Hi everyone,

Bon jour! It has been over three weeks since I left Bainbridge Island and two weeks since Bob and I arrived in France. The purpose of this note is to let you know we are well and to share some of our adventures over the last five weeks.

My sister, Sheila, my brother Mike, his son Andrew and I had a wonderful time in Orlando visiting Effie (our step mother) and just hanging out together by being foolish including playing "Three LIttle Monkeys" while Andrew watched to celebrate Sheila's and Andrew's birthdays.

Bob and I then met in NY where we spent time with my brother and his wife Julie on their cool screened back porch listening to the crickets and eating our way through Julie's delicious cooking and celebrating birthdays once again—mine on September 29th, almost a month away, but you have to make do with this international travel!

We spent a day with their bubbly daughter Liz, a senior year at Hamilton in Clinton New York. She just returned from a junior year in Argentina.

Back to Mike and Julie and then to Dover New Hampshire for a day with my nephew Will and his lovely wife Marta. Will and Marta drove us to a deserted beach in Maine for yet another celebration of the joy of being together with family.

We left, full of happy family memories.

Since arriving in France, two weeks ago, we have

Walked the lake shore in Geneva, Switzerland
Biked to the Mediterranean
Started biking twice a week to French lessons with a gifted teacher with a great sense of humor
Set up our computers, telephones and apartment
Obtained all the immediately necessary papers and cards (4 locations and 8 photo IDs)
Registered for weekly aqua gym at the Olympic Pool two blocks away (just me)
Signed up to contribute time at Artisans du Monde, a fair trade store (just me)
Almost completed an application for a juried two week showing of his 15 or more of his photographs in a gallery for new artists sponsored by the City of Montpellier (just Bob)

Spoke French for five straight hours inspired by their garden, their candles, Bob's lasange and the soft Montpellerian evening.

Created and filled two events using Onvasortir, a French website that links people with ideas to others who want to join them.
Had the requried French medical exam needed to get the medical certificate for sports
Successfully changed our time clocks so we are sleeping all night
Filled our refrigerator with fresh bread, local produce and fruits from our Sunday market.

Because everything takes twice as long to do in French, our days have been full. And although we love the opportunities we have had to travel and to enjoy living in another town, we are still missing you. For those of you who are following my sister's journey, if you did not receive her most recent update, let me know and I will send it to you via email. Like the others, it is filled with her joy and optimism. What a role model she is.

With gratefulness for your friendship and support,

Sharon