This, That, Other Things
It has been an eventful two weeks. Juliet went to Barcelona to dance under the tutelage of the Opéra de Paris and learn the flamenco (and practice traveling on her own). I waited for her and cleaned my house from top to bottom, ignoring the hole in our wall from a staircase yet to be installed.
When my daughter arrived, we took a TGV to Saint-Malo and joined the rest of the family for a week and a half in Brittany. Most of the rain was out of the way by the time we had arrived.
I felt so full and nourished. I was joyful to be on my own for five days, and joyful to be reunited with the four people I love most in the world. I was joyful to come back to a clean house. I was joyful to lie in the sun and swim in freezing cold water and cook with my in-laws and watch the children playing without a care in the world.
Juliet secretly moving the chess pieces while her brothers play. #dinard
A photo posted by Jennie Goutet (@aladyinfrance) on Jul 11, 2016 at 8:18am PDT
When dinner is galettes for 18 people. #Brittany
A photo posted by Jennie Goutet (@aladyinfrance) on Jul 17, 2016 at 11:51am PDT
The cousins were thrilled to be reunited and spent the entire two weeks creating a hilarious 17-minute video clip about gangsters and hostages, which we all gathered around to watch on July 14th before going to the beach to watch fireworks.
I had no idea what was happening on a beach ten hours away from where I was and posted to FB how content I was just to be in this moment in my life.
We were cut off from most of the footage with no TV and limited Internet, but I couldn’t help but be struck the next day – when William threw his arms around my waist – that I had this privilege. I had the privilege of hugging and loving my son when other mothers who went to the beach to watch fireworks did not. And that made me mourn more than anything.
Huffington Post posted this image. The last line says, “je suis épuisé“, which means, “I am exhausted.”
A photo posted by Huffington Post (@huffingtonpost) on Jul 14, 2016 at 4:58pm PDT
And I think that pretty much sums it up when faced with the onslaught of atrocities. Black people killed. Cops killed. Civilians of all race, religion and age killed. We. Are. Exhausted.
Today, a friend posted this reminder and it’s what I’m centering my focus on: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. (Matt 5:9). I will continue to seek and make peace.
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Today, I picked up this!
A photo posted by Jennie Goutet (@aladyinfrance) on Jul 18, 2016 at 12:50am PDT
I can vote! And go through the fast “residents” line at the airport. This is another cause for joy. 
