The Burnt House: this is very unusual for paris

Today was my last day in the countryside. I already miss it.

I woke up this morning a few minutes after nine and immediately heard Lily's bell outside and Caroline's voice calling to her. I got up, brushed my teeth and hair, and then opened my door. Of course Lily ran directly into my room to say good morning. It turns out that she was sick last night and that Caroline had been cleaning up after her in the kitchen that morning. I went into the kitchen and Caroline made our coffee while I got my claflouti for breakfast. We sat at the table playing with Lily while eating. The claflouti was too sweet and doughy, and I didn't like it very much. I was sad that something I had waited for (it has been on my list since forever) wasn't good, but sometimes that's life. It isn't cherry season, after all. We ate fairly quickly this morning because Caroline said that she was meeting the gardener to discuss some things he had to do.

I went to my room and got dressed, and when I came out no one was in the living room. I went back into my room and edited my pop paper, did my bit of histories reading, and then turned my attention to studying for french. After I had finished my work, I decided to go into the living room and read. I heard Lily's bell and thought that I'd go play with her for a bit. I was surprised to see a very cute man standing in the doorway with Lily. I opened the door and said bonjour with one milisecond to spare before Lily bolted inside and went directly into my room. I bolted after her and left the door wide open. When I returned the man was gone. I settled into a chair in the living room to read my book.

Awhile later Caroline came to the door with the young man. It was the gardener! She introduced the two of us and explained to him that I'm an American student and that I don't speak French but understand what they're saying. She then asked if I wanted coffee, and of course I did. I followed them into the kitchen and played with Lily while the talked. After a few minutes I went back into the living room to read. Caroline and the gardener, Maxime, came out a few minutes later carrying a tray with three coffee cups, sugar, milk, and a french press.

The three of us sat and had coffee and played with Lily while Caroline talked in Maxime in French and I listened. She occasionally spoke in English for me and then translated for Maxime. He was so adorable with the perfect smile. He had huge, dirty hands from working in the country his whole life and the knees of his jeans were dirty from kneeling in the garden. I was in love. After awhile Maxime had to leave to go home for lunch and we had to start lunch so that we could get on the road. Maxime kissed Caroline on the cheeks, and then bent down and kissed me. His skin was so soft and he smelled good. It was a love connection. What, I'm not the first woman to fall in love with a gardener. Stop judging me.

Caroline and I chatted about Maxime while we cleaned up in the kitchen. She says that he's sweet but not very bright. He cut down two of her trees that she didn't want cut down and then he lied and said that her brother told him to cut them. She also said that he never stays for coffee and that he probably only stayed this time because he wanted to meet me. He loves me too! Too bad he's only 20. I don't date children.

Caroline heated up the soup from yesterday and made a salad with beets and avocado and thick balsamic vinegar while I set the table. We had baguettes, soup with creme fraiche and English cheddar cheese, the salad, and more red wine. There was also pâté for everyone who wasn't me. I was so surprised that I really liked the beets in the salad. I even had seconds! I've tried beets once at work and they tasted like dirt with rosemary. French beets have converted me. Marcel and I finished my mili feuilles and then we cleaned up lunch.

After lunch I went to my bedroom to pack and tidy my room. Caroline had requested that I take the sheets and pillowcases off of my bed and the towels out of the bathroom and leave them in the laundry room for the maid. I folded the rest of the blankets and then packed my bags. I finally remember to give Caroline the chocolates and wine that I had brought for her. I put the wine under the staircase in the living room where the wine rack is and put the chocolates on the kitchen counter, and then retired to the living room to continue reading.

After some time everyone was ready to go. It was starting to rain heavily as we got in the car and drove back to Paris. We were supposed to leave at two so that we'd be on time for the play at 4:45, but we didn't leave until almost three. I was sad to drive through the beautiful, golden countryside but we had things to do. I had to go back to Paris eventually.

The traffic driving back to Paris was terrible, and the intermittent rain didn't help anything. Marcel doesn't like theater, so when we got back to Paris, we dropped him and Lily off near the metro in the 15th. The traffic was bumper to bumper, but I was happy because I got to see new parts of Paris that I had never seen before. We drove right next to the Eiffel Tower, and this was the second time since I've moved her that I was really impressed by it. I was finally able to see how massive the structure is. It is quite impressive. We drove past the backside of the now evil Les Invalides, past the French National Assembly, and all the way down the length of St. Germain. We went past the Bastille and I showed Caroline where the school is. We drove past Place de la Nation that I had never seen before, and wound up in Parc de Vincennes where the theater is.

I've been reading about the parc for my histories class because many episodes in French history have happened there, but I had yet to go (you probably already know that). Even in the dark and torrential downpour it was beautiful. All of the trees had changed colors, and the reds and golds of fall were even more brilliant on the gray day. It is actually the woods, and the park is so big that it's actually in three different downs. There were towns of people go to a flower show and escaping from the park from the rain. We drove passed the chateau and found our way to the theater. We were only 20 minutes late. We ran inside through the heavy rain only to be old that we weren't allowed in! They offered us a drink on the house for our troubles. Caroline ordered and infusion and I ordered a coffee. I have had enough to drink this weekend. We sat and chatted for awhile before she drove me home.

I got home and immediately checked my email (I had 33 new messages!), updated the blog (which I faithfully wrote and saved on my desktop every night), and then checked facebook. I then heated up a family sized box of chicken and noodle soup and proceeded to eat the entire thing while watching people's court and waiting to skype with mom. I forgot that it was only 11 in California, and I should have been more patient with her considering that she's at work; it is Sunday after all. We talked for a bit, but the connection was bad as usual. I finished my episode of people's court, and then remembered that I can access internet sites like I'm still in the US. I can listen to Pandora!! I turned on my Gas Pedal station while I took my shower.

Now it's time for bed. I have a ton of work to do tomorrow, Tuesday, and Wednesday considering that I've done practically nothing over the weekend. I've done the crime, now to do the time.