Kurt checked the weather forecast and it was showing a 90% chance of rain for the remaining two days of our trip. There isn't much to do when it rains, so we decided to change our flights home. It was sad to be leaving, but we could all use the weekend at home to adjust to the time difference and reacclimate to being back home.
Before the rain came, I took Mom and Kathy out for a morning excursion. I wanted to show them one of my favorite places, Domme. Of course, they were just as amazed at the incredible views. One can see for miles, but it isn't just the distance. It's the meticulously manicured French countryside with the Dordogne River running through it. So breathtaking. We walked around the quaint hillside town and picked up a few more gifts. What's a few more, right?
Back at the house, we began the arduous task of packing. Unsure of how we would protect our paintings and other delicate purchases, we asked our neighbor, Margot, for help. Her husband, the paintings restorer, had packing boxes and kindly retrieved them out of his barn. Who knows what precious paintings those boxes may have once held.
Margot took us on a tour of their lovely home, showing us a few of the many treasures that they've collected during their exciting and charmed lives. Even their home could only be described as charming.
We began stuffing our luggage, rearranging and restuffing them. We were trading items. Will this fit here? Will that fit there? Finally, after throwing away purses, toothpaste, deodorant, makeup and other things, we were able to get it all in there. Every piece of baggage was bursting at the seams.
Once we had everything packed, I took Mom and Kathy on one last outing to the castle ruins of Commarque. It was late when we arrived and the tours were closed, but I really wanted them to see it. The long walk back up from the castle through the "enchanted forest" seemed a little scary this time as it was getting dark, and we were out there alone.
Next came the problem of getting all of that luggage and the four of us into that tiny European car. We kept rearranging things, saying, "This will never work. We will have to rent another car to Paris." But, persistence paid off, well sort of. All of us had luggage under our feet so our knees were up to our chests. Mom and Kathy were in the back seat with luggage stacked to the ceiling between them. It was hilarious that they couldn't see each other in that tiny space.
We couldn't wait to get on that plane. I was asleep before we took off and thankfully was able to sleep during most of the flight. For some reason, we had to pick up all our luggage in Philadelphia and then had to re-check them. Ugh. Then, it was just a short plane ride to Nashville where Jeff was waiting, sitting on the tailgate. It was so good to see his face. Our luggage took up the entire truck bed. He couldn't believe we had gotten all of it into that little car. Neither do we.
It was the trip of my dreams, and I still cannot believe I was so blessed to have experienced this once in a lifetime, if you're lucky, trip. Thank you, God.
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