Martha and Betty Arrive

My mother and sister arrived on Friday for a 10 day visit. I wanted to go to the office on Friday, so Ceil and the kids went ahead to meet our visitors at the airport. We'd rented a van for the month -- affording us more space to transport our guests -- but alas, no GPS. Ceil did a fine job using directions from Mappy.com, fine that is, until the last little bit. Lee was calling me on the cel phone periodically throughout the journey:

"We're almost there, Dad. Mom is fine."

"We're getting close, Daddy, I can see the airplanes. Mom is okay."

"DADDY, WE'RE LOST!... COME FIND US... yes, Mom's okay, BUT I'M NOT!!!"

All was well in the end... Ceil found the terminal and she and the kids met Betty and Martha right as they entered the terminal. They had a quick rest for pictures and then back into the van to battle rush-hour traffic into down-town Paris. Ceil and Betty reported that the drive was VERY frustrating, but that Martha, ensconsed in the back of the van with her grand-children seemed utterly content.

After checking into the motel, Martha turned in for a late nap which became an early bedtime. The rest of us connected with our friend Camille who is spending her junior year in Gonzaga's Paris program.

We spent the next day in and around the Louvre. Not sure of Martha's stamina, we brought a wheel chair along, and right away, it paid dividends, as the security guards escorted us to the head of the line waiting to enter the museum. Miles and Lee took turns pushing Grandma. Although there were a couple of near-misses, rumors that Miles bounced Martha down some steps are wild exaggerations. Or so Miles assures me.

More naps in the afternoon followed by dinner with Camille (Japanese food) and a walk through the Latin quarter for freshly-made crepes. I was pleased to make it back to the room in time to watch the second half of the New Zealand vs. France rugby match, which the All Blacks won handily.

We we're up early (by Betty and Martha standards) the next day. Ceil, Miles and Martha took a couple of hours in the D'Orsay museum. Martha felt perfectly strong enough to walk, but Miles had no intention of waiting on lines and INSISTED that she get back in her chair.

Lee, Betty and I took a driving tour through Paris, in search of Diddl paraphernalia, to pass the time.

It was a long drive home. There's a post in the offing about French White Trash -- rest-stops are a great place for viewing the phenomenon. Give me a few days to pull my thoughts together.

We got into town late, but not too late for a tour of the place and some take-out pizza.

Thanks to all who have said prayers for Martha and Betty during their trip -- they arrived safe and sound, with luggage intact, and no hassles from security along the way.

Peace.