Paris

Roughly a year ago this weekend I was in Paris. I recently saw the Woody Allen movie Midnight in Paris with my famous cinema going friend and I loved it.  There is something about Americans in Paris, and families going to Paris, working out kinks in their relationships and rediscovering themselves and each other... Paris is indeed another world, an escape from mundane reality.  When we were there, we started the trip just like the beginning of the film, in Giverny. Little would I imagine that our artist friend would remember those "mauvaises herbes" growing outside Monet's house...Every little street is different, every cathedral and church is lofty and silent (except for the one where we tried to stifle our "fou-rire" that we caught after lighting a candle...Just near Les Halles...

I hope we make it to Paris again in 2012.

October

It is October now and we are well into autumn.  This morning, walking out to the car it felt distinctly chilly, all the dead leaves scattered across the drive.  The Ted Hughes Poem "October Dawn" perfectly catches the slow shift into winter.

October brings a special tradition into our life as it is the autumn Station Mass which is held in the home of one of our neighbors.  It is an old country tradition where a mass is said in the chosen home and afterwards,  sandwiches and cakes are served.  I always fare poorly at the table in front of the neighbors as I do not (cannot) eat a piece of each and every delicious cake that is offered to me.  It is a special night, because in some parts this tradition is dying out.  It is great to keep contact with everyone who lives down our narrow rural road. Our priest remembers those who passed away from the area, and usually reminds us that some time sooner or maybe later, it will be us.

On a more upbeat note, Halloween is also coming. I pulled out my worn bag of children's drawings, half burnt skull candles, and plastic skeletons to decorate the house with! I want to dress up as a witch definitely, if only my two sons didn't find it horribly embarrassing.