The Long Weekend

It is Wednesday and I am just recovering from the weekend. For an introvert (such as myself) an overload of social obligations can be draining. It began Thursday evening with an after school party to celebrate the beginning of summer at O's school. It was held in the courtyard of the preschool. Since I am not much of a baker or cook, my contribution was a tarte aux framboises and a tarte aux fraises bought from the boulangerie. I forgot how awkward it can be standing around making small talk with people you have nothing in common other than your kids go to the same preschool. Do this in a foreign language and it becomes even more painful.

Then Friday night was the Kermesse (the second time I have heard this word, which as I found at means fair, but I suppose more loosely, party) at E's school to celebrate the end of the year. I am not sure why but the French have a penchant for dressing up in costumes (and I don't mean just the children). Almost every (okay, maybe I exaggerate) party I have been invited to, people put on costumes! As in Halloween-like costumes. This party was no exception. Thankfully, both kids were tired and there were so many people (in costumes) we were able to slip out.

There was a crémaillère (another celebratory term I just learned -although more complicated - so let's just say it refers to a housewarming) on Saturday night given by J's former boss and his partner. They just bought an apartment in Les Lilas. The apartment was quite nice: peaceful with unimpeded views on all sides and a huge terrace (a luxury in Paris). And they have great design taste (or at least my taste): iconic, mid-century furniture interspersed with more eclectic pieces. And the terrace! It was filled with almost every imaginable plant/flower.

The food was a real treat and luxury. They had hired an Indian chef to make the appetizers and BBQ - homemade samosas! We didn't get to sample the BBQ though, since we had to leave early (the sitter was waiting). It was a pleasant evening, but still (for me) stressful. It is taxing to meet so many people. And again the language barrier makes it even more so. One can't just rattle off the usual pleasantries. One has to think.

Sunday was another social obligation: the fifth birthday party of E's friend from school. The party took place at the children's science museum in La Villette. It is a great place for the kids and especially for a Sunday afternoon. I made a mental note for the future. After too many hours there (I have a low tolerance for kid-friendly activities: where is the cafe? where are the shops?) I amended my mental note (maybe one visit was enough).

We walked across the Logan's Run-like walkways, past the mirrored Géode (not sure what this is, but it is big and shiny and completes the futuristic vibe) to the nearby park for cake and the opening of presents. The birthday boy's mom made one chocolate cake, two tiramisu (one with raspberrys) and one ginger cake (not to mention the chocolates, cherries, and other snacks). All of this was for only eight children and five adults. Which brings up another thing I have noticed about the French and parties - they are never stingy with the food, and in the case of adult parties, with the champagne or wine. At first, I thought this was just provencal generosity and hospitality but after living in Paris, I realize it is a nation-wide phenomenon. Not that I am complaining.

We were just getting ready to say our good-byes and make our way home (we were thinking of attending a friend's concert on the canal, but doubted we would be up for it), when I realized that O was gone. Gone! She must of walked off, without our noticing. I looked as far as I could in every direction. She was nowhere. Panic. J and I split up and went in opposite directions. The fact that the banks of the canal were not far off was not comforting. Where could a two year old go, so fast? I walked to the South (they say kids usually head south) about one hundred yards, but she was nowhere. How irresponsible, we are, I thought. I walked back towards where our party was and I didn't see either J or O. I really began to panic. I was holding out hope that J had found her. (It didn't help that just a few nights earlier I had watched a movie with Sigourney Weaver in which her four year old daughter is kidnapped while she briefly looks away.)

As I neared our party, I man I didn't know caught my attention: my husband and daughter were looking for me back from where I came. She was found. Two security guards had noticed her walking quite a ways away. They had walked back with her towards our party. J had run into them on the way. How they noticed that she was lost (there are hundreds of little kids running around), I don't know. But I am glad they did, even though they roundly chastised us. Lesson I suppose: watch your kids, because they are really fast.

We were certainly ready for the weekend to end and went straight home.