If I did not talk about it in this blog, I should quit blogging....
September 11, 2001.
Everybody lit up facebook of stories of where they were, and other memorial quotes, thoughts and sayings....
Obviously, I said '9/11 We will NEVER forget...'
But since then I have been thinking about the most appropriate way to really grasp that particular day, that particular feeling....and specifically my feelings on it......
This is what I have come up with....
On September 11, 2001 I was 19 years old. I was in my Freshman year of college at UAA. I lived with my father, worked full time and went to college full time. A few nights before the 11th, my father and I had a HUGE fight. I don't remember what it was over, but I do remember the thing he said to me, that caused me to decide to "RUN AWAY." He told me he would "Euthanize" my two beloved CATS; T.K. and Bentley.
The argument if I foggily recall correctly was something about me not doing what I should be doing around the house, I am sure it was that I was not being 'thankful' enough, humble enough, and hard working enough to be so lucky....and my thoughts were that I was now an ADULT, who was desperately trying to make her own choices, control her own destiny, and GROW UP. I felt my father's treatment of me at that particular juncture in my life was unfair, I was not a child any longer and refused to be treated like one. So.....I "RAN AWAY"....
When the World Trade Center was hit a few days later, I was so frightened that I quickly gathered my things from my friends "pad" and "RAN HOME."
And here is why it is significant.
In my very little life.
Today, my family is still fighting.
And....
Not even 1 year later I began dating the man I am married to today. Obviously in the SPRING of 2002 the feelings of Patriotism, WAR, TERRORISM, Fear, Family, SURVIVOR...had a much stronger meaning then it does today.....
And....
My family MAY have to lay a dog down....
And....
My travels have taught me....that if September 11th happened any where else, people in that country would be just as STUPEFIED as we were.....
So there it is....The 10 year Anniversary of September 11th in my life....and I can't help be feel a little saddened.....we say that we will NEVER forget, but in my little pathetic, miniscule life it seems as though we already have.....
The week we spent in FRANCE:
We arrived in Carenac, France. Its absolutely gorgeous. QUEEN DI has a cousin that owns a house in France. Her husband is French and they own and operate a successful bakery in Washington DC, Georgetown to be exact, called PATISSERIE POUPON.
The house they own in France is a stone house in the town of Carenac, which is dated back from the 12th-18th Century.
Every time we travel to a new destination I try to come up with one word that describes that destination. For ITALY it was SEX. For FRANCE it will be ELEGANCE. After I choose the word I go on to describe how I 'experienced' that place. In FRANCE, I experienced the ELEGANCE MOSTLY with FOOD.
When we arrived, our eyes feasted upon the most adorable quaint French house. With LEGIT antiques, decor and ambiance. Feast your eyes on the place we lived in for a week;
We were welcomed by the sweetest, tiniest lady whom I will refer to as; 'Miss Ratatouille.' Now....I have heard a few times a saying that goes something like this 'Never trust a skinny cook.' I would like to announce that Miss Ratatouille proved that ENTIRE premise VERY VERY WRONG.
For dinner when we arrived we were served a beautiful full course dinner that consisted of;
Wine and Grapes.
The most amazing delectable Quiche I have ever had my entire life.
A beautiful Veal Stew, complete with French Bread and Wine to bring out the flavors of all that we were served.
LEGS and I tucked into the most ROMANTIC PRINCESS BED ever...and were fast asleep after a long day of traveling and such incredible food.
The next morning I awoke the most incredible news, the team that "BLOWS" the BUFFALO BILLS beat the CHEIFS 41-7....and after my smug a** read this I went on to enjoy Fresh French Bread, Breakfast Cookies and French Coffee.....
We set out for a ride that day. Did about 35 miles, the roads in France are not as well maintained as those in NEVER NEVER LAND so I found the riding to be more challenging and a tad more frightening....
When we got home we were all very famished and were offered a wonderfully artistic salad, with melted goat cheese, french bread, walnuts, tomatoes from my garden, homemade dressing, and water straight form the tap that is deliciously tasteless.....dessert was pots of chocolate....
And the people in France, despite popular belief have been VERY warm and VERY friendly.....
I had my first FRESH FIG in FRANCE. Its official I am in LOVE with FIGS! They are so delicious and sexy to eat- I can definitely see how the Romans were obsessed with them....
We met Miss Ratatouille's other half, his nickname is Santa Claus. I know he is French and Santa Claus isn't generally depicted as a French guy, but in my world- I met Santa Claus ( a younger more attractive version), he is French and he is married to Miss Ratatouille.
Santa Claus is everything you have ever imagined Santa Claus being, he is jovial, on the verge of laughter all the time, he is fun loving, genuine, humorous, and saintly.....and every time he speaks (with his French accent) I smile and my eyes glaze over....
While is this area we were lucky enough to see and cycle around some pretty intriguing French Countryside and historical areas....
One place that we saw a lot of was Rocamadour. (pronounced ROCKA- MADOR)
Rocamadour is an ancient city that mostly attracts visitors for its setting in a gorge above a tributary of the River Dordogne (pronounced DOOR-DONE), and its historical monuments and sanctuary of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, which for centuries has attracted pilgrims from every country among them kings, bishops, and nobles....
Again I have been lucky enough to witness the beauty of religion. Several weeks ago I witnessed the Cologne Cathedral and now, a sacred sight where they say "Miracles" have occurred. According to the legends- which of course have been nullified, rebuked and upset by scientists, philosophers, historians etc. etc., many unexplained events that can only be explained by and recorded as Miracles have occurred in and around this ancient land.
From my particular standpoint....that means that LEGS and I have been in several sacred places and have laid our wishes to conceive a baby at the ornately decorated high grounds....
More descriptions and pictures of FRENCH cuisine;
Savory DUCK, green beans and potatoes
Macaroons from PATESSERIE POUPON- these treats mentally assisted me in a 53 mile ride with 3000+ feet of climbing, I kept daydreaming about eating all the Macaroons I wanted when I arrived home....
Ratatouille with Zuchinni filled with sausage
Wine and Cheese
Miss Ratatouille and Santa Claus were absolutely BRILLIANT! They epitomize so many incredible and difficult to master things; Hosting, Cooking, Tour Guiding, Entertaining, and generally speaking just being amazing selfless people......
The would do anything for you....and you could tell they were not ready for us to leave....
My week in France was, to me a life changing, unforgettable experience....
Some valuable lessons I learned;
Presentation is important- ESPECIALLY with food- the way that this couple presented food was so artistic that I know it made the food taste better. Good china, pretty glasses and food structure make a difference in how you receive a meal....
You don't need a 4 star kitchen to make good food. The kitchen in the French house was teeny tiny, with less than state of the art appliances....
When you host people, you should ENTERTAIN them....you should make them feel as if they never want to leave and you never want them to leave- LEGS and I need to work on this big time....
Religion- despite all the trouble it has caused- and certainly recently can be beautiful...and moving....
Being in France has made me want to read the Marie Antionette books all over again, I even had dreams last night of wearing beautiful french silk, riding in carriages, going to balls and dancing the night away...we have enjoyed so much amazing food that I could swear I have died and gone to heaven.....
OR FRANCE....
And I admit guiltily....I LOVE the FRENCH schedule....
Sleeping in (ISH), afternoon lunch, evening coffee, late dinner, and wine and cheese at midnight......
Just another day in the life...of an unlikely military wife.....**
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