Friday, June 23, 2006

reentry

In a Paris morning, one last sip, one final taste.


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Ready? Let’s go.

Except I am not ready.

I fight back the overwhelming desire to, well, cry. During the entire 10 hour (delays, bad winds) flight.

Back home I put on the newest French heartthrob that had been on my radio station throughout my entire travels through France, Raphael. I want to recall how it was when I was zipping through grape fields and past beaches, happy to be done with work for the day, happy with the afternoon ahead.

In Madison I do not bother to even take suitcases out of the car. Not Thursday, not Friday. Instead, I take Mr. B out for a spin: the day is lovely, sunny, welcome back, welcome back! Indeed, so many similarities here, just look for them:


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celebrating food


I eat breakfast late, on the lawn of Monroe’s central quare. The town is some 30 kms from Madison. It has good coffee, great coffee! So it’s okay, no?

I eat Basque Cake that I brought back with me from Southwest France.


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Beautiful scenery. Past pastures – see, they have pastures here! Past streams – look, dragonflies! Beautiful, all beautiful.


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Finally, the inevitable. I go to the post office and pick up two months’ worth of mail. I drag the suitcases upstairs. I unpack by throwing everything on the floor.

I love it here, in Madison. But... God, a bird has thrown a bunch of shit right on the window before which my computer sits.

And, like in Pierrerue, there are ants in the kitchen.
Now is the time for a good cry.

10 comments:

  1. it was a fantastic trip. thanks for taking us along for the ride.

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  2. Welcome home, Nina!

    I'm glad you were able to stretch out the peaceful pays vibe for a little while back in Madison. Be gentle with yourself during this transition.

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  3. My, how the time has flown. Sometimes one finds comfort in returning home, but coming home to unpack, all the mail, ants and bird deposit, after such a wonderful journey, must not be pleasant. And I too hate to see a journey end.

    You have a gift for seeing the beauty around you no matter where you are. Seeking out the treasures, like those luscious fresh strawberries. I hope all that and the visions of your next journey helps get you through all the unpleasantries.

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  4. I want to cry too! As your constant armchair companion I wanted the trip to go on forever. Where to next?

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  5. Glad to see you're home. Looking forward to seeing you.

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  6. Whew...what a trip! I had a great time! Nina, you are super fabulous. You really blew my mind in Sicily. I want to go hiking there in a denim skirt too. In fact, I'm going to hike up my denim skirt, and then go hiking!

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  7. Un petit bonjour d'Aigues-Mortes pour vous remonter le moral.Toutes les bonnes choses ont une fin ! Si le sud de la France vous manque, je vous donne l'adresse de notre site internet comme ça vous retrouverez les salades de chèvre chaud votre repas de midi habituel !Dommage que le voyage s'arrête car nous avions beaucoup de plaisir à sivre vos aventures et vos magnifiques photos !
    Bon retour chez vous Nina et à trés bientôt.
    http://isolette.monsite.orange.fr

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  8. Thank you all so much. I'm bad at transitions, I admit. But I have a vision and it puts me right in the midst of the vineyards of Languedoc for long stretches at a time. It helps to have visions for your days.

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  9. I have been remiss in my blog reading... Welcome Home. I have really enjoyed your trip.

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