Issue #32/ Welcome to Good and Beautiful Things, thanks so much for joining me in this space. I love making stuff, sometimes with words, sometimes with ink and paint. This weekly newsletter is a collage of both.
This week my mind keeps taking me on a journey back to the sights and sounds and tastes of my trip to France.
Last year at this time I was headed to the cliffs of Étretat, a trip that happened to coincide with my 45th birthday. My 46th birthday is tomorrow and I guess the date has stirred up the memories of last year’s epic adventure.
To clarify this picture, our family is not that family. We are not the family that plans a European vacation for a birthday or an anniversary. Until last year, I assumed I would never see beyond the States. My first flight wasn’t until I was twenty-one, a short one and half hour flight that took me from Florida to the exotic lands of Tennessee, where I have lived for the last twenty-four years. Vacations weren’t a regular part of my childhood nor have they been a regular part of our family’s life until about five years ago.
It took unique circumstances1 and a hundred stars to perfectly align for this trip to become possible.
Though I can’t remember the presents that I received for my birthday last year, I know that the best gift was my trip to France with two people that I love and the memories that I’ll have forever.
Will you indulge me as I share just six of my favorite memories?
I remember…
the first day we arrived and walked the streets of Paris.
I remember…
the delicate, artful pastries we ate at the Musée d'Orsay2 which paired perfectly with the art we explored for the next four hours.
I remember…
standing in Monet’s house and gardens, irritated by the heat and the crowds of people but also the feeling of connection to the artist and the sacred space.
I remember…
the surprise of Rouen. The artistry of the Notre Dame3 Cathedral, the perfect cup of thick chocolate, the eclair (that forever ruined all other eclairs), and the magical light show projected onto the Cathedral at the end of the night.
I remember…
the crepes we ate the morning of my birthday in Honfleur and how my husband did a very American thing by ordering espresso with his breakfast instead of after it.
I remember…
climbing the cliffs of Étretat on my birthday and thinking about how Monet painted the same cliffs4. In that moment something I’ve always suspected was confirmed. I knew the landscape of my heart was shaped by mountains and beaches, and that cities would always be second-best to me.
I remember…
…the year I spent my birthday in France.
A Little More Art
Blessings from the Guest Nest,
-Aimee
The main reason for our trip was because our daughter worked hard to fully cover her expenses to study abroad in France for her second year of college.
We chose the Musée d'Orsay instead of the Louvre because it’s been estimated that it would take 200 days to see each piece of art in the Louvre for just thirty seconds. Each time I watched a video on how to navigate the museum, the person in the video got lost!
Here, I’m referring to the Notre Dame located in Rouen. Did you know that there was more than one Notre Dame? I didn’t until we began our travels. Rouen is also where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake. In one chocolate shop, you could buy chocolate covered almonds called ‘Joan’s Tears.’
You can see one of Monet’s paintings of the cliffs up above in the museum section.
Thank you for sharing those wonderful memories!
Happy Birthday!
I love you!
Mom.
Happy birthday, Amy! 🎈 Fun memories, and beautiful art as always!