The Loss

August 10

To: K. Kenyon

From T. French

Dear Ms. Kenyon,

Thank you for your mostly kind words about In the Woods.  You say it's not nearly as strong as some others I've written, but it was my first novel and I'm not only proud of it, but also gratified that 3 million plus copies have been sold.  

I'm sorry to hear that you were overly frustrated by the book's ambiguous ending. And while I sympathize with your loss of an entire day to reading, I am unclear how the novel can be blamed.  Your garden certainly did need water during this hot spell but it was your choice to stay in pajamas reading on the sofa. I also reject any responsibility for the additional hours you spent on Reddit arguing about the confusing ending with other readers.  

Congratulations on your retirement.  There are many websites about how to develop routines in this phase of life that you may find helpful.  Or, why not embrace your new freedom and make MEMENTO MORI your mantra? 

You mentioned that you were waiting for The Keeper to come out in paperback. I'm sending you a copy as a retirement gift. I hope you enjoy it.  Let's stay in touch. 

Sincerely,

Tana French

Meet Me in the Town

August Klintberg, 2010

Meet Me in the Town

Nell had 3 tickets for a  history tour in town, but at the last minute Kendall and Abbie turned them down.  They were heading to the pool. She wished they had told her earlier. The tickets weren't cheap, but that wasn't the issue.  This "Cabin with a View" airbnb had gone way up in price again this summer but Nell was happy to pay it. Even after 4 years, she relied on their company whenever she could get it. 

She baby stepped the steep downhill, over roots and rocks and patches of mud. When her knees were on the brink of buckling she heard the cars on Hill Street and glimpsed a scrap of river between the aspens.  On level ground, she sat on a bench and wiped off her sweaty face and neck.  

A curly headed teen stood next to the tour guide who started immediately once Nell arrived.  The boy resembled a younger Kendall, before Abbie came in to the picture.  Quiet, curious, cheerful. Nell wished there had been time for friendly introductions. Names, at the very least.  But the guide was off and running, comparing the various prehistoric artifacts in the display case.  She spoke quickly but seemed to know her stuff.  Curly and Nell teamed up to give support with nods, eye contact and myriad utterances of surprise.  Really!  Interesting!  Hmmm.  

She ate a late lunch at her favorite place in town.  The waitress remembered her.  Last year she had complimented Nell on her excellent use of chopsticks. Were Kendall and Abbie eating lunch by the pool or inside the air-conditioning?  

After a stroll around the Main Street shops, crowded with tourists, Nell headed across the bridge to the botanical gardens. She wanted to walk to the azaleas, but the heat forced her to the gazebo for a rest.  She watched a tween write his name on a pine tree with a permanent marker while his mom watched. She should have intervened, but those days were long gone. She lingered until closing time.  

Back on the river bench, she weighed her options. There were no taxis, lyfts or ubers here and the buses did not go up the hill.  Of course Kendall could pick her up but she couldn't stand waiting for his response while he and Abbie bantered back and forth about logistics. 

Nell listened to the raspy chatter of the river.  She switched her phone to do not disturb and slipped it into her bag. She folded her jacket into a pillow for a lie down and hoped for some star gazing. 

Last year the stars were out in full by the time Kendall reported her missing.  Officer Karl Dressler found her on this exact bench and drove her back to the cabin.  She hoped he might be the one to track her down tonight.  Maybe he would come in for a drink or a snack.  That young man knew how to have a conversation. They were almost old friends by now. 

The Irish Part

 We're in Ireland.  Dublin was not as fun as expected because our colds turned into hideous sinus infections.  We had problematic symptoms not at all conducive to long walks and focused research.  But we did manage to check out the Book of Kells.  And the Museum of Literature.  St. Stephen's Green. Christ Church Cathedral.  These are important sites that we enjoyed.  

We paid some hard earned cash on an "air doctor" service that matches travelers with doctors who can write prescriptions.  We talked with our doctor on TEAMS.  He was located in Nice.  Readily gave us antibiotics. We love him so much.

Now we're in Dingle.  We like this place.  We took the Slea Head Drive.  Our airbnb host told me that the drive could take an hour or it could take 8 hours.  She was correct.  Along this beautiful drive, there are many stops.  Ring Forts.  Beehive Huts.  Ogham Stones.  Beach walks.  Lunch overlooking the Atlantic.  Blasket Visitor Center.  Feeding Farm Animals.  All phenomenal.  

We visited a fairy fort.  Not excavated so it appeared to be mere grassy bumps of land.  The woman there told me that they will never excavate the ring because it would bring bad luck.  The spirits of the fairy people do not want to be disturbed.  She heard about a fairy ring being plowed through to make a road near Galway and there have been many car crashes on that road. 

 Husbandman drives through the countryside like he was native born. If you by chance need a driver during future trips to Ireland, keep him in mind. He drives courageously and efficiently through the narrowest roads you'll ever see.  We've lost a hubcap but that's a small price to pay for all the pleasure I've had touring Ireland with nary a care in the world. 

Tomorrow we head to Kilkenny for a night.  Then we'll head back home.  2 thumbs up to the European summer trip of 2026.  Thanks for reading along!!!!

The London Times

 

   J and PA, our B-town buddies, live abroad now. We have been looking forward to visiting these 2 cool ex-pats. These 2 should work in the travel industry.  They know how to make the most of 3 days in London. Highlights included:

Victoria and Albert Hall for Symphonic Rock Classics.  David Hockney exhibit at the Serpentine: News of his death the following day made this memory bittersweet.  Peter Pan statue and the scenic Kensington Gardens. Westminster Cathedral with a veritable plethora of martyrs and Westminster Abbey where we visited the graves of Dickens and Jane Austen.  Afternoon tea with sandwiches, scones and desserts.  Afternoon movie in a historic movie house. You should see Savage House if you want to.  Strolling through Nottinghill Gate neighborhood and some shopping along Portobello Road.  Walk through the Theater district.  Museum of Brands. Buses.  Tubes.  Bridge games.  Tasty Meals.  Maggie Jones Restaurant received an A for Amazing.  Chit chat kitty cat galore!  Basically, we were sad to leave.  

We're in Dublin at this moment in time. After a quick lie down in the hotel, we're ready to venture out in search of a nourishing repast.  

The Time in Paris

 As usual Paris doesn't disappoint.  Old stuff, new stuff, it's all jumbled up with wow everywhere you look.

We loved the Henry Taylor Retrospective at Musee Picasso.  He's American, so why haven't we seen him around?  Colorful mixes and messages- some massive some tiny.  Check him out.

JR was up to his antics turning the Post Neuf into a cave.  What a funny thing to do. Last week's windy storm caused some damage so it's being repaired now. I was glad that we got to see it.

Matisse's final years were featured at The Grand Palais.  That show was crowded as all get out, but I kept my own pace and took my time with the collages that drew me over for a longer look.  I don't like the feeling of getting jostled, but it was pleasant to be in a space where all the people were loving something simultaneously. 

Smiling people slipped in and out of invisibility at Fujiko Nakaya's Fog Sculpture at the Bourse de Commerce.  I lost Husbandman but then I found him.  When the fog dropped down and our heads emerged there was merriment and awe.

This morning we bought some cheese at a small fromagerie.  When I announced boldly to the woman, "We would like to buy some cheese," we both started laughing and she pointed around and asked, "Why not?" 

We asked her to recommend a boulangerie.  "You will go to the right for 100 meters and you will see a market and across from the market you will find it and WOW!" 

See what I mean about wow?  Things have been lovely here in Paris.  Tomorrow we head to London to visit with old friends from B-town.  I hope they're not disappointed when they discover that our bridge skills have taken a dive.  

Kicking Around Toulouse

 

Toulouse is a great city for kicking around.  

Today I walked and wrote in the cloister of the Couvent des Jacobins. This is where Dominican Friars lived starting in the early 1200s.  Unlike monks, friars could leave the convent to go out to preach.  You might be surprised to learn that convents can refer to homes for friars, monks, or nuns. 

Friars are mendicants, so they live through begging.  These friars eventually got donations from wealthy Toulousians.  Some of the elite families hogged the prime burial spots in the convent because a good spot helped you get to heaven quicker.  

The Dominican friars stayed super busy each day with attending mass, collecting alms, studying the bible, singing in the choir, copying manuscripts, and completing chores.  They couldn't eat meat or fat, so most of their meals consisted of pureed vegetables.  Occasionally they would enjoy a fruit or two.  

I thought about my dad quite a bit while walking around.  He loved to talk history especially where the Catholics are concerned. My newfound interest in the Dominicans would have kept him going for a good long while.  

After the convent I checked out the contemporary Art museum which is situated in a former slaughterhouse.  Learned about the amazing fashion artist-designer Charles Castelbajac.  You can read about him here if you feel like it provided that you know how to speak the French language.  Fun fact --- the language of this region was Occitan at one time.    Street signs here are in both French and Occitan.  Medieval troubadours sang away in Occitan as they troubadoured about.

I've visited a plethora of museums and basilicas here in Toulouse.  I've sat in public parks and plazas.  Have enjoyed cafe creme next to the River Garonne. Have actually enjoyed everything, to tell you the truth. Basically, I can't complain.  

The Retirement

 My final day of working was last Friday, so I've been retired for one week.  The 3rdLanders weren't too crazy about my retirement but I told them I had a plan to work until age 65 and I did it.  One kiddo asked, "Why can't you work until you're 85?"  

Another asked, "Why can't you just work until you die?"

Wasn't sure how to respond, so we just moved on.  I'm pleased with retirement so far.  I had a great sendoff with a veritable plethora of kind words and gifts and hugs. 

Bonus: #1 Son and Lucy were here this week and double bonus:  Now Husbandman and I are heading off to Toulouse, Paris, London, Dublin and DINGLE!   I'll be blogging so please tune in if you feel like it.  

I'm not packed yet because time means nothing to me at this point.  

The Tasks

 

Peonies at Rose Hill Ceremony!

Retirement's on the horizon my friends.  Today I applied for social security.  I also added my new email address to this very blog so that I can keep blogging when I'm done with 3rdLand.  Not going to lie.  I've been nervous about both these tasks.  When I'm nervous about a task, I avoid it like the plague.  Not my best trait, but on the good side, everything that needs doing eventually gets done for the most part. Case in point: other forms that need to be sent to other places have been sent. Husbandman deserves a lot of the credit for the completion of these tasks.  THANK YOU HUSBANDMAN!

This week all the retirees and stars (separate category) of the school district will have a celebratory dinner.  Also this week, our school is hosting a happy luncheon for this retiree.  

School ends on the 22.  You might recall that last summer I was feeling ambivalent about retiring. That's over.  I feel only excitement and cheer.  Get ready for more blogging, more texting, more miscellaneous contacting.  Win win!

The Retirement

  Took this photo at the orchids exhibit at Newfields Greenhouse. The plant was an outlier, unlike any orchid in the house.  Doesn't look like an orchid.  Maybe someone placed it as a prank. 

The Squirrel

 

Come on, Squirrel.  Get up and do your freaking job.  

Love and Literacy

Happy to report that I have partied through my last Valentine's Day of my teaching career.

 I  usually steer clear of doom-filled sentiments about how teaching used to be dreamy delightful, and today verges on nightmare, but sometimes facts must be faced.

Valentine's Day in the elementary classroom has taken a concerning plummet down the tubes.

Its whole purpose in years past centered on the cards. Passing them out.  Reading each goofy line of love while munching on candy hearts.   Kids called  out sweet comments across the room like, "Thanks, Scott.  You know I love cats" and "This is so funny, Ally!" If a card was more on the lovey-dovey side, you would see kids smiling, huddling with friends to whisper about possible implications of that simple missive, "BE MINE."

The card meant something back in the day but today's valentine is merely a piece of trash connected to a ring pop  or a package of  "fun dip." Cards, if they exist at all, get gathered up with the candy wrappers and tossed in the recycling bin even though I've told them thousands of times that food wrappings can not be recycled. 

I told #1 Son that I was thinking about writing about this decline.  He said, "You can begin with the title, 'The Day Our Children Forgot How to Love.'"

That's extreme. Which may have been his point. But let's not scoff at the significance of this cultural shift. If we all work together, we might be able to reverse this troubling trend. My message is simple. Let's bring literacy back to the Day of Love.  It's not too late.