Americans in Paris IV: California dreaming

One day when the kids were out with Le Guide, they reported having met an American family in a nearby park – Mom, Dad and two little girls. Thayer, in particular, was very enthused about having met them. The next day, Meredith was checking her email and found a message plus photos – this is the first time, to my knowledge, that she has given out her email address without my knowledge! And an invitation to get together in a more organized fashion.

So I got on it right away and we made a plan for the following week. Turns out, their apartment is on Rue du Paradis, just like Thayer’s centre, so they are close to us. I suggested Parc La Villette and that we meet at the metro entrance at 7. The day of, around 6:30, W (the mom) calls - -they are running a bit late, can we say 7:30? Fine with us! And there they all are, W and K (the dad) and their girls (K age 4 and M age 2) and their Grammy T. They are all from LA. Lots of hellos and into the metro we go, Meredith leading the way. The girls both want to hold her hands. Thayer is in bliss.

We get to a patch of green at La Villette and spread out their blanket. Thayer runs to pee against a tree; he gets more Parisian by the day, that boy. The girls are already barefoot and running and enjoying a gorgeous evening. We start unpacking food and finding out a bit more about each other. K and W are web designers and they have a great, well-situated house in LA (between the Hollywood bowl and ? well, my LA geography isn’t very good), that they exchange with French people. This made me jealous. Our house is really great, but what Parisian wants to swap houses to Oklahoma City? Anyway, they are all set up here and they even have a car! And they’re here for the whole summer, some of it in Dijon but mostly in Paris. Of course, it’s not all vacation; they are working on projects and dealing with the 9-hour time difference, which I imagine can be tiresome for an extended amount of time. They have been here before (including for their honeymoon), but they don’t speak much French, as it happens, and they are climbing the learning curve on life in France, with great gusto and humor, I would say, especially since they have such little ones in tow! And two strollers!

Back to the picnic: I poured wine and offered some cheese and olives (remembered the olives this time!) We ate meatballs that W had made (very tasty!) and sausage from Lucheux that I brought – and sandwiches for my kids and spaghetti and zucchini for their kids and we chatted away and Thayer only ran away once, far and fast, to the big fountain. He looked about ready to climb in it, so K went to help me gather him up. And little M climbed on her mom and the glass of red wine went all over the poor woman’s white jeans. She took it in stride, big points in my book!

And Meredith trotted little K on her shoulders and made up a game and they kicked a beach ball around and ate some fruit and cookies (brownies for the grown-ups) and we packed up to show off the big bicycle (Grammy T is an art teacher, so she really liked that idea) and then, with great difficulty, we crossed the canal and descended through Cité de Sciences to the metro. At least it wasn’t as dark as the last time, and I had done it once so I knew sort of how to go, but with two strollers and 4 tired kids, it was a bit of a hassle. And a lot of stairs. Then W got clobbered by the metro doors (ouch! Not the smoothest of outings for her!) and finally we were up the Poissonnière escalator and saying goodbye (I think it was nearly 11!). Just a great outing and I love that my children are fundamentally responsible for it happening in the first place.

They also have a great blog about their summer in France that they update EVERY DAY. With LOTS OF PICTURES. In my defense, I will say that I am going for a topical blog more than a chronicle. But still, I am impressed. And a little jealous.