EXCERPT FROM SARA’S JOURNALNovember 13, 1998
Cameyrac et St. Sulpice
The Germans have an expression: "Sie leben wie Gott im
Frankreich". You live like God in France.
The Montessori Salon is a yard sale of books, cameras, laptops,
paintbox and brushes, sketchbook and rearranged furniture when Monsieur Rosaven comes to
call this evening. He has the paper from Gites De France confirming our second week
at Place de Beaumont. He stands hunched in his overcoat and widewale corduroys. He
shakes with Parkinson’s. He is scanning the salon while Rich signs the paper. He
inspects the laptops and asks about the brands. He is also curious about what we’ve
done to his stereo system and Rich explains about the cable and how he is an engineer and
has wired the gite for technological purposes. Monsieur Rosaven then asks if I am an
engineer as well.
The Super U is bustling with shoppers stocking up for La Joie
De Weekend. The woman checking out behind me has a grocery basket filled with
escargot, crème fraiche, chocolate covered pecans and some chopped bacon. We have found a
Bordeaux red called Chateaux Richard 1996. It’s got a kick.
The French offer two kinds of eggs in the grocery: Frais and Extra
Frais (that’s cadmium yellow and cadmium orange yolks, respectively). The Extra
Frais are recommended specially for poaching and the like. This morning I scrambled
and every day it’s the same; we sit at the table, devour the cadmium yolks and Rich
marvels, "cettes oeufs sont tres tres frais et mervieleux, cherie!"
