Moving Mom
Now that things are settling down after my stepfather's death, we're really getting started on the process of moving Mom here to France.
For me, this is interesting in lots of ways: first, I'm reconnecting with her in a way I haven't done for years. It gives us whole new topics of conversation to explore.
Second, when JM and I moved, it was relatively simple, at least from the standpoint of paperwork. No visas necessary, as we are both dual nationals. This is not the case for Mom, so I'm having to discover how a non-EU citizen gets to move to France. The information will be invaluable when others ask us this same question.
Another thing that is fascinating is that I have come to regard the Possum Kingdom as home. Much of what was new and strange when we moved is now just familiar and normal. In order to present it to Mom, I've had to start looking at everything with new eyes once again. This makes everything seem fresh and wonderful for me as well as for her.
For example, we've started using our video camera to document the village and the events of the summer, so that we can take it to show Mom and her friends when we're back in L.A. I look at everything and wonder how it will be perceived by them.
Yesterday was our local Vide Grenier, a village-wide yard sale. People started setting up tables at 6 am, which is astonishing for around here. I noticed that a yard sale is a yard sale, whether it's in L.A. or Chalabre. Everyone has their junk spread out and others come and buy it, then show up the following year to sell it back to someone else!
I think there's this hope against hope that you are going to discover a long lost Rembrandt or something that has been hidden in a closet and unrecognized by its owner. I don't think it ever happens, but hope costs nothing.
I can't wait to show all of this to Mom; I feel excited like a kid at Christmas.
Ciao for now.
Randy
For me, this is interesting in lots of ways: first, I'm reconnecting with her in a way I haven't done for years. It gives us whole new topics of conversation to explore.
Second, when JM and I moved, it was relatively simple, at least from the standpoint of paperwork. No visas necessary, as we are both dual nationals. This is not the case for Mom, so I'm having to discover how a non-EU citizen gets to move to France. The information will be invaluable when others ask us this same question.
Another thing that is fascinating is that I have come to regard the Possum Kingdom as home. Much of what was new and strange when we moved is now just familiar and normal. In order to present it to Mom, I've had to start looking at everything with new eyes once again. This makes everything seem fresh and wonderful for me as well as for her.
For example, we've started using our video camera to document the village and the events of the summer, so that we can take it to show Mom and her friends when we're back in L.A. I look at everything and wonder how it will be perceived by them.
Yesterday was our local Vide Grenier, a village-wide yard sale. People started setting up tables at 6 am, which is astonishing for around here. I noticed that a yard sale is a yard sale, whether it's in L.A. or Chalabre. Everyone has their junk spread out and others come and buy it, then show up the following year to sell it back to someone else!
I think there's this hope against hope that you are going to discover a long lost Rembrandt or something that has been hidden in a closet and unrecognized by its owner. I don't think it ever happens, but hope costs nothing.
I can't wait to show all of this to Mom; I feel excited like a kid at Christmas.
Ciao for now.
Randy
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