Countdown Begins

Five sleeps before we lock the door to our cozy little home in Provence and head home to our normal life. This is always a trying time. Cleaning and readying our apartment for renters, saying goodbye to friends...

We came home from Venice on Friday early evening after a small accident on the highway left us shaken.  

Last chance to... buy old things: We went to a vide-grenier (village-wide garage sale) in a neighboring town and said goodbye to our friend Nelly. Nelly deals in antiques and when you make a purchase from her, you also get a story about the history of the piece.  We kissed and made a promise to share a meal together next year.

Last chance to see the waterfall: Later, we hiked the 1.5 kilometers along our town's river to the waterfall.  Halfway through our walked I heaved a heavy sigh and realized how tense I had been.

This enchanted forest is like a setting from a child's storybook.

Brother-in-law T. walking ahead of me.

At the end of the walk the lovely waterfall is both dramatic and symbolic.  The waters rushing down are like tears releasing tension, washing away preoccupations.

Nature reminded me to slow down and to live in the moment, not to anticipate too much.  The tug-of-war between enjoying the moment and organizing the departure keeps me on my toes. Life's just like that isn't it? It's a dance that demands strength and control as well as fluidity.

Say-a-little-prayer-for-me.

Stella