The First Day 2018

            The first day of my 2018 Tour de France has been delayed by rain.  The tour is quickly turning into the Tour de Nort as I take training rides throughout the countryside.  Yesterday I rode into the Decathlon, a huge sporting goods store.  They exceed budget whenever I walk through the door.  Try walking out of Costco without spending $100. 

I will spend another day with Isabelle defying my Mother’s “wise” advice that “short visits are the best visits.”  She directed this adage at me on every visit home.  I was never sure whether this meant an hour or a day.  I would look at her and shake my head.  Having traveled 2500 miles with three children, I was not about to pick up and leave after 24 hours.  I think that Mom should have had a card printed with that advice.  Fortunately, Isabelle does not seem to mind and often jokes about my “short” visits. 

            Both, Isabelle and Marie-Line met me at terminal 1 in the Charles de Gaulle airport.  This was the first time for Marie-Line in 22 years.  She has finally cut her workweek down to two and one half days, taking off a half-day on Wednesday and full days on Thursday and Friday.  I was overjoyed to see them both.  We had to wait two hours for the train connection to Niort skipping Paris.  Isabelle wanted to attend a wedding on Saturday negating any time in Paris.  When I return I will spend only one night in Paris before flying out.   

            Isabelle is recovering from the sudden loss of her dear husband, Gerard.  Even though neither Gerard nor I could speak the other’s language we had grown close over the last seven years and I felt his loss deeply.

            Time is the balm that heals our wounds.  Isabelle lives amidst her countless memories of Gerard.  Gerard was a builder and this home is evidence of his love for Isabelle.  With gifted hands he reconstructed this ancient barn to her specifications adding his own loving touch.  She is living in her own Taj Mahal.  His current project was to adapt another farm building into a play area.  It was on the second story that he slipped from a ladder and cracked his skull.  His sons, Alex and Julian, and several friends are planning to finish the project.

            Earlier Gerard had purchased a nearby field.  As a commemorative friends bought fruit trees and these have been planted in the field.  In the future the field will be leveled and grass will be planted.

            Today we were out doing errands and we could hardly pass a building that Gerard either worked on or would be working on in the future.   

            The days have been spent with Isabelle enjoying her delicious cooking.  She has a fantastic talent blending ingredients in unique ways.  After spending hours in the kitchen she declares that it was quite simple.  She is planning on taking a cooking class in Paris this fall.  She is going there to learn but I hope that she has a chance to demonstrate her special talent.

            We have gone twice to Marie-Line and Serge’s home for dinner.  You might remember that two years ago I was gifted with a chance to be her witness for their wedding.  Marie-Line is nearly the equal to Isabelle in putting together fantastic meals.  Their mother also enjoyed her time in the kitchen.  Once again the acorn does not fall far from the tree.

            Yesterday, their brother Jean-Louis joined the three of us for lunch.  He has a very interesting story.  At the age of 19 he traveled from France to India, hitchhiking by himself.  His first stop was in Italy because he was afraid that if he stopped sooner he would chicken out and head back to France.  The tales of this trip read like Gulliver’s travels.  He also toured the USA for a whole year by himself.  His audacity is a marvel!

            Twice we visited Madame Baudron in a care facility.  She suffered a severe stroke several years ago.  She is a special lady and always refers to my foibles as “un American” as if that explains all.

Happy trails to you until we meet again.

Hardy