The six weeks since the last posting have flown by. The first 19 days of June we moved into and partially furnished our Montpellier apartment, spent time with and saying hello to friends from Bainbridge Island and good by to friends from Montpellier including a Mexican dinner courtesy of Bob who used very hot chilies from Morocco.

After flying a quarter of the way around the world we have in three weeks nested into our Bainbridge Island apartment by filling our porch with red dahlias, geraniums and friends including Ann Strickland, one of our adopted Bainbridge Island daughters.

My summer exercise program is also centered around friends, including a 4th of July Fun Run with Patti Madsen and Chris Davis two women who used to come to my NIA dance class, one who lives in New Zealand and the other from Bainbridge Island.

One reason to come back to the United States was for continuity of health care. So in the last two weeks internists, dentists, dental hygienists, physical therapists, otolaryngology, audiologists, dermatologists, message therapists and ophthalmologists have all peeked into each of our orifices. Uniform Medical Plan covers 80% of our health care costs in France as well as the United States.

We are averaging one social engagement every other night as we catch up with cherished friends. For example, Irene Clark, (70) Peggy Vorverk (67) and Paul Von Rosenstiel (65) all blow out candles on a their French apple birthday tart baked by Bob who used pastry he flew over from France. These spring birthday friends waited for us to return before holding this gathering which is usually a springtime event.

Practicing French continues to be a priority. Specifically, an eight person French book group meets weekly on Bainbridge Island as well as 10 to 20 people who share wine and cheese each week. We both try to study an hour a day. In addition, Bob and I continue to speak French to each other during the day and at dinner

 “Hi. I knew it was you,” announces a biking friend as he peddles up alongside of us.

“I was hanging out with a friend who said that a couple had just walked her house by speaking French. I knew it was you. I just wanted to check you out. ”

And he turned abruptly and peddled off in the other direction. 

The question we get asked most often by our Bainbridge Island friends: do you have any friends in Montpellier? If so, are they English or French? We are always so happy to share the good news that we really do have French friends with whom we speak only French so we have not isolated ourselves emotionally or socially in an English speaking ghetto. 

How does it feel to be back? For me, wonderful to connect with family and friends in their space and time zones. It is also nice to know that Bob and I are a scarce commodity. We, as well as our friends, are less likely to take our time and relationships for granted.

By choosing to be in France nine months a year, we miss the texture of day to day life here. We will not be here, for example, for the birth of our friends' first grandchild in November.

Yet, because we know time is limited we extend ourselves to participate more fully in the time we have available. For example, last Wednesday late afternoon we spoke French with friends, then attended a City Council meeting about the future of housing for live aboards in our harbor, and finally ended the evening with a free Bainbridge Island Wednesday night concert in the Park. A community of mothers and dads watched their community of children run around the Waterfront Park while they chatted over picnics and wine. Last night, a woman with a voice like silk filled the summer night's coolness with her song as we ate our dinner on the porch. The night before I took a friend out for her birthday dinner in a restaurant overlooking Puget Sound which had a cool summer breeze demanding jackets from us both. Today we biked to breakfast with friends, walked their new property with beach access

and then stopped at the Tree House to join in the yelling and enthusiasm of two billion people around the world watching the World Cup for soccer.