That last week in Mollans passed far too quickly, with friends coming and us going to say good bye. There's almost a ritual aspect to the leave-taking at this point and we follow the drinks, dinner and phone-call routine assiduously, leaving nothing out lest we somehow break the supportive social fabric that cloaks our life in France.
Intertwined with that, we worked on some new friendships via Minnesota neighbors, Gloria and Michael, who were visiting in the area. They've introduced us to some of their other American friends living not too far away from us and we'll follow up this coming spring to cement these budding relationships into something more than the acquaintance level. In the meantime, betwixt all the leave-taking events in our own village, we sandwiched in a few events with these new folks and still managed to shut the house and head on home with a minimum of fuss.
Of course, M. Monge, our local artist in masonry, came to shore up the lower level wall and eliminate the unsightly and growing spot where the previous plaster had separated from its moorings. Another project for the spring--a bit of painting to blend in the repair work. There will be no need to get too obsessively "house beautiful" with our paint selection. Eggshell white will do just fine. Our color comes from the landscape surrounding us and the Provencal fabrics that dot our home.
From the US, that final morning where we readied the house for winter, draining the water and turning off the electricity, seems so far away. But, soon, we'll be flicking switches and turning knobs to open our house and our lives to Mollans again.
Monday, January 19, 2009
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