Bon jour.
Having traveled a bit over the years, lived a few months in Italy in my early twenties, and lived most of my life in the Pacific Northwest, it is an interesting question for me now. Where is home? My adult children have lives and families far from me. I live in a comfortable home with a nice view. Is this my forever home? A new thought for me.
My recent trip to France was wondrous in every way. Paris is beautiful, historic and has endless things to do. Including sitting at an outside bistro enjoying watching the world of people bustling past, cars, and busses on their journeys. The Louvre, the metro, the Orsay, the Eiffel Tower, the crepes!
This cruise on the Seine river was fantastic. Another opportuinity for me to learn to be present and not rant about the unexpected obstacles. We got lost in Paris, missed our connection to enter the Eiffel Tower, and so were a couple hours late. If we had not been late, we would have completed our Seine cruise during the afternoon and missed the stunning sunset on the river.
The Apollo Gallery at the Louvre. Oh yeah, pretty impressive. It was the model for the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles, which was completed in 1684. Versailles and the Louvre have been home for scads of people over the centuries. Things are still being discovered. Walls of the original medieval fortress were found under the Louvre as they excavated for the glass Pyramid in 1985.
Have you ever, or how many times, have you asked Where is my home? Is where I am now my forever home?
In Langres, the ancient town of my maternal ancestors, the question arose for me in a new and vibrant way. I re-connected with all four of my third cousins, and their families, after twenty-five years. Third cousins as our grandmothers were sisters. Rich, wonderful experience. Their children and grand-children are my fourth and fifth cousins! Yes, it matters. Family matters. Finding where we belong matters. Right?
Here is my new favorite refrigerator magnet: my four cousins and I at the Langres train station as I head back to Paris.
Am I going back to Langres? You bet!
Am I finishing my novel set in Langres? Oh yeah! Watch for it to be out early next year~
Thank you for reading my blog.
Merci d’avoir lu mon blog.
Pat Moore
October 22, 2023 at 5:08 pmWhat a delightful read! Thank you for sharing a glimpse of your journey . Inspirational and invites further thought .
Mary
October 22, 2023 at 5:27 pmMerci beaucoup~
Judith Alexander
October 22, 2023 at 5:25 pmWay to go, Mary!! Thanks for sharing !
Good luck on the novel, and the tax write-off for traveling to Europe !!😊
Judith
Mary
October 22, 2023 at 5:28 pmGood advice, thanks Judith. Best to you.
Beverly Allen
October 22, 2023 at 7:12 pmGood question…where I think I want to be changes…and yet…home is where I currently am and if I never move toward one of the other dreams I will have no regret.
Mary
October 24, 2023 at 11:52 amAh, Beverly. Merci bien. Changes, no regrets, thinking, dreams.
Donna M Rudiger
October 22, 2023 at 9:52 pmBlessings to you, Mary, as you step through these newly opened doors to adventure. I am honored to be part of your journey and am inspired by your courage and curiosity!
Michelle Twigg
October 22, 2023 at 10:41 pmWhat an absolutely stunning trip you must of had. To be able to walk thru the Louvre had to be heaven. I know that’s how I would think of it. Good for you to be pursuing your dreams. Can’t wait to read your book and thank you for the postcard.♥️
Lynda Condon
October 23, 2023 at 7:00 amOh Mary, you are so insightful into living life. We recently updated our will and the attorney asked us if this was our last and forever home. Rick and I both looked at each other and laughed and told him we thought our last house was our last home. God had other plans. We’ve always gone where the Spirit moves us. I think the important thing is to trust. Our last two trips have been cancelled, one to Portland and now to the Holy Land. We trust in the future…ours and yours…Enjoy each day! Oh, the places we’ll go!
Mary
October 23, 2023 at 12:31 pmThank you, Lynda. Ah, updating our wills. Good job. We’ll chat soon. Best to you~~
Joanne Talmadge
October 23, 2023 at 9:49 amIt is wonderful to share your travel joys. Thank you.
As an author, you have the ability to bring readers into the world you have and are experiencing.
In reminiscing, I realized it has been 30 years ago last month that I was in France visiting the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower with our daughter and son-in-law. As our travel time was limited, I regret not having time to get to the Arc de Triomphe, and the just standing and viewing the Champs-Elysees. I remember traveling on the TGV to Nice and traveling 200? miles an hour! Unforgettable.
The cliche “home is where the heart is”, makes me think perhaps Langres has stolen a bit of yours, Mary.
Mary
October 23, 2023 at 12:34 pmHi Jo! Thank you for reading. Ah, Langres. I think part of my heart has always been there, I am now recognizing it. Wow, you were going 200 miles per hour, that’s a memory for sure. Merci encore~~
Joy
October 23, 2023 at 7:45 pmwonderful question……it is a gift to be willing/able to reach for alternatives in our lives..
Mary
October 24, 2023 at 11:49 amMade me smile to read about people living on cruise ships. Then I started thinking about deeply belonging where I live. Thank you, Joy.
Aletha Jean Riter
October 26, 2023 at 10:50 pmI as well enjoy your writings as I can easily see in my mind’s eye what you have experienced through your tales. I wish my heart followed my compass heart, as I wanted to move back Hawaii., but then I never would have met Mark. Always have wanted to go to the Netherlands/Scotland as that is where my heritage is from.
I also am looking forward to you next adventure read…Smooth sailing on that…
Mary
October 27, 2023 at 4:08 pmFollow our hearts, eh Aletha. And when our brains get in the way. Thank you and best to you~~
Heather Whittall
November 2, 2023 at 11:19 amI love following your adventures! What a great and thought provoking question: Where is Home? I look forward to reading your next novel!
Mary
November 2, 2023 at 11:40 amMerci bien, Heather. Best to all of you.