, supported each other through difficult moments or joyful occasions. When that moment actually happens though - when you are face to face for the first time, at least for me, it is like looking at a long lost friend. I have experienced it many times. I tend to be emotional so when I connect with these friends, there are always huge hugs, lots of laughter, and even occasionally a few tears from me.

Such was the case in the south of France. You see, Chicago bestie and I were to part ways on Monday morning. We had had the MOST MAGICAL week together - a week that I will go back to time and again and feel such joy reliving. We drove our little car to the train station in the rain, listening to music - but nothing slow or sad - no way. We returned our car and walked up to the station to find our trains. I felt so sad knowing she was leaving. My heart was heavy as, even though we may travel together again, this really was a once in a lifetime trip. I should also mention that I don't do "goodbye" well. I nearly always cry, especially at airports or train stations. And of course, this time was no exception. I hated to see her go...

So, she had her ticket, but mine had been purchased the night before at the hotel so I needed to pick up my physical ticket when we arrived. I waited in line but had a sinking feeling as I watched people who seemed rather frustrated working with the women at the counters. When it was my turn, I learned that, thanks to the french belief in the right to strike, there would be no train to Toulouse that day. There would be no trains westward bound at all as a matter of fact. Hhmmm... Now what to do...

And this, my friends, is where the rubber meets the road. It is where the boys are separated from the men, where the cream rises to the top. It is where you learn who your true friends are - strike that - *family* is. Because in this moment of "I'm stranded in the train station in Avignon which isn't necessarily the worst place to be stranded but being stranded in general isn't a great thing to be" , my blogging friend became my french bestie. She DROVE all the way from Toulouse, on a moments notice, to PICK ME UP. FOUR hours - F-O-U-R. Each way. Honestly. And the moment she arrived, I threw my arms around her and that was it. Family.

I only have one photo from that day. We stopped to take one of Pont du Gard - an incredibly old, amazing aqueduct constructed by the Roman Empire - originally they thought it was built in the 19th century, but now think it may have been the middle of the first. Yikes! It is one of the Unesco world heritage sites and it really is amazing to see something that old and imagine the lives that have come in contact with it over the ages.

What I do have, if not lack of photos, are memories of talking for four hours straight about everything under the sun. We had no problem filling the drive back with all of the things we wanted to catch up on or share. It was fabulous. But not as fabulous as the moment we arrived at her home. Picture this~ French countryside, rolling hills, old French farmhouse, sun just setting. But wait - it gets better.

When we went inside, her husband (who from here on in will be referred to as "french husband" - not because he is her french husband, but because he is now also *my* french husband) and three children were sitting at the table having dinner. I sat down and was IMMEDIATELY a part of the family. Seriously. It was as if I had known the children forever when they greeted me with "we have heard so much about you". French husband poured us a glass of wine, and that was that. Really, I should have seen it was the beginning of the end for me - the end of thinking I didn't belong right there. Maybe not in french family's house, but in the french countryside. Because as wonderful and warm and fabulous as that first night was, it continued to get even better for the entire week I was there.

But that is a story for another day...

fine dining, or daily dining in france...

While I am due for another post from the magical france trip of 2010, I need to take a moment to insert a bit about the food I enjoyed while I was there. You see, while editing the photos from my second week where I stayed with my french bestie, I realized how absolutely utterly stunningly gorgeous (not to mention DELICIOUS) the food was. You see, french bestie is an incredible cook. marvelous, really. And of course, being me, I had to photograph every single thing we ate. I was lucky french husband was so patient and understanding of my constantly whipping out the camera at a moments notice... and waiting to eat. or drink his wine. or champagne. See - I really was fortunate~

So, I thought I would share a few photos of the meals that have now spoiled me when it comes to dining. And please believe me when I say that I miss this food every day and try to recreate part of the magic that was "eating chez frenchies"...

Most of our lunches were eaten outside in the sunshine in the french countryside. And please note - when I say "lunch" I am referring to a meal that most would consider a formal dining experience in most other places. We enjoyed wine with every meal (lord knows I could get used to that...) and the freshest ingredients in every meal. It truly was one of those times when you REALLY don't want it to ever end.

Cheese was served at nearly every meal and it was the most magnificent selection of cheeses I have ever enjoyed. I fell in love with M. Jeannot - their cheese man~

Okay, I'm hungry... Time to go peruse my favorite cookbooks in search of some inspiration for the coming week~

Enjoy your Sunday mes amies!

xx

we interrupt this program...

I love the photo above. Clearly I didn't take it as I am the lucky girl being kissed by the wonderful french cheese man. I want a cheese man. I need a cheese man!

Life is settling into it's regular ebb and flow now that I have been back for nearly a week. Has it really only been 5 days? It feels a lifetime ago, and yet, it is still right here - close to the surface. I have been doing a lot of thinking since my return. I actually started reassessing parts of my life while I was away. It seems easier sometimes, to really *look* at your life when you are temporarily removed from it. It is an odd thing because it is like seeing it from a strangers perspective and yet somehow, you have insiders knowledge at the same time. Confusing? Yes, well, if you think it is confusing, try being me!

One thing that I have been ruminating on continually since my return is my photography and where I want to go with it. As I live in my head much of the time, as well as the fact that I am COMPLETELY type-A, this is causing me to obsess a bit... You see, while I love the idea of being a bohemian photographer - wandering the planet, shooting what inspires me, and supporting it all by harvesting the money tree that grows on our little farm, the truth is, I need to actually focus and turn this crazy full-time hobby into something more. I need to somehow figure out what it is that drives me - what makes me feel so passionate about it - where I want it to go. The problem is it is far easier for me to say what I DON'T want to do with it than it is to figure out what it is that I DO want. Have I mentioned that I am fairly certain I have ADHD...?

Sooo.... My husband is away for the next nine days and I am hoping to take that time to really start to organize all of the thoughts and ideas that are currently running helter skelter in my head. I am incredibly blessed to be surrounded by some of the most inspiring, creative, driven photographers and artists out there, and some of them I consider my dearest friends. I am not shy about pulling them into all of this to help me figure it out. I need them. Truly.

I am also ALWAYS open to feedback, advice, input, etc. from any and all of you. One of the most difficult things that I find in all of this is seeing yourself from the "outside". I think that I, like many people, tend to be quite self-critical and thus, find it easier to see what it is that I don't like about my work than what I do like. And while you are all SO. INCREDIBLY. NICE. with all of your wonderful words and compliments, I am actually really looking for advice on a very practical level.

Paris, jour trois shall be here, hopefully tomorrow if I can get enough photo editing done. Sometimes I begin to work on it, and then become lost in the wonderful memories of it all~

xx