Dear Mom,

Wow, I can't believe we have been in Paris for almost 8 weeks now. And it has been nearly 12 weeks since I last saw you! Feels like a long time.

Fifty-one years ago yesterday you and Dad were married. I spoke with him on the phone and he said it was a bit of a tough day. Did you know he has almost burnt the house down twice? He said he is not going to try cooking any more. I don't know that leaving him alone for this long has been such a good idea. He is ramping up for a big yard sale on Labor Day weekend. Such a good location with all the holiday traffic passing by. Dad said C is going up to see J, and that they will stop by--should be fun.

We have a French language tutor who comes twice a week. She was here tonight and will come again Thursday. She's very nice but I don't feel like I'm making much progress. I don't seem to have much interest in studying. How did you manage to learn Spanish on your own? I am so impressed by that. During our lesson tonight she even volunteered to stay with Twig if we ever wanted her to! I am quite certain we will take her up on that offer, and go off exploring soon.

Our household goods are due to arrive next Monday & Tuesday, so I am excited about that. We have been existing all this time with rental furnishings. In addition, I have not had any of my art or creative supplies, so have found myself with not much to do on many many days. One day I used my sewing machine...I thought it sounded a bit "off" and the next time I went to use turn it on, it wouldn't. I believe I must have fried the motor by not using an adapter. Sigh. So I went and purchased one here to insure it will not burn out. I also splurged on some great fabric, though have yet to make anything.

Many things here are much more expensive than at home. It is a bit hard to adjust to. Actually, a lot of things have been hard to adjust to...I have been quite lonely and depressed, and often wished I could talk with you. You always make me laugh! So many changes, all at once. Everything here is different.

I have been reading a LOT, and picked up "The Forsyte Saga" and finished it. Remember when we used to watch that on channel 9? I really wasn't too familiar with the story, and think I may have mixed up details from "Upstairs Downstairs" with it...the only thing I remembered clearly was the daughter named Fleur. On Amazon I checked out the old series---it is available on DVD--and I placed it on my wish list there. As you know, I have a birthday coming up, so anything can happen.

C and S got married a couple weeks ago. I wasn't able to get back for the wedding but R told me about it, and sounds like it was a fun party. R and I have been doing a tiny bit of emailing, and I really like her. I wish we could hang out and get to know one another better, but I'm here, she's there, and it is what it is. I'm hoping she and K will come visit us here sometime.

I guess that's all for now. I think about you all the time, and miss you tons.
me