decemberishhhh

I returned to Paris from Noirmoutiers on Wednesday before Christmas. After the 5 hour drive back I just….well relaxed some more. It was really very nice to finally have a vacation that was really a vacation from everything. Before it was just a vacation from school, I was always working. So I finally really relaxed and did just about nothing and it was perfect. Christmas Eve-day was spent doing last minute shopping. C.R.A.Z.Y. There were so many people in the streets and in the stores, so much more than usual. I went to “Les Grands Magasins” Galleries Lafayette and Printemps. And I felt so poor. Oh my gooooodness. Popped into the Chanel store and looked at a teeny-tiny little fabric flower that was 450 Euros!  I have never seen anything like this sort of luxury before. Watches and jewelry for a couple thousand Euros. And people were actually buying these things! The store itself was incredibly beautiful. Galleries Lafayette had an amazing Christmas tree in the middle, 7 or 8 stories high and an indescribable dome at the top.  The stores also had these amazing window displays. With moving parts and music. That people just come by to look at them, the children squished up against the windows, standing on the steps put in front of the windows just for them. Like driving around to look at Christmas lights in your neighborhood. But different.

Christmas was spent eating. I was a little worried about spending it with a family that I didn’t know that well, but they were more than welcoming to me. Grandpa, Dad and I were all wearing the same shade of purple. Grandpa insisted that I sat next to him, always kept my wine glass full (of oh so good wine made by their family) and we talked about Woody Allen films. They were very accommodating to my “special dietary needs,” making me a little plate of veggies to dip in the dips instead of bread. Guacamole.  On. Christmas. Cucumber-y dippy dip.  And something that starts with a T with salmon eggs in it. Oysters followed.  We had shucked them earlier. And I really am a oyster-opening queen. Not taking into consideration that I was the only one with a real oyster knife and everyone else used flimsy steak knives…. But it was a lot of fun, a whole bunch of us around the kitchen table with a basket full of oysters in front of us. In about 10 minutes they were all ready. Grandpa kept pushing me to eat more oysters. But they were very big and hard to handle for me. Still very good. Then Beef Stroganoff for dinner. And rice for me since they knew that I couldn’t have pasta. But I tried the fresh pasta that they had and it was so much better than anything in a box ever. On to the cheese, which I don’t mind eating without bread. It is still wonderful. Grandpa passed me some and then someone yelled out how I couldn't have it and he took it back. Then I made a big mistake. Someone else passed me the baguette to set on the table behind me and I set it down with out looking and everyone started yelling and hollering. I had put it down the wrong way. Top side down. oops. Something to do with the devil and evil. Grandpa told me all about it. Oops! And desert. Homemade macrons and coconut puffs. But more importantly: Presents before desert. Everyone gathered around, “Santa” passed around the presents and all at once everyone ripped in. I was so surprised and so lucky that they gave me gifts. I was very touched. They had been so welcoming to me and it was more than I could have asked for. Then after dinner the table got pushed off to the side and then we danced until 2am. To the Eagles. And lots of things. The only Christmas in my life that I didn’t hear Christmas music.

Grandpa Antoine, Cousin Pierre and Maman Bernadette getting shaky

papa Hervé and Ballou getting in on it too

me and Bernadette

            It was weird for me to not be with my family and not really feel like Christmas. I didn’t ever really get that “fuzzy, warm Christmas feeling” that usually comes around every year. But it doesn’t mean that I didn’t enjoy it. Because I had so much fun. It was great being with this big, loving French speaking family. And to hear how they act with each other. The way that they tease and make fun. And the way it’s the same that my family does it too.