Getting ready for lift-off

A terrific weekend
We had a great weekend, checking things off our "to do list" and seeing friends and family to say "So long for now."

Two boxes arrived from Door to Door storage on Saturday morning, so now the packing can begin in earnest.

We had a wonderful lunch with my family Saturday afternoon at Todai in downtown Seattle. Oddly enough for a Japanese all-you-can-each joint, they had someone there making fresh crepes -- never was I so glad to have the kids eye my dessert plate, and then boldly reach over to claim a few bites of their own. They loved the crepes and soon were going up for their own. I have a hunch that this may pay off in a couple of months when they're longing for food from home... maybe we'll be able to disctract and console them with a trip to the local crepe-erie.

After Todai we went back to my folks place for a long swim in the pool -- could it possibly be this hot in France? I suspect so...

Home after lunch, throwing stuff in boxes, fiddling around with the computers, and cheering for Flloyd Landis as he took the lead in Tour de France. I regret that the French didn't win the World Cup -- I thought perhaps a victory might lighten the collective mood in time for arrival. But I draw the line at rooting for a Frenchman to win the Tour. Allez Flloyd!


The Schergers hosted a wonderful impromptu party for us on Saturday night. What a fabulous turn-out, given that we sent the invitation out late Friday night! Tom and Maureen laid out a fantastic spread, the Riordins donated a carton of snow crab, and the Delvalles showed up with terrific smoked salmon. It was wonderful to sit on the patio, talking with folks, sharing our anxieties, hearing about their travels to France and in general, being reminded of how much we like our life here in Seattle, and why we're going to be glad to come home in six months.

Home from the Schergers at a fairly reasonable hour, for another sweltering night, huddling in front of the fan.

Sunday morning came and I made sure to have one last feast of bagels, cream cheese and lox. We hustled around packing some more, cleaning the gutters, setting up the new laptops... and again, pausing to watch Flloyd cross the finish line in Paris. Strange that I've been watching the tour for weeks, but only Sunday did it dawn on me: "Man... we're going to be there in a week or so... no, I mean there, on that street. Holy cow..."

Our new friends the Phams came by Sunday afternoon and signed a lease to rent our house while we're away. Connecting with the Phams has been terrific -- every single detail seemed to fall into place in just the right way. I've been holding this up as a reminder to myself of how well things work out if only I'd let them!

And then it was off to a dinner with the Kris and Mat Dangla, our "authority" on all things French. We poured over the map while Mat grilled dinner, reviewing their favorite vacation spots. Kris and Mat did a terrific job engaging the kids over dinner -- helping to stoke their excitement, and getting Ian and Nico to share re-assuring stories about being an american kid in France. After we cleared the plates, the kids ran off and we had another long discussion of the trials and tribulations we're likely to experience in some settings while we're in France, being unable to express ourselves as well as were used to. For me, the discussion really clarified my intention to find a place to live as close to the heart of town as possible -- minimize the isolation we might feel, etc.

And then home again for another late night of messing around with the computers (success, at last) while a replay of the final stage of the Tour played in the background.

And so now it's Monday
I leave next Saturday... so five days to wrap things up. Breathe, man, breathe.