I Dream of Paris!

Ah France!  What girl hasn't dreamed of going to Paris?  I know I have.  After our more than magical trip to Italy several years back, my wanderlust has been on overdrive, and I've been dying to get back to Europe.  But I didn't dare get my hopes up, not for a  while longer.

Then last week Dennis and I went out to dinner with my parents, and somehow the conversation turned to France. (It was a Mexican restaurant, so that wasn't the inspiration.)  Then suddenly Dennis suggests we all go to France, and my parents agree that it is a great idea.  "Wouldn't that be wonderful?" I add, thinking we are talking in hypotheticals.  But Dennis isn't, and neither are my parents.

"Marriott has a beautiful timeshare near Paris.  We should see if we can get it," Dennis suggests.

"Let's do it!"  my mom says.  I'm shocked.  My parents are always very careful with their money, and with the economy going the way it is going, I'd think they would be a bit more cautious.  "I figure, with the economy headed where its headed, this might be our last chance to do anything like this for a long time.  Besides, how much of our money just disappeared into thin air without us spending a dime of it?  We might as well make the most of it while we still have it."  Good point.  Interestingly, my parents and grandparents have always been very careful with their money, but they also believed that travel is an investment; an education.  My grandparents never spent money, but they sure traveled.

So, anyway, that was that.  I didn't think much more of it.  We have had this type of conversation before.  At one time we were going to Great Britain, and Greece was also a chosen destination.  So I put this in the category of "someday, maybe."

Its the next morning.  Saturday.  I had just finished my garage saleing, and was running errands, when Dennis called my cell phone.  "I did it."  "Did what?"  "I booked our trip."  "What trip?" "Paris!"  "What?"  "I got us the timeshare in Paris?"  "When?" "August 30 through September 6."  "Oh...  You sure?"  "Of course!  It will be great!"  "Um...  What about the kids?"  "Oh, don't worry.  My mom can watch them."  "You sure?"  "Of course.  No problem."  "Um...Wow... OK."

 Imagine that. Here we were on a waiting list a mile long to get into the Newport Marriott timeshares, and the Paris ones were available, not problem.  Go figure.

Then I started to get a little nervous.  My head was swimming.  Wow.  None of us speak French, and I'd have to take a photography class for sure, and ooh, that's the first day of school, but at least we don't have to deal with a kindergarten schedule then, and on and on with the worry stuff.

But then the Parisian music started playing in my head, and images of the Eiffel Tower, sidewalk cafes, and quaint Provencal villages started to push the common sense right out of my head.  Ah Romance!  Being the right-brained romantic that I am, it wasn't hard to win me over.

Can you believe that Dennis?  What a guy!  He is so funny that way.  He completely forgets to fill my stocking on Christmas and just blew it on Valentine's day.  No card, no chocolates, no flowers.  We did go to a group dinner at the cheesecake factory and then to see Taken (not exactly the most romantic film.) That's it - just like any Friday night.  But then, out of the blue, for no reason at all he'll buy me a new diamond ring, or a new laptop, or book a trip to Paris.  Maybe it is because he can't keep a secret, and when you are spontaneous you never need to keep a secret. Maybe it is because he is crazy about me!  I think its both.  Lucky me!

So then I started to get excited.  Really excited!  But still a bit nervous. I can hardly believe it.  I really want to believe it, but am afraid to. My imagination is enjoying itself immensely. Paris.  Paris.  Paris.

Then suddenly the lovely Parisian music in my head get ripped from the record player.  SCREEEEECCCHHHH!

"My mom can't watch the boys.  She used up too many vacation days when Dad was sick and the funeral and all," Dennis announces. That makes total sense, and I know his wonderful mother would have jumped at the chance to help us out if she possibly could have.  She is seriously the most loving, giving, selfless woman on the planet, but it just couldn't work out this time. But we couldn't just pass off six kids to just anybody, right.  Who would take them?  

The trip was off.

Let me hear a little sympathy, please.  "Awwww."  

Thanks.  Now I feel better.

I knew it was just too good to be true!  I knew all along.  I should have never let the anticipation creep into my head like that.  To dream of Paris is ultimately to be disappointed in the end, right?

Wrong.

Yes, Wrong!

We have our very own guardian angel who tries her darnedest to hide her halo and tuck her wings in her shirt, but can't fool anybody for long when they get to know and love her.  Who is she?  She is Caleb's third grandmother (though she is much too young to be any body's grandmother, but she feels the need to practice on Caleb so she'll be good and ready when her own grand kids come along) and one of my dearest (and funniest) friends.    She and Caleb just bonded from the day that kid was born.  He loves her, and why wouldn't he?  She just spoils him and has a stash of hot wheels, movies, and even a trike just for him when he comes over to play.  She even has a picture of Caleb (a small one) next to her own kids' pictures on the mantle. Our angel is the same woman who offered, well, insisted really, to watch my last two babies one morning a week for years so I could attend art classes.  She did more than insist - she found out when and where the classes were, ripped my babies out of my arms, and forced me to go!  And for this I will be FOREVER grateful!  I discovered a great talent in myself that I would have never known was there if she hadn't have done that. See what I mean?  An Angel.

So any guesses who the official "VanBuskirk Family Angel" is?

The one... and only... Miss Kelly Thomas herself! (Caleb calls her "Kelly Thomas." Always.  So formal.  Never just "Kelly" or "Sister Thomas," like he knows another Kelly. As in "Kelly Thomas is my best friend," which he said just today.  So funny.) 

Yes.  My dear friend, Kelly Thomas, has just confirmed her status as angel extraordinaire when she volunteered to watch 6 boys for a week so we can go to France.  She has two boys, so she should have an idea of what she is getting herself into, right?  Her dear sweet college age daughter, and one of my favorite post-young women ever, Emily, agreed to help as well.  Of course Alex and Nate are old enough to babysit, so they can do a lot.  Kelly can watch Luke during the day while the others are in school (no kindergarten schedule next year, thank heavens), and Emily can spend the night.  It will work out great, and hopefully, Kelly will still like us when it is all said and done.

Three cheers for our angel Kelly (and Emily, and the entire Thomas crew who will be in on this).  Hip, hip, hooray!  There is no one I trust more.

And with that, I may now freely, and without hesitation, dream of Paris!

Thanks Kelly!  I LOVE You!!!