After four eventful months in Paris, I went home for ten days. I left the house at 6:30 AM (1:30 AM EST) on Saturday, November 20. After a five-hour layover in Dublin, I safely landed at JFK at 6:15 EST (12:15 Paris time). The customs/border control process was surprisingly painless. I even got flirted with by the man checking my passport. Which I briefly wore as a badge of honor, as I thought it was not too bad after having spent 18 hours traveling! At the end of the journey, Mike awaited me in an immense crowd of people with a huge smile and a single, beautiful, red rose. It was a lovely homecoming.
The time home was eventful to say the least.
Saturday night: I got to see Mike's place, all set up and decorated. He got new furniture and really did a nice job outfitting the "pad." Then we went to a lovely dinner, and I collapsed around 12:30 AM.
Sunday 11/21: I was up early and showered. I opened the packages I'd sent to Mike's and decided what I was keeping and what was going back. I made coffee too. It'd been a long time since I'd done that. Mike and I met my mom and went shopping. Then we went to an awesome dinner at Aikou in Morristown. Lastly, we went to Mike's office and worked on my cousin's wedding program. I collapsed again that night (and each night after....in bed sound asleep by 11:30 and wide awake between 6 and 7 EVERY morning.)
Monday 11/22: Mike and I went into NYC for my noon appointment at the French Consulate. We took the train and then a cab and Mike got us right to where we needed to go. I applied for my visa (after a few small hiccups). After that, we dropped the visa pick-up paperwork off to Susan (the owner of the au pair agency), so she could pick up my visa on my behalf on Friday. Then we hit the famous Butter Lane cupcakes before leaving the city. Mike drove me to South Jersey on Monday night. We stopped at Kinko's, dropped off the wedding program to be printed, and then went my parents' house. Bed.
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| Going, going... |
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| ...Gone. |
Tuesday 11/23: Errands in AM. Visit with Debbie Silverstone and 2 of her 3 lovely children. Then a visit to see my bestest friend, Jim, and then off with him to see my favorite girl, Ella Sophia, and meet the new-ish arrival Olivia (Jim's neices). Then cheesesteaks in Manayunk and back to Jersey. Bed.
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| Debbie with twins Alec and Emma and me |
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| Me with Ella and Olivia! |
Wednesday 11/24: hair color/eyebrow wax/manicure and pedicure appointments from 10:00-2ish. Kourtney's wedding dress rehearsal from 3:00-6, and then rehearsal dinner. Bed.
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| The female cousins surrounding bride-to-be, Kourtney! |
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| Dad, Mom, Heather and Pat |
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| With "the folks" |
Saturday 11/27: Haircut at 10. My mom's best friend, Gwen, did my make up at 10:45. Then off to the wedding location to set up and get ready for the big day! I sang at Kourtney's wedding. The wedding was lovely. Kourtney was stunning, Joe was so handsome, and the ceremony was really inviting and enjoyable.
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| Joe and Kourtney the Groom and Bride, and my cousins! |
My singing went very well. I was relatively pleased with my performance. I had one little bobble, but it was good overall. What surprised me the most about the singing experience was the reaction from my family. First, the groom pulled me aside. He told me that when he came in the building, he could hear me singing and he thought it was a recording. Then he thanked me for singing, and said he felt lucky to have us sing at his wedding. He's a gem, that Joe. At the reception, my cousin, Jamie, told me he'd never heard me sing before. I rebuked him at first because of course he must have...I've been singing since third grade! But, in the end, no. He was right. He asked me to sing at his wedding if he gets married. My Uncle Mike thanked me for singing and for "the entertainment" three separate times during the reception. Jennifer, the groom's mother told me that my voice is so pretty I should go on American Idol. My Aunt Kathy complimented me as well. As always, the Ave Maria was her favorite. My Uncle Tony told me, yet again, that "I've got the goods" and thanked me for my time and effort for Kourtney's wedding. At the end of the night, Joe pulled me aside again. He told me that he feels so fortunate to love what he does everyday ("bossing little kids around"). And he told me that with a gift like my voice, if I enjoy it, I should use it professionally. That was so nice. It was just such a positive all around. I got to help my cousin by organizing all of the music and musicians and doing the program which felt SO good. I was so honored to be a part of it.
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| K&J's ceremony |
Sunday 11/28: Open house. Fantastic experience! So good to see everyone, but I need to work on my party-flitting skills. I didn't circulate anywhere near enough. Bed.
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With my girls: Jen, Tracey and Rileigh
Monday 11/29: Packing. Dinner with Tracey, Rileigh, Adam, Mike and Jen. Target to buy a new suitcase...stayed until 10:30. More packing. Bed (way before packing was anywhere near done). |
Tuesday 11/30: Packing all darn day. Cancelled lunch plans to pack. Primo sub for lunch, compliments of Dad. Weighed bags at UPS store to make sure they weren't over the alloted weight. Airport at 3:30 for my 6:30 flight. Again, painless from soup to nuts. Arrived back in Paris on 12/1 at 8:15 AM (2:30 AM).
It was so busy that it was surreal. It was almost as if I was in a haze and not completely aware that I was actually there and not just dreaming. Kinda foggy, as if it was a dream. As I was sitting in the airport on the way home, it hit me that I was in the United States. It's hard to explain. Needless to say, next time I'm home for a visit, I hope it's for longer than 10 days and I will ensure that it is relaxing.
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