Extraordinarily Ordinary

Brewster’s basketball team, the Golgoths13, played three games on Sunday in Marseille.  They are in a tournament to determine which league they will play in this season.  On Thursday when I asked the kids what they’d like to do for the weekend, they both agreed to a staycation in Aix-en-Provence.  Brewster added that going out for sushi on Friday night would be fantastic.  Sadie agreed and I thought the plan sounded easy and relaxing.

We found our sushi spot on yelp called “Sushi Love” and headed out on Friday night into town.  Our google maps lead us to the address that was not a restaurant so we moved on to our second choice.  We walked down a street that we’d never been to and found our restaurant empty.   Normally, I am adverse to a restaurant with no patrons, but in this instance, we were ready to sit down.  We sat next to an aquarium and were instantly entertained and happy.

We were not alone in the restaurant for long.  A few more people sat down and we noticed many deliveries going out the door.  The sushi was delicious!  The three of us had a good conversation and once again, I realized how special it is to be with Sadie and Brewster without any other friends or weekend invitations.  The isolation leaves us to rely on each other for friendship.  We laugh a lot.   We all miss our friends but know that four months is short amount of time to be away.  The kids have expressed how different they would feel if they moved to France permanently.  All of their friends at school live here.  We are just on an extended holiday.  Lucky us!

We walked into the old part of town after dinner and had an ice cream.  I couldn’t believe all the action in Aix-en-Provence.  I hadn’t been out in my own town on a weekend.  Students filled the bars, couples enjoyed the outside seating of the numerous restaurants.  Brewster said he felt like he was on a vacation in his own town.  “Let’s do this more often.”  We all agreed.

Saturday morning I went for a run and met the kids on Cours Mirabeau to walk around the Saturday market.  Brewster found a pair of black Nike shorts with a Paris St Germaine Patch on them for 50% off.  We agreed that was likely a marketing tactic: marking them down 50%.  But it worked and we bought them.  Sadie picked out a few hair clips and I bought some lavender spray.  We then strolled over to the fruits and vegetable market and were greeted with samples of local deliciousness.  Salt Butter Carmel on bread!  Who knew something so tasty existed??  “You bet,” I told the kids.  “We’ll buy it.” The next vendor fed us pesto, artichoke and mushroom spread also on bread.  I was so proud of the kids for tasting each one.  We settled on the sun-dried tomato pesto and walked home with a backpack filled with fresh goodies.  We stopped at the English bookstore to pick out a new book for Sadie.  Brewster was so helpful in his advise. I love their shared passion for reading.   We left knowing our market adventure was a success.

Right across the street from our apartment is Parc Jordan.  Soon after returning home,  we packed up a baguette, snacks, drinks and bag of toys and headed over to the park for a picnic.  We spent the afternoon enjoying our lunch, reading and tossing a ball.  I wondered why I didn’t picnic more in Park City?  It was so fun!

Around 4pm, Sadie and I walked to the bus station to go to the rental car agency at the TGV station.  They upgraded us to a Peugeot SUV.  But when I saw it, I said “Je suis très désolé.  I need smaller car. ” (example of my Franglish)  I thought about parking near our apartment and did not want to parallel park this large car. I was relieved when they gave me keys to a small Ford fiesta.

Sadie and I zipped back to our neighborhood and found parking nearby. I was happy to learn that parking is free on Saturday and Sunday.  Sadie wondered off to our local marché to buy some hot chocolate with a couple euro and I walked home.  I showered, dressed and walked downstairs to my neighbor’s for a drink.  They dropped an invitation in my mailbox last week. I had to bring the invitation to my French teacher to translate as the French script is tricky!

I imagined myself at a French cocktail party, so I told the kids I’d be home in an hour.  However, we were a group of four: one other neighbor and the hosts, Ingrid and Ben.  They are SO French and sweet.   We had a very nice visit and I imagine I will see them again.  Ingrid and Ben have a 17 month old baby and both work in Marseille.  Ingrid  made the most delicious mushroom cheese appetizers along with four other nibbles.  We drank and spoke mainly in English but sometimes the three of them would speak French. I can follow along, but do not speak well.   I hired a French teacher and take a private lessons on Thursdays.  I try to study everyday, but it is SLOW coming! I have a ton of admiration for my children’s grasp on this difficult language.

Almost two hours later, I had to excuse myself and walk upstairs to feed my hungry children! I made a quick taco dinner and we were all in bed by 10pm.  We needed to be out the door before 8am the next day.

At 8:15am, we met Brewster’s basketball team at the gym in Aix-en-Provence.    The French are very patient.  We waited nearly a half hour before leaving the gym.  Granted, many of the parents smoke as they wait, but the energy is a stark contrast to my rushed life at home.  Here we wait around a lot.   And no one seems to mind.  I am working on deprogramming my brain.  It’s a challenge to lose the anxiety of hurrying.

We drove in a convoy to the gym in Marseille.   I was grateful that I was not navigating.  We went through countless round-abouts and down little lanes. Brewster and I would have been stressed to find the gym even with google maps. I know it.

Brewster’s first game was at 9:30am.  He played again at 11am and 12:15.  I doubt his team is going to win any championships this season but I am so proud of Brewster’s efforts.  The Golgoths13 lost all three games, but Brewster marched down the court with authority and skill.  His Park City Miner coaches have given him a solid basketball foundation.  Brewster is superior in his basic skills: dribbling, passing, and shooting. Regardless of the final score, I know he is having a good time.  We are both happy that he will return to Park City this winter in good shape.  The French do not mess around with conditioning.  Maybe they need to focus on the ball skills? I’ll leave that to the coach.

It’s funny to watch Brewster clap when he signals to his team-mates on the court.  It’s his code for “I’m open”.  His teammates get it and constantly are passing to him.    His coach said after the game that except for Brewster, the team looked like chickens with their heads cut off.  I laughed when Brewster told me this. I am so proud him.  Sadie too with her patience going all around the region watching her brother play.  That is not easy either.

We drove to Prado Park in Marseille after the game which is along the water and ate lunch at a seaside restaurant.  Sadie ordered a crêpe.   I enjoyed a croque monsieur and Brewster devoured a salmon pasta dish saving half for his lunch today.  The kids shared a chocolate sundae that looked like a photo out of a magazine.  The French food is outrageously delicious everywhere we go.

We walked along the park and found a climbing wall in the shape of a rock.  Both Sadie and Brewster had a blast climbing although  Brewster injured his glute (or maybe a hamstring) in the game so he took it easy.  The weather was perfect.

I said to the kids, looking around, “I had no idea that Marseille was so mountainous.” Before I came to France, I didn’t know much about Marseille.  It’s really is a pretty city.

On the way back to the TGV station, we drove through a massive tunnel under the Marseille neighborhoods.  It was a 5 euro toll, but well worth it.  We blasted Maroon 5 and sang along.  The energy was fantastic.  Before we returned the car, we had to fill up with gas.  Brewster navigated us to a station which only had broken pumps.  The French cook some fine food, but do not make it easy to fill up with gas on a Sunday.  I was happy we weren’t trying to catch a train!  The next station wasn’t too far from our apartment so I dropped both kids off at home.  They were happy to chill and I didn’t mind returning the car solo.  I rode the bus back to Aix-en-Provence and walked home via our local pizzeria.

We started a Sunday night pizza tradition.   We eat in front the TV.  My dad bought Brewster the NFL game package so he watches the early  Sunday NFL game live and all the highlights on Monday and Tuesday after school . He is in heaven having access to all that coverage!  The Patriots played early yesterday so he was VERY excited to watch the game live on his computer.  He texted with his Poppy the whole game and went to be happy only when he was confident they would win.  Sadie and I are 20 episodes into “The Gilmore Girls”, a mother-daughter sitcom (or maybe a drama?). Sunday night is our time to watch together which is a treat.

This morning we woke up to October!  The mornings are chilly and dark but by lunch the sun is out and it is warm.   Sadie reminded us that we picked up our puppy Cosmo a year ago today.   One year feels like a lifetime ago.  But it was just 365 days.

Speaking of days, we can’t wait to see Matty in 17 days!  We miss him.  I don’t want to wish our time away.  I am acutely aware that this sabbatical is special. Our ordinary life of school, sports and chores and is extraordinary.  Vive la France!