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February 22, 2005
Brulons!
My mother was born an officer's daughter, and The Colonel's calling took the family all over the States and through a few countries before he settled them in Kansas and took off for his second tour in Vietnam. Mom's childhood apocrypha includes chapters on "All Our Toys and Personal Belongings Had to Fit in One Box, Each" and "What I Remember Most About France Is Mom and Daddy Dancing to Edith Piaf." So France has always held a particular wonder for me, thanks to family lore, high school and college language requirements, and an unhealthy attachment to Madeline, and at 28 I retain that wonder because I still haven't been to the land of good wine, bread, cheese, pastries, scarves, Yé-Yé, cathedrals, and did I mention wine? I lust, my friends. Nothing but lust for France.
I know it is entirely ridiculous for me, at my age, to be so enamored with France. I should want to spend a month teaching sign language to precocious Bulgarian babies, or a year running a co-op outside of Hong Kong, or enjoy a luxury weekend snogging Martians in the outer Milky Way or whatever the kids do who've already done everything. The thing is, I haven't really done much. I lived abroad, but when I was a kid. I've travelled a bit, but only here and there and for short jaunts at a time, and it's embarrassing to admit, but I'm excited about visiting France in the way that many of my friends get excited about visiting Tierra del Fuego.
College would have been a perfect time to go, what with the good marks in the language and Madame's urgings to consider studying abroad. I didn't do the junior-year study. Not working for even a semester, even just for spending money, seemed impossibly decadent, something that only kids with fat bank accounts were privileged enough to do, and I didn't have a concept of "under the table" that didn't involve a pint of cheap vodka. I imagine if I had begged my parents for the chance, they would have found a way to send me. They believe in travel, they taught us to take every opportunity and look beyond our immediate surroundings, but by the time my mother had said "enough" to her second job (I know, I know, the pathos!) and I took out my first of many (now consolidated, nice low monthly payment!) Stafford loans, I felt like I had already sucked up more than my fair share of parental resources. My sister was glaring from the sidelines, running a tally in her head, licking her chops. My brother chided me every chance he got. I had scholarships and loans and a campus job and a bright future in making something officey of myself. I didn't need France. I put it off, like deciding on a career and going to the dentist.
But next year, kids. France is mine.
Because the JC has some weird travel block regarding France and we've agreed to visit countries we both agree upon and neither of us have been to before we branch out, I asked my mother if she'd like to go with me. My mom is a great travel partner — she isn't picky about where she sleeps, she's decisive and will help with the itinerary, and she taught us all from an early age to pack up and roll on the road with a minimum of fuss and baggage. She wants to visit some of the towns she lived in as a kid, like Rouen, where Joan d'Arc was burned alive (ooh, Flaubert!), and I want to buy some pretty scarves, skulk around Paris, and read some Jules Superveille at a café in the rain. I'm looking forward to this mother-daughter bonding. No demanding whinging siblings, no obligations, nothing but me and my mom and railpasses and walking shoes. And good bread, and wine. Did I mention the wine?
Posted by eek at February 22, 2005 10:22 PM
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Comments
I don't have a "weird travel block" regarding France. America's about freedom. France hates America because we're free. How could I travel to a place that hates America? That hates freedom?
Freedom's hard work.
Plus, they're lousy smelly bastards. I like their politics, though.
Posted by: Jason at February 23, 2005 12:23 AM
Damn cheese eating, surrender monkeys. Uhm, when this becomes a reality, lemme know and I'll ask the cheese eating, surrender brother-in-law for some tips.
My trip with my mom to Italy is now looking like the last trip I'll ever take with my mom, so my advise to you is grab this opportunity and milk it dry. You never know when shit is going to happen.
Posted by: quasi in r.e.m. at February 23, 2005 01:44 AM
I'm so happy for you and a bit envious.
Spent ONE day in France (we crossed over from Germany where I spent 5 weeks when I was first married- Air Force TDY, gotta love 'em) and I remember that day like it was yesterday. It was MAGICAL!!
Would have liked to have spent at least 2 weeks there but I was happy for the one day.
Happy planning!
Posted by: Kath at February 23, 2005 06:19 AM
Good for you!
What a swell time you and your mom will have.
Spouse and I have done several separate trips over the years and it's great. Keeps us happily married. ;)
Researching France (in terms of both literature and travel books) is a hell of a lot of fun.
He doesn't know where yet, but older son hopes to be teaching English in France beginning fall '05 (he applied for the southwest region.) If it is convenient and you're interested, maybe you guys could rendevouz in Paris or wherever for drinks or dinner.
Happy planning!
Posted by: Cil at February 24, 2005 11:35 AM