It's Me, Sara Louise

{Gordes, I would miss Gordes}

If there is one thing I have gotten out of the three plus years that I’ve lived here, one thing I’ve learned, one way that France has changed me is this; I now focus on the positive. I don’t sweat the small stuff, and I know that there is absolutely no point worrying about the things that are out of my control.

(This is HUGE for me. Anyone that really knows me will tell you how much France has mellowed me. And it’s true, I’m way more mellow for the simple fact that France will never bend. Ever. It is a stubborn, unmovable mass of pouty bottom lips making that pffft sound and Gallic shrugs. You will break before France breaks so it’s best to just sit back and let whatever will be, be.)

I’m saying all of this because after waking with the homesick blues on Monday (you are all wonderful by the way, each one of your comments was like a cuddle), I decided to do what it is I do now, I focused on all of the things that feel good about France, all of the things that I love. Alors, I give you a list of what I would miss about this beautiful, frustrating and charmingly quirky place that I live, if I ever was to leave it.

// I would miss the wine. I’m not gonna lie, wine is probably what I would miss the most. If you love wine like I do, then this is the place to be. So many delicious types, so low of price. If and/or when I leave France, I will probably cry and have to be physically pulled from my wine; my fingers pryed from my beloved Skippy Box (My Skippy Box is what The Husband has named the box of wine I buy because Skippy is my nickname. P.S. Even the box o’wine in France is good. I love this country!)

// I would miss the cheese. I was always into cheese; Brie, Port Salut, Stilton, but then I moved to France and discovered so much more;  Cantal, St. Nectaire, Banon, and the one that has my heart, my precious Bleu d’Auvergne. Don’t ever leave me Bleu, I couldn’t bare it.

// I would miss the reverence to the meal. Meals and meal time are to be respected. There is nothing as sacred as the Sunday lunch. From apéro to dessert, it’s not uncommon to be at the table for three hours.

// I would miss the boulangerie. Very few things make me feel as French as going to the boulangerie and picking up a baguette.

// I would miss the rugby. Sure rugby is played in many countries throughout the world, but increasingly, France’s Top 14 is where it’s at because the French clubs are doling out the big bucks and the star power is beginning to flow this way. This is a very exciting time for rugby fans in France. If you live here, get your butt to a match. Pre-season is already underway.

// I would miss the faire la bise. This is something I never thought I would say because I haven’t always been a fan of the double (and sometimes triple and quadruple) kiss greeting (especially during cold and flu season) but it has grown on me and life would feel weird without it.

// I would miss the summers. Summer in Provence is the best place to be in my opinion. Provence is already a naturally chilled place so when you lend the fun, holiday-like vibe of summer to it (plus all of the village fêtes), summer becomes magical. That said, Le Petit Village’s annual festival kicks off tonight and Mrs. London is arriving in a few hours so I’ve gotta run. On y va!

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