Follow the Hagans' adventures leading up to and while living in Paris, France.
Friday, December 25, 2009
The Beginning of Lasts
By Cass
I've been reminded this week of the rapidly contracting time between now and when I leave to work in Paris full time mid-January, and the many things that I am experiencing for the last time, for a few years at least. Even the historic snowfall this past weekend was a sobering reminder of what will be my last Virginia winterland. I may be one of the very few who didn't mind not getting out of the house for four days. As excited as I am about my new job and living in the City of Lights, I'm also feeling some unexpected sentimental pricks about leaving -- my hometown, friends, family and the familiar.
Our good friend Jon Roark came over Wednesday with a fantastic Christmas gift of a painting of leaves that I coveted at the opening of a show of his work last fall. I am so honored to have such talented friends and we've always surrounded ourselves with their work in our home. For example, Jon is the artist who did the magnificent portrait of Kian and Niall that hangs proudly in our living room. I showed him the first bowl and plate from a set of dishes we've commissioned from another incredibly talented friend, Tray Eppes, using a Blue Ridge Mountain design. As I started to choke up and express how much I would miss these special people, Jon commented that between the dishes and artwork, our friends are gonna be hanging around with us in Paris. Well said. Regardless of whether we get a furnished or unfurnished apartment, where it is or how small, a piece of all of each of our dear friends will be there with us. Tangible reminders of the many laughs and memories we carry with us.
This is our last Christmas in the U.S., and we're spending it out of town -- the first time we've done that since our sons were born almost 20 years ago. We're doing that in order to take advantage of the last opportunity to spend Christmas with all of my family: my sister and her husband, their kids and families, and my new great niece, Macy Brooks Tucker, in my sister's lap in the photo above. Miss Macy B is the center of the Christmas universe this year. Many cameras are flashing as everyone makes sure to capture the fleeting moment in pictures.
But as I write this, it occurs to me that there's a big difference between perceiving this as the end of anything, with its inherent lasts, and seizing each of these moments as the important slices of life they are, and squeezing every drop from them. Yes, I feel much better now. A very Merry Christmas to all of you, my dear friends.
Post Snowstorm Christmas Silliness and Joy
It's been an off-beat holiday for us that was somewhat truncated by the largest snowstorm in Lynchburg history (such as that is) that dumped around 20 inches (at least on our street that was only plowed ONCE in 4 days) of snow that was beautiful to behold but made travel next to impossible. That in turn made getting out to do final shopping and other things that needed to be done well nigh impossible at what is usually a fun time of year doing "last minute" shopping and the like. Suffice to say that it all came together anyway.
We did however shift gears this year which has been quite a year of many gear shifts, and headed to Anderson, SC, to spend Christmas with Cassie's sister Vivian and her family with another family (The Parrishes) who live on Lake Hartwell that's right on the border of South Carolina and Georgia. Their daughter Ashly married Vivian and Bob's son Denny and they have the most gorgeous little baby daughter Macy Brooks who's charmed everyone here down to our very souls and who's really put a particularly huge warm fuzzy smack dab in the middle of our Christmas this year. She's so beautiful and reminds me mightily of the twins when they were babies. There's just something about an infant smiling at you that just takes everything else away. THANK YOU MACY BROOKS! We love you! I'll get Cassie on here later today to share her thoughts as she's a way better writer than I'll ever be.
We're gonna have a VERY MACY Christmas and God Bless us everyone.........and you too....* Merry Christmas!
Love to all,
sid
We did however shift gears this year which has been quite a year of many gear shifts, and headed to Anderson, SC, to spend Christmas with Cassie's sister Vivian and her family with another family (The Parrishes) who live on Lake Hartwell that's right on the border of South Carolina and Georgia. Their daughter Ashly married Vivian and Bob's son Denny and they have the most gorgeous little baby daughter Macy Brooks who's charmed everyone here down to our very souls and who's really put a particularly huge warm fuzzy smack dab in the middle of our Christmas this year. She's so beautiful and reminds me mightily of the twins when they were babies. There's just something about an infant smiling at you that just takes everything else away. THANK YOU MACY BROOKS! We love you! I'll get Cassie on here later today to share her thoughts as she's a way better writer than I'll ever be.
We're gonna have a VERY MACY Christmas and God Bless us everyone.........and you too....* Merry Christmas!
Love to all,
sid
Sunday, December 20, 2009
We're All Hoseheads Now
I can see Bob and Doug Mckenzie now in the remnants of the snow storm that hit us for the previous 2 days. Also being from Lynchburg, VA, doesn't really help in that this city seldom has to deal with weather events such as this storm that conservatively dumped in excess of 14 inches of snow on us (I swear there was over 20 inches on my porch.....please see new picture on the homepage here) and we live at the bottom of a hill with only 2 streets that lead out and both are at 30 degree angles and we're "poorly" plowed this morning. Hopefully we'll get out of here by tomorrow or even later today if they decide to plow again.
But this blog is about going to Paris right? Hmmmmmmm, until we really speak French pretty well (not yet...) and something like this happens there, I guess we'll just have to ride it out although we certainly won't be living at the bottom of a hill there like we do here. If it gets slippery there they might just toss old baguettes out into the streets so traffic can continue. Who knows?
In any event, the sun is out and spirits are up although there is still a bit of cabin fever......but then, in Paris we won't have a car so getting somewhere "any" day will depend on muscle power as opposed to fossil fuels so our carbon footprint will definitely be smaller while we live there. How about that?????
Hope you are all safe and warm wherever you might be.
Love to all as always....*
sid
But this blog is about going to Paris right? Hmmmmmmm, until we really speak French pretty well (not yet...) and something like this happens there, I guess we'll just have to ride it out although we certainly won't be living at the bottom of a hill there like we do here. If it gets slippery there they might just toss old baguettes out into the streets so traffic can continue. Who knows?
In any event, the sun is out and spirits are up although there is still a bit of cabin fever......but then, in Paris we won't have a car so getting somewhere "any" day will depend on muscle power as opposed to fossil fuels so our carbon footprint will definitely be smaller while we live there. How about that?????
Hope you are all safe and warm wherever you might be.
Love to all as always....*
sid
Friday, December 18, 2009
Tis The Season
Greetings Pilgrims,
It seems as though we might get a real snowstorm this evening that might last into tomorrow. Cassie heard yesterday that it was snowing in Paris. How magical that must be.
As always there's been a big push to get everything out to friends and family for Xmas although this year there's a more than a hint of simplification in the air as preparations continue for the move which now has everyone out of Lynchburg the first week of March 2010. Inevitably time is becoming compressed as Cassie leaves January 17th and won't be back until March when we move and so if folks don't get to see her before January, they'll need to visit with her in Paris. I for one am looking very forward to living in a new neighborhood with new challenges in a new city.
Our cultural training takes place early in January which should be really interesting and informative for all of us although I lived for almost 3 years in Europe in the mid-70s so I consider myself at least partially versed in living in another culture but could certainly stand the update from professionals.
I start work on a solo CD with Billy Worley after the New Year and am also looking forward to that.
The twins finished their tenure at Central Virginia Community College this week and both Cassie and I are relieved that's over as the administration and faculty there are completely clueless when it comes to almost any meaningful interactions with people affected by the Autism Spectrum in fact the president of the college pointedly informed me that he didn't have to do anything to help our sons there. Merry Christmas indeed......* More on that in another blog entry as there will be developments to report on in the coming weeks.
Nelliebelle's pathology report came back negative for cancer and there was much rejoicing in our home at the news. Seems the old girl will be with us for a while longer and we'll all be the better for it.
I need to go out and unearth the snow shovels now but will get back to you all as soon as I can. Perhaps there will be pictures of the snow on the site next time so stay tuned.
I hope all of you are warm, healthy and safe tonight......*
Love to all as always...*
sid
It seems as though we might get a real snowstorm this evening that might last into tomorrow. Cassie heard yesterday that it was snowing in Paris. How magical that must be.
As always there's been a big push to get everything out to friends and family for Xmas although this year there's a more than a hint of simplification in the air as preparations continue for the move which now has everyone out of Lynchburg the first week of March 2010. Inevitably time is becoming compressed as Cassie leaves January 17th and won't be back until March when we move and so if folks don't get to see her before January, they'll need to visit with her in Paris. I for one am looking very forward to living in a new neighborhood with new challenges in a new city.
Our cultural training takes place early in January which should be really interesting and informative for all of us although I lived for almost 3 years in Europe in the mid-70s so I consider myself at least partially versed in living in another culture but could certainly stand the update from professionals.
I start work on a solo CD with Billy Worley after the New Year and am also looking forward to that.
The twins finished their tenure at Central Virginia Community College this week and both Cassie and I are relieved that's over as the administration and faculty there are completely clueless when it comes to almost any meaningful interactions with people affected by the Autism Spectrum in fact the president of the college pointedly informed me that he didn't have to do anything to help our sons there. Merry Christmas indeed......* More on that in another blog entry as there will be developments to report on in the coming weeks.
Nelliebelle's pathology report came back negative for cancer and there was much rejoicing in our home at the news. Seems the old girl will be with us for a while longer and we'll all be the better for it.
I need to go out and unearth the snow shovels now but will get back to you all as soon as I can. Perhaps there will be pictures of the snow on the site next time so stay tuned.
I hope all of you are warm, healthy and safe tonight......*
Love to all as always...*
sid
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Getting Rid Of Stuff
The last time we moved I think there were over 650 boxes minus the furniture and other things we had but this time anything that either isn't given away or sold or moved depending on what kind of apartment we end up with HAS TO GO.
That process is happening even I as I write this now and it will continue right up until the day the movers come to move our stuff to either Paris or into storage. We certainly wouldn't be categorized as hoarders but we sure have a lot of stuff. Geez...
We ARE making headway but it's slow going.
It'll be a miracle if our new apartment in Paris is even the size of our current ground floor and we'll be REALLY lucky and fortunate if Cassie is able to rent an apartment with more than one bathroom. From what I've been told by Cassie one of the apartments she rented short term a while back had an all in one washer that after the wash cycle finished then became the dryer and it would run for literally hours and hours which makes me uneasy about how I'm going to keep up with the laundry while we're there. That will probably entail several posts if not more in our adventures with French appliances.
I keep hearing that there are hard and fast rules about how the French are and I can admit that I've never actually LIVED there but did visit often in the mid 70s. Should be fun to adapt.
That's all for now. Time to head to Goodwill with a pile of stuff. If you want any of our stuff let us know and then it can be your stuff.
Love to all.....*
sid
That process is happening even I as I write this now and it will continue right up until the day the movers come to move our stuff to either Paris or into storage. We certainly wouldn't be categorized as hoarders but we sure have a lot of stuff. Geez...
We ARE making headway but it's slow going.
It'll be a miracle if our new apartment in Paris is even the size of our current ground floor and we'll be REALLY lucky and fortunate if Cassie is able to rent an apartment with more than one bathroom. From what I've been told by Cassie one of the apartments she rented short term a while back had an all in one washer that after the wash cycle finished then became the dryer and it would run for literally hours and hours which makes me uneasy about how I'm going to keep up with the laundry while we're there. That will probably entail several posts if not more in our adventures with French appliances.
I keep hearing that there are hard and fast rules about how the French are and I can admit that I've never actually LIVED there but did visit often in the mid 70s. Should be fun to adapt.
That's all for now. Time to head to Goodwill with a pile of stuff. If you want any of our stuff let us know and then it can be your stuff.
Love to all.....*
sid
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
A One-Way Dose of Reality
By Cassie
I got a one-way ticket to Paris today. It’s the shortest itinerary I’ve ever received from the corporate travel department: leave Lynchburg at 1:52 Sunday afternoon, January 17, board Delta flight 28 in Atlanta at 5:35, and wake up in Paris 6:15 Monday morning January 18. Hell, if everything’s running on time, I could even report to work on my first full-time day in France by 8:30.
As my co-worker Laurie Harris pointed out, sometimes it’s the little things that give you that dose of cold reality: it’s really happening -- I’m really moving to Paris. I got a jolt in my gut as I picked up the wispy little page from the printer with only one travel date on it and, for a fleeting moment, felt what it means to leave and never come back. Of course, I will be coming back. I’ll return when it’s time to pack us up and move the family, likely in March. And I’ll be back on several business trips before we all return to the U.S. in three years. (Yes, Niall, it could be only two years, if you’re lucky.) But I’ll just be visiting when traveling here for business, while living abroad. I’m not sure which line to get in at customs: will I still count as a U.S. resident or will I be a “visitor”? I wonder if I’ll experience the same reality check when I book my return flight at the end of this assignment: I’m really going home.
We’ve gotten passports for Sid, Kian and Niall, and my visa application has been submitted. I’ve talked with the moving company, relocation agency and tax people – both here and in Paris. But nothing has made this adventure as real as that slip of paper now neatly tucked into my travel wallet. Seat 1A, nonstop to my new address.
I got a one-way ticket to Paris today. It’s the shortest itinerary I’ve ever received from the corporate travel department: leave Lynchburg at 1:52 Sunday afternoon, January 17, board Delta flight 28 in Atlanta at 5:35, and wake up in Paris 6:15 Monday morning January 18. Hell, if everything’s running on time, I could even report to work on my first full-time day in France by 8:30.
As my co-worker Laurie Harris pointed out, sometimes it’s the little things that give you that dose of cold reality: it’s really happening -- I’m really moving to Paris. I got a jolt in my gut as I picked up the wispy little page from the printer with only one travel date on it and, for a fleeting moment, felt what it means to leave and never come back. Of course, I will be coming back. I’ll return when it’s time to pack us up and move the family, likely in March. And I’ll be back on several business trips before we all return to the U.S. in three years. (Yes, Niall, it could be only two years, if you’re lucky.) But I’ll just be visiting when traveling here for business, while living abroad. I’m not sure which line to get in at customs: will I still count as a U.S. resident or will I be a “visitor”? I wonder if I’ll experience the same reality check when I book my return flight at the end of this assignment: I’m really going home.
We’ve gotten passports for Sid, Kian and Niall, and my visa application has been submitted. I’ve talked with the moving company, relocation agency and tax people – both here and in Paris. But nothing has made this adventure as real as that slip of paper now neatly tucked into my travel wallet. Seat 1A, nonstop to my new address.
Monday, December 7, 2009
What do you wish for when you know you're leaving?
Christmas cards? Done.
Annual art calendar? Done.
Gift lists? Well, that's another story.
Every year each of us creates a wish list for each other and anyone who asks what we want for Christmas. Not only are they really great for ideas of what to buy, they've become interesting time capsules to see what each of us was interested at that particular time in our lives. I love the ones Kian and Niall used to do by cutting and pasting images and web links -- just to make sure we got the precisely correct items. Good thing, too. I don't know a Sacred Heart from a Super Mario video game.
This year, as I sat down to type out my list, it was harder than usual. Knowing that in just a few VERY short weeks we'll be packing, storing and moving everything we own, what do I REALLY want to add to our inventory? Instead of the usual philosophical question, "Do I really need more stuff?" the question has become, "Do I want this enough to have to pack it?" That's a very different consideration that reframes my wish list to what I need RIGHT NOW or will DEFINITELY USE IN PARIS.
I am left with two basic categories: what I need for jogging, and what I can use for traveling and living in my new home -- especially until the family moves with me. Let's take jogging first.
The best time for me to run is in the morning. The worst time to run in winter months is in the morning. It's dark and cold and I hate it. However, a fleece vest, gloves and ear-protecting headband would make it less objectionable.
Now for travel. My mentor in Paris has lived there for a couple of years now and last month turned me on to one of her survival toos: a Kindle with global wireless access. I've resisted this book replacement in favor of sweet weight of pixels in hand, but the ability to download books and newspapers in English in 60 seconds AND not travel with the bulk of 3-4 books on each trip is irresistible. And finally, a travel photo frame to keep all my guys with me makes any hotel room or temporary apartment more like home.
No clothes, jewelry or decorative household items for me this year. Now that you you know what I want...
--Cass
Annual art calendar? Done.
Gift lists? Well, that's another story.
Every year each of us creates a wish list for each other and anyone who asks what we want for Christmas. Not only are they really great for ideas of what to buy, they've become interesting time capsules to see what each of us was interested at that particular time in our lives. I love the ones Kian and Niall used to do by cutting and pasting images and web links -- just to make sure we got the precisely correct items. Good thing, too. I don't know a Sacred Heart from a Super Mario video game.
This year, as I sat down to type out my list, it was harder than usual. Knowing that in just a few VERY short weeks we'll be packing, storing and moving everything we own, what do I REALLY want to add to our inventory? Instead of the usual philosophical question, "Do I really need more stuff?" the question has become, "Do I want this enough to have to pack it?" That's a very different consideration that reframes my wish list to what I need RIGHT NOW or will DEFINITELY USE IN PARIS.
I am left with two basic categories: what I need for jogging, and what I can use for traveling and living in my new home -- especially until the family moves with me. Let's take jogging first.
The best time for me to run is in the morning. The worst time to run in winter months is in the morning. It's dark and cold and I hate it. However, a fleece vest, gloves and ear-protecting headband would make it less objectionable.
Now for travel. My mentor in Paris has lived there for a couple of years now and last month turned me on to one of her survival toos: a Kindle with global wireless access. I've resisted this book replacement in favor of sweet weight of pixels in hand, but the ability to download books and newspapers in English in 60 seconds AND not travel with the bulk of 3-4 books on each trip is irresistible. And finally, a travel photo frame to keep all my guys with me makes any hotel room or temporary apartment more like home.
No clothes, jewelry or decorative household items for me this year. Now that you you know what I want...
--Cass
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Questions Questions Questions
When are you leaving? Are you packing yet? Can you come to Atlanta for Xmas? What are your sons going to do? Aren't the French jerks? Why aren't you taking a car? Why would you want to leave here? Aren't their hospitals dirty? Don't they hate Americans? Do they speak English?
The questions just go on and on.....*
And we're trying to get ready for Christmas too which seems to me a bit of an anti-climax this year as there's so much that "seems" to need to be done but then again, very few decisions about when we move and where we'll move to in Paris depends on when Cassie gets her work visa that she'll need to pick up in Washington, D.C., at the French Embassy when it's ready. Who knows when it'll be ready......
I've been steadily reducing the clutter in my studio giving 2 keyboards away to Goodwill and other things away from my collection of clothes. All of our CDs go to our neighbor Paul for safekeeping while we're gone and the 42 inch plasma TV and 5.1 surround system goes to Tray and Joann.
It's sort of easy to feel overwhelmed when there's actually nothing happening yet at least it's easy for others in the house. I'm not sweating it yet but I think Cassie is pretty tense about it....
Will attempt to pour some extra wine for her tonight.
Tomorrow morning our oldest cat Nelliebelle heads to the Vet for a biopsy on a growth that's under her left eyelid. She's going to be very unhappy. There have been hints that it might be cancer but I hope it isn't. Nelliebelle has been part of the crew since 1999 and when she was brought in to kick ass with our mouse population in our old Sioux City home which she did in spades. I think the score was Nellibelle 38 and the mice nothing......... She's been an integral part of our family ever since and we plan on taking her and our other cat Gracie Mae on the plane to Paris which will more than likely be another long and probably very funny entry here when it goes down.
I haven't mentioned yet that the twins have NEVER flown before and the flight will be around 9 hours long albeit in "business class" which should help a bit. Needless to say there may be good drugs in store for all concerned meaning the cats and twins. That too will be a blog entry of epic proportions when it goes down.
More tomorrow when I can get to a computer.
Cheers!
Sid
The questions just go on and on.....*
And we're trying to get ready for Christmas too which seems to me a bit of an anti-climax this year as there's so much that "seems" to need to be done but then again, very few decisions about when we move and where we'll move to in Paris depends on when Cassie gets her work visa that she'll need to pick up in Washington, D.C., at the French Embassy when it's ready. Who knows when it'll be ready......
I've been steadily reducing the clutter in my studio giving 2 keyboards away to Goodwill and other things away from my collection of clothes. All of our CDs go to our neighbor Paul for safekeeping while we're gone and the 42 inch plasma TV and 5.1 surround system goes to Tray and Joann.
It's sort of easy to feel overwhelmed when there's actually nothing happening yet at least it's easy for others in the house. I'm not sweating it yet but I think Cassie is pretty tense about it....
Will attempt to pour some extra wine for her tonight.
Tomorrow morning our oldest cat Nelliebelle heads to the Vet for a biopsy on a growth that's under her left eyelid. She's going to be very unhappy. There have been hints that it might be cancer but I hope it isn't. Nelliebelle has been part of the crew since 1999 and when she was brought in to kick ass with our mouse population in our old Sioux City home which she did in spades. I think the score was Nellibelle 38 and the mice nothing......... She's been an integral part of our family ever since and we plan on taking her and our other cat Gracie Mae on the plane to Paris which will more than likely be another long and probably very funny entry here when it goes down.
I haven't mentioned yet that the twins have NEVER flown before and the flight will be around 9 hours long albeit in "business class" which should help a bit. Needless to say there may be good drugs in store for all concerned meaning the cats and twins. That too will be a blog entry of epic proportions when it goes down.
More tomorrow when I can get to a computer.
Cheers!
Sid
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Busy Times
Sorry I've been away. Cassie came back from Paris last Monday and it's been really busy ever since with getting the twins to school daily and juggling Cassie's schedule. We did a conference call with a "culture coach" yesterday afternoon which was actually really great and we all meet with him and his wife sometime the first week in January.
It's really starting to sink in that we coming up on our last Christmas here for the next 3 years so next year at this time it'll be Christmas in Paris. That should be interesting for sure.
There are also other issues to address which involve renting a furnished apartment or renting an unfurnished apartment which would take longer as when Parisians move out of their apartments they take everything including kitchen cabinets and leave light bulbs hanging from wires with no fixtures. Hopefully they'll leave the toilet or toilets. We currently live in a 2400 sq ft house and we'll be living large there if our apartment is half that size.
Almost to a person though Cassie hears from other ex-pats that "downsizing" was a good thing for them and that it helped them simplify their lives. I suspect all of us could do that and then some. My new friend Michael Clervi is most definitely doing that these days far more than we ever will. He's my newest hero.
Hopefully Cassie will get involved with the blog and the twins will start posting too after they finish school in a couple of weeks. It's chilly here today with snow flurries and rain and the Hennie Pennie folks (weather guessers) are predicting death and destruction like they always do.
I hope wherever all of you are is a little more temperate than here now. Will write more tomorrow if I get time. Love to all and be well wherever you are.
sid
It's really starting to sink in that we coming up on our last Christmas here for the next 3 years so next year at this time it'll be Christmas in Paris. That should be interesting for sure.
There are also other issues to address which involve renting a furnished apartment or renting an unfurnished apartment which would take longer as when Parisians move out of their apartments they take everything including kitchen cabinets and leave light bulbs hanging from wires with no fixtures. Hopefully they'll leave the toilet or toilets. We currently live in a 2400 sq ft house and we'll be living large there if our apartment is half that size.
Almost to a person though Cassie hears from other ex-pats that "downsizing" was a good thing for them and that it helped them simplify their lives. I suspect all of us could do that and then some. My new friend Michael Clervi is most definitely doing that these days far more than we ever will. He's my newest hero.
Hopefully Cassie will get involved with the blog and the twins will start posting too after they finish school in a couple of weeks. It's chilly here today with snow flurries and rain and the Hennie Pennie folks (weather guessers) are predicting death and destruction like they always do.
I hope wherever all of you are is a little more temperate than here now. Will write more tomorrow if I get time. Love to all and be well wherever you are.
sid
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Thanksgiving 2009 In Lynchburg
Just got back from picking up our turkeys (an acquaintance deep fries them) and the house is stinkin pretty good.
Cassie will be dining with her colleague Marie Angelis tonight in Paris with her family and perhaps other American Ex-Pats. From what I've heard obtaining turkeys in Paris can be problematic as I'm not sure if they're indigenous to France.
There IS much to be thankful for as always but this past year was a watershed year not only for us but the rest of the world. Our country finally has an intelligent leader who actually wants engagement with the rest of the planet within reason, our sons are succeeding somewhat in college, Cassie has been promoted again which in today's economy is pretty special, and all of our friends and family are for the most part healthy and happy.
I personally am thankful for all of my blessings which include contact with friends long lost to me and the greatest family anyone could ever have. I am also doubly thankful that I'm going to get to experience Paris and the European Continent again which is something I never even dreamed of. Lately I've been listening a lot to the new Brad Paisley CD "American Saturday Night" and in particular the song "Welcome To The Future". I'm thankful for how far we've all come but also mindful of how far the human race still needs to go to achieve world peace and safe haven and health for all everywhere. I will continue to hope for that even if it's not fashionable and will never let go of that hope for us all.
Peace and love to everyone who reads this. Take care of yourselves and as many others as you can.
Be well,
Sid
Cassie will be dining with her colleague Marie Angelis tonight in Paris with her family and perhaps other American Ex-Pats. From what I've heard obtaining turkeys in Paris can be problematic as I'm not sure if they're indigenous to France.
There IS much to be thankful for as always but this past year was a watershed year not only for us but the rest of the world. Our country finally has an intelligent leader who actually wants engagement with the rest of the planet within reason, our sons are succeeding somewhat in college, Cassie has been promoted again which in today's economy is pretty special, and all of our friends and family are for the most part healthy and happy.
I personally am thankful for all of my blessings which include contact with friends long lost to me and the greatest family anyone could ever have. I am also doubly thankful that I'm going to get to experience Paris and the European Continent again which is something I never even dreamed of. Lately I've been listening a lot to the new Brad Paisley CD "American Saturday Night" and in particular the song "Welcome To The Future". I'm thankful for how far we've all come but also mindful of how far the human race still needs to go to achieve world peace and safe haven and health for all everywhere. I will continue to hope for that even if it's not fashionable and will never let go of that hope for us all.
Peace and love to everyone who reads this. Take care of yourselves and as many others as you can.
Be well,
Sid
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Beginnings OR Getting Readies........*
Welcome to our blog.
Our entire crew (me, Kian, Niall, Cassie, Nellie Belle, and Gracie Mae) is preparing (in one way or another) to move to Paris, France, for what will probably be a 3 year ex-pat assignment for Cassie who works for Areva Global which is headquartered in Paris. We've always been intrepid and have never done anything the easy way and this should prove to be our biggest adventure yet. So far, everyone that didn't have passports now has them and both cats are completely up to date with shots and will be injected with bar codes (that's right pilgims, BARCODES) specifically to tweak the noses of conspiracy theorists everywhere...........* Actually, it's just a requirement of the French government and pretty much painless for the cats.
Cassie is still navigating the ex-pat process (similar in most respects to a Gordian knot) and is awaiting her work visa so she can establish residency in Paris (an apartment that will be significantly smaller than our house here in Lynchburg).
Work continues here slowly downsizing (getting rid of none essential stuff of all kinds) and getting the house ready for someone else to rent it while we're gone. The title of the blog as you can see is Ok Then Records/Paris as we'll be there before we know it and when that finally transpires, I'll change the photo on the page to something from Paris.
The twins (Kian and Niall) will also be posting in this blog and Cassie may also post some things when she has time although I suspect she will leave all of that to us for the most part. We'll endeavor to be positive in here as I'm already aware from other friends of their concerns that I'll be disgruntled with the French but then, they were never with me when I ran the streets there back in the mid 70s and played music in the Metro to augment my income when I was but a poor Corporal in the Army at the time. Paris gained a very strong hold on my heart then and it was difficult for mes to leave and go back to the USA. I almost got out of the Army there in Germany and stayed. So even though it's been a long long time for me, I'm looking forward to being amongst the French again and immersing myself in their culture.
I'll endeavor to post at least bi-weekly and more if time and my inclination to write is there.
Thanks for reading and keeping up with us!
Love to all,
sid
Our entire crew (me, Kian, Niall, Cassie, Nellie Belle, and Gracie Mae) is preparing (in one way or another) to move to Paris, France, for what will probably be a 3 year ex-pat assignment for Cassie who works for Areva Global which is headquartered in Paris. We've always been intrepid and have never done anything the easy way and this should prove to be our biggest adventure yet. So far, everyone that didn't have passports now has them and both cats are completely up to date with shots and will be injected with bar codes (that's right pilgims, BARCODES) specifically to tweak the noses of conspiracy theorists everywhere...........* Actually, it's just a requirement of the French government and pretty much painless for the cats.
Cassie is still navigating the ex-pat process (similar in most respects to a Gordian knot) and is awaiting her work visa so she can establish residency in Paris (an apartment that will be significantly smaller than our house here in Lynchburg).
Work continues here slowly downsizing (getting rid of none essential stuff of all kinds) and getting the house ready for someone else to rent it while we're gone. The title of the blog as you can see is Ok Then Records/Paris as we'll be there before we know it and when that finally transpires, I'll change the photo on the page to something from Paris.
The twins (Kian and Niall) will also be posting in this blog and Cassie may also post some things when she has time although I suspect she will leave all of that to us for the most part. We'll endeavor to be positive in here as I'm already aware from other friends of their concerns that I'll be disgruntled with the French but then, they were never with me when I ran the streets there back in the mid 70s and played music in the Metro to augment my income when I was but a poor Corporal in the Army at the time. Paris gained a very strong hold on my heart then and it was difficult for mes to leave and go back to the USA. I almost got out of the Army there in Germany and stayed. So even though it's been a long long time for me, I'm looking forward to being amongst the French again and immersing myself in their culture.
I'll endeavor to post at least bi-weekly and more if time and my inclination to write is there.
Thanks for reading and keeping up with us!
Love to all,
sid
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