Re: Re: Robynn's French Report (Warning, a bit off topic)

[Guest guest]

So, I've received a couple of questions about my trip (just got back last night), and so I thought I'd give the next installation of the "book". Let's see, where do I begin....Paris was fabulous, as was Auvergne (the beautiful region where 's family lives). I am very jet-lagged at the moment, so I apologize in advance in this e-mail is a bit rambling. Further, there may be a bit of sexually suggestive content, so anyone who might be offended should not read any further. I arrived in Paris on December 22nd. was there, at the airport, along with his extra 5 to 10 lbs. (remember, I mentioned that he had gained additional weight post-smoking cessation, and I was a little bit worried about whether I'd be attracted to him...which I know is incredibly hypocritical, but there you have it.) Fortunately, he was still adorable, and the

chemistry was strong. He had a beautiful ivory angora/wool coat in his arms...he had bought it for me, "to keep my little California birdie warm". It's gorgeous, and fits me perfectly. We immediately went back to his friend's appartment (he has surrendered his apartment to his ex-girlfriend and her NINE cats) in the 18th arrondisement. His friend is in India for a few months, and so he let us take possession. It was cute and little, and quite the little love nest. After becoming "reacquainted" a number of times...hee hee...we ventured out for a bite to eat...and took a long walk around the City of Lights. Never is that description more apt than it is at Christmas. Along the Champs Elysees, all of the trees are covered with little white lights. At various intersections and Places (plazas), there were a number of Christmas trees set up...each intersection decked out in Christmas

trees bathed in a different color of light...purple, amber, magenta...magical really. Louis Vuitton, Lancel...all of the fabulous stores done up in their Christmas glory. The Eiffel Tower now twinkles. It used to be lit up all of the time, and now several times an hour there are tiny little twinkly lights, like the bubbles in a glass of champagne or a diamond glittering. It's just gorgeous. Plus "Le Grande Roule" (a huge ferris wheel at the opposite end of the Champs Elysees from the Arche de Triomphe) was back...it had been there for the millenium celebration, but they brought it back for some reason. The patterns of light and color within the wheel were dazzling. The air was clear and cold...and there were fluffy flurries of snow...enough to be pretty, but not enough to pile on the ground. Walking around that magical City, arm in arm with my sweetie...well, let's just say it

was wonderful. We got back to the apartment, and started frantically wrapping gifts (I couldn't wrap them before I came, due to airport security,etc...), and tumbled into bed pretty late. The next a.m., we got up and started our journey to the Auvergne Region (which is South East of Paris). There was a lot of traffic getting out of Paris, what with everyone scuttling off to their holiday destinations. Finally, we were out on the road. was grumpy, and it was pissing me off. I snapped at him about it. We later stopped at a roadside cafe, and I went into the bathroom and discovered that my little "friend" had made an appearance. Yep, yet again, the period raised its ugly head. I was all set to ask his forgiveness for my short temper when he appeared from the bathroom and said, "Bebe, I am so sorry. I forgot the Patch today, and so I was in a bad mood." He still is wearing the patch to

help him with his smoking. I laughed and said, "Well, I started my period (in French, one says either "I have my flower", or "The English have invaded", depending upon the delicacy of the individual. Olivier (with his two sisters and mother) uses the "flower" expression, and , with his three brothers and gusto hearty masculinity uses the English invasion expression.) I apologized for my mood, and he laughed and said, 'Oh baby, t'inquiete pas (don't worry), I will conquer those pesty English!" So, all was lovely and fine again. We met heavy fog, and winding mountain roads, and finally made it to the farmhouse in Auvergne. It is beautiful, made of stone, nearly 300 years old. The doors are gorgeous, long French windows, shutters...He opened the door with one of those huge, old-fashioned keys. His uncle and aunt had been there...and they left several of the regional

specialties on the table for our dinner: sausages, pate (sorry, don't have accent marks) made of wild boar (it's amazingly good), french bread, wine and cheese. And let's just get this straight right now. I ate a lot, or so it seemed. Nothing in between meals, and a lot of protein. But I also ate bread, wine, desserts...and I was sure I had gained while I was gone. Instead, I lost 3 lbs. This was a big surprise to me, because my weightloss had stopped for about 5 weeks or more, and I was starting to think I was at my weight (I am no longer technically overweight), and that my weight wouldn't move anymore. I only ate healthy, homemade, high quality foods. But, I also drank. You can't be in France and not drink wine and champagne. It just isn't possible. I wasn't reckless in my consumption...but I was normal. Not a glutton. But, normal. And I

lost weight. And yes, I know this is the "honeymoon period" for me, but it has been 7 months...and the weightloss has slowed down...so I was thrilled that it went down another 2.5 lbs. OK, back to France. 's brothers are sweet and adorable. just turned 44, his brother is 42, Christophe just turned 40 on Dec. 24, and is 45. is the only one married, to a very nice and warm woman named Marielle. They have two kids. Christophe (Totoche is his nickname) and (pronounced in two syllables and rhyming with Noel, as in Christmas) stayed with us at 's house. I was very soon the honey of the three boys, and they did everything for me. I was the total princess. One of them was making me coffee, or finding me snow boots, or doing something for me every minute. It was adorable. Towards the end of my time there,

everytime I walked into the room, one or all of the boys would burst into a heavily accented "I wish they all could be California girls...." His whole extended family was simply lovely and wonderful and sweet and welcoming. They all play instruments and sing and laugh and eat and drink...very warm and open and just wonderful. There was a lot of light, fluffy snow...and the place was heavenly. Totoche found me some beautiful Italian snow boots in town (bright red and very warm), and he shyly offered them to me. Perfectly sized. What is it with French men and their ability to buy you clothes and things that fit perfectly? It's astonishing. (Both Olivier and bought/'have bought me clothing, and they are always an incredibly perfect fit.) Totoche made me put them on, and handed me the other coat he bought for me (they boys called me their little Inuit, because the

coat they bought me looked a bit Eskimo like). Totoche took me on a lovely walk by frozen waterfalls...sheets of clear glass cascading over rocks. stayed home because he had a cold. It was so beautiful and quiet outside. 's parents are buried in the beautiful cemetary that is high on a hill overlooking the little village of La Chaulme. It is a part of the 12th century medieval church that overlooks the town. (The same one that wants to marry me in...as everyone in his family has been married there for the last 8 centuries.) I brought red roses and laid them on the snow that covered their gravesites. I thanked them for , and told them how sorry I was to have never met them. cried a bit, it is still very hard on the boys that their parents are gone. (His father died 3 years ago, his mother passed away 9 years ago.) The roses froze, and a week later, they looked like they were made of crystal. had gone up there and saw the roses, and when he came back, he gave me a kiss with tears in his eyes. "They would have loved you as much as we do, " he said. It made me cry. The food in that region is outrageously good...but I'm going to spare you the details because I don't think it's appropriate for me to wax on about the food.... New Year's Eve came, and the boys had their annual party, the one they have sponsored for the last 25 years. Because the boys are so close in age, they have many friends in common from school...and their party is well-attended. They grew up in Lyon, a large city about an hour and a half from the tiny village where 's farmhouse is...where their mother is from...the village where they spent most weekends and summers and Christmas' at, and where their

relatives live. (Side note here: their father is from a neighboring village about 10 miles away. The marriage of his father and mother was a bit scandalous, because it was the first marriage that had occurred between the villages since the Plague. His father's village had been affected by the Plague, and so the member's of the mother's village had been prohibited from interacting with the citizens of his father's village. Granted, the Plague had occurred hundreds and hundreds of years before. So, the marriage between the villages was a big big deal...and all of this was just a mere 46 years ago!) Anyway, the party. There were friends from Paris (4 to 6 hours away), the South of France (Marseilles), all over the place. There were about 70 people there at the hotel/restaurant (the only business establishment in the tiny little village). The party began at 7

p.m. There was a seven course dinner (each course complemented with the appropriate appertif, champagne, wine or digestive). The music was outstanding, a real eclectic mix of American music, interesting covers of old American songs, traditional French songs, new French rock soul jazz reggae...Arabic music...old blues (Nina Simone, etc..), jazz...disco. All of it great. Shoot, they even had this cool cover of a Barry Manilow song ("sweet , angel of my lifetime...blah blah blah...could it be magic?") which was absolutely cool. People danced and danced, and his shy brothers became dance maniacs. danced too...played a bit of live music (many of his friends are musicians, like he is. We had live music and CDs both. So...at SEVEN THIRTY in the a.m., the party still in live swing...I finally hit the wall (because I couldn't drink the espresso everyone else was

drinking!) But, it was a fabulous party, everybody dancing and having a great time.... We headed off to Paris, and spent the final 10 days there. I saw Olivier three times, and that was very painful... I'll give you the secondary extension early next week...I'm off to my grandmother's funeral. More later... Robynn "Azeeeeeeeeeeen! (the excitement is optional)" wrote: Hehe I just sent Robynn an email and then got this message! I'm so happy everything is going well...I need some frenchy scoop - hmm make it a double scoop!Thanks Francisco!Azin> > > Hello everyone:> > > > I got a brief email from Robynn.> > > > I'll let her share all of her news when she gets> > back, but she's doing > > well.> > > > So everyone, consider yourself pecked on each cheek> > (you know, the > > French way of greeting!)> > > > Francisco> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > __________________________________________ > Yahoo! DSL – Something to write home about. > Just $16.99/mo. or less. > dsl.yahoo.com>