The American Cemetery in Normandie, France.  It’s actually between the towns of Colleville-sur-Mer and Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer.  Probably one of the most moving and overwhelming sites in France–at least for me.  It amazed me how many of the visitors were French–until I remembered what country we were in.  Did you know that we were actually in America?  *grin*  Right after the war, France gave that land to the United Sates.  Natalie and I had to take our shoes off to walk in the grass.  And we took pictures of our bare feet standing on American soil in France.  (Wouldn’t my Daddy love that.) 

I wanted to shout to all those foreigners, “Do you have any clue what this means to us?  These were our boys!”  And of course, gratitude followed, that the French would give us a place to bury those boys and remember them in the place where they died.  9,386 graves there (including 4 women), and on the wall of missing soldiers, 1557 names are written.  That’s just the ones buried there–I think something like 20,000 more were sent home to be buried, and of course, there are American cemeteries in other countries (like Belgium). 

We were there at closing time (less crowded) and got to hear the bells toll the 5 o’clock hour and then play The Battle Hymn of the Republic.  Talk about trying not to cry in public… especially since I was video taping.  I remember thinking, I hope this picture isn’t shaking…

How can you not be grateful?

pic is Natalie & I on le Ile-de-St-Louis headed down to wade in the Seine just across from Notre Dame.  It was cold, refreshing, very wet when a boat came by, and had pieces of green glass in the sand.  Sadly–or maybe not–swimming is illegal in the Seine River (at least in the city limits), but people dip their feet in all up and down the banks.  It’s kind of cool to do something the locals do, too.

on the left–the ferris wheel that we rode on the Champs Elysees.  thanks, bryce.  *smiles*

she’s 15 months old today.  where does time go?  I can’t imagine life without her.  she’s got such attitude for a baby.  I laugh when I shouldn’t, when she rebels–she’s so snooty about it!  and it’s so cute to see her put her face in her hands when she’s upset!

And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear. 1 Peter 1:17

Hard to believe that a week ago I was trying to catch a train in Guildford.  Actually, technically speaking, a week ago I was already on a plane flying over Iceland and Greenland to Canada–they’re six hours ahead of us.  But who wants to be technical?

We went to the beach Friday night.  I kept telling my Sisters, “Guys, this is sooo warm!”  But then, compared to the English Channel, almost anything feels warm.  I didn’t actually swim on the French side–not on purpose, anyway–but we did swim in Brighton, and that was very cold.  It was even colder later since I’d put my only sweater on while everything was still wet, so then it stayed wet the rest of the evening.  When’s the last time your teeth chattered in August?  Crazy.  Still Brighton was probably one of my favorite places in Britain.  I don’t know what was wrong with Queen Victoria–I loved the Royal Pavilion!  Darra said she liked it but couldn’t have lived there.  I could have lived there, yes indeed.  Except the upstairs…the yellow rooms would have to go.  If any of you ever get the chance to go to Brighton, pay the 5 pounds to get into the Royal Pavilion…it’s worth it.  And make sure you have a couple extra pounds for lunch or dessert and tea in the tea room upstairs.  They serve the tea in little pots (even when it’s just for one), so I ordered some (I went through the house a lot faster than my friends) and sat reading Mansfield Park and drinking tea and feeling very British if not elegant.  No wonder I liked Brighton so much!

I probably ought to mention in advance (and perhaps apologize) that ya’ll will probably be getting random stories from our trip for a while.  It was too big to put all in one entry, but it had too great an effect on my life to just leave it behind.  Besides, that how my memory works–it pulls the oddest stories out at the strangest times.  

Home at last…

too tired to write anything, or if I did it wouldn’t make sense.  got home around midnight last night and to bed at two, which didn’t really seem too bad until I realized I’d been awake for 24 hours.   Yikes!  Steph said, “Now you know you can follow the Safari.  Or paddle the Safari.”  HA!

I hadn’t acutally intended to update while I was here, but it was so much fun last week…

Spent all day in London yesterday.  Went to mass at a little church that Natalie has been to once (that is always a little weird for a Protestant), had lunch in Hyde Park, went to an organ recital at St. Paul’s Cathedral (took pictures of the steps that were in Mary Poppins to show the children), splashed around in the fountain in Trifalgar Square (spelling is wrong I think, but I’m too tired to care), met–and nearly fell for–a charming Irishman at a pub…what am I saying?  nearly…*sigh*… who reminded me so much of Tommy Yonley it was unreal.  Well, I guess Tommy could be that charming if he wanted.  (Obviously Sandy thought so.)  :-Þ  Let’s see, what else…took a video of Big Ben sounding out the four o’clock hour.  Daddy is getting the most amazing thank-you for buying this camera before I left.  It has been indispensible!

I think I might see Singing in the Rain.  Everyone else will probably go to Les Miserables, but somehow it just doesn’t appeal to me like the other.  Or maybe I just want to be different and since almost all of them have seen it before and love it, I decided to go see something none of them care about.  Well, actually Natalie really wants to see Singing in the Rain, too, so…

Rainy today (the first time since I’ve been here, which, I hear, is rare), and I have a little bit of a cold.  Prayers would be much appreciated.  I managed to buy a not-too-exspensive umbrella so at least I’m staying mostly dry.

Natalie is working today, Hannah H., Darra, and Michelle are in London again…mostly to see the Tower of London, I think.  So Hannah J. and I have been lazy and restful and finally decided to come into town.  She’s trying to find a poster and I wanted to get online.  Oh, and a trip to the grocery store is much needed.  We’ve been manging to eat for about £2 (around $4) per person every day (that all three meals).  Not bad, eh?

Yes, I am having fun.  A little homesick, but I really love all the comments.  Thanks guys!  Leah, Hannah is even more sensible than me sometimes!  Amazing, huh?  But I am watching out for her. 

God bless! 

P.S. Stacy, I’ll see about the postcard.  I have a feeling that even if I mailed one today, it might not get there before me.  *smiles*

Hurray!  Here she is all the way from Guildford, England….!!!  The land of free internet and free bathrooms that acutally have paper!!

Yeah, in France the internet was something like 2 EUR for 15 minutes.  Unbelieveable how short 15 mins. is, espcially when the keyboard is all mixed up.  My emails looked mighty funny.

I wore myself out in Paris, so mostly I’ve just chilled here in the UK.  Went to Oxford on Wednesday, and saw Paul and Steven like we planned.  Unfortunately, most of what was discussed went way over my head and I felt very uneducated (being the only person in the group who never went to college), so I ended up taking pictures of flowers and benches and weeping willows.  At least I was amusing.  Paul showed us the Fellows Hall, which isn’t even open to students, and you have to be invited in, etc.  I asked if he knew how they cut the grass in the checkerboard look and made him laugh.  I can’t help it!  That’s all that came to mind.  We did see some original artwork by J.R.R. Tolkien.  (He went there, you know.)  Pretty cool.  I got my brother a poster, but he doesn’t know yet….ssshhhh….

I’m starting to ramble now.  I find myself acting more and more like Natalie’s roomate, Katie.  She said as long as I don’t pick up her swearing that’s fine.  *laughing*  Three of the girls are in London tonight.  I’m getting poorer by the minute, so I’ve limited my London trips (travel here is outrageous!), so Hannah H. and I have stayed behind.  I would have liked to see The Phantom of the Opera, but not the British Museum, so I couldn’t justify the money.  Natalie is working and rehearsing until late, so Han and I will meet her for drinks at Joe Clark’s later.  I feel so…British talking about meeting for drinks and all.  I had my first Gin and Tonic the other day, and it was very good.  Like Sprite with a little alcohol.    This morning Katie showed Hannah and I the Friday market (marvelous!), and Guildford Castle, the street where Lewis Carroll’s house is, and the river.  We had a very relaxing afternoon and have come back out to shop, buy phone cards at the post office and get online.  I rather enjoy just hanging out.  I’d love to see London, I think I’d be perfectly content to just have Paris memories.  Well, except, you don’t go to London to see Natalie and not go to a show.  So I’ll have to do that.  And I may have to fit Brighton in because I promised my sisters that if I saw any eligible beaus I’d send them word express.  *grin* 

That’s all for now.  I have so many stories, but they’re better in person.  Can’t wait to see you, Sisters and everyone!  Only 1 1/2 more weeks….

So long, farewell, a bientot…

I’m off to Europe!  Lots of pictures have been promised to many people…maybe I’ll post some.  Ya’ll can drop me a line at penny_daisy22@hotmail.com, and I might even check it!  *grin*

Meanwhile, I shall take Napoleon’s advice, though I have no idea who he was talking to or what he meant when he said,

                           “Go to Paris and become a woman.”

That song, I’m Gonna Be, has some of the most romantic lyrics I’ve ever heard.

Packing like crazy.  This international stuff is weird.  Prayers would be much appreciated.  A million thanks to those of you who have been.