No. 365: France, je t’aime–au revoir et merci
As I sit here waiting to board the plane, butterflies in my tummy and anxious doggie on my lap, it is time to say au revoir to France and this blog. It seems like just yesterday when I sat down to figure out how this whole blogging thing worked, and now it is 365 days later, and I am writing my final post. It has been a great ride and one I feel very privileged to have taken.
My heart is full of gratitude for every minute of our life in France, the good, the bad, the ugly and the great. One of the greats has been discovering this creative community of fellow bloggers and readers, and feeling a connection to you. Those moments of feeling, “Hey! I get that,” or “Wow, I feel your pain, joy, embarrassment or excitement,” or, “Yowzah! That’s super cool.”
The best part of being part of this cyber community has been learning something totally new or feeling something I never felt before, and secretly wishing I could be there with you. There are so many imaginative and kind voices in the blogosphere. Thanks for sharing your stories, photographs, art, brilliant words, and generous comments.
Donc, au revoir for now. Don’t count me out. Check this space in the near future as I am sure I have a story or two in me about the next stage of our adventure: empty nesting, maddening Americans, reverse culture shock, small town ramblings, large portions and deep-fried food, and of course, return trips to la belle France.
Who knows, maybe I can even come up with 36.5-things-I-love-about-Colorado?
See you on the flip side. Au revoir et merci bien.
365+ Things I Love About France 
The thought of you (whom I’ve never met!) leaving your cherished France brings tears to my own eyes as I remember my own re-entry in June 1980. Oh I was a heartsick puppy… Of course I have been back many times but no time has ever been like that magical year living a dream. Maybe in my next life….
Thank you for the lovely comment. What a good description. These have been the magical years of living the dream. It will never be the same when I go back, but I am so very grateful for the time we had in France as a family. I am looking forward to the next adventure which definitely WILL include France! Stay tuned…
Lump in throat…..sincerely hope we hear more from you. Much love.
Merci bien MTF. Missing you. More later…xo
What a wonderful record of a fabulous year Nancy. As a long term Paris resident you have opened my eyes to all kinds of pleasures and experiences sitting under my nose. Taking each day to look for something special to celebrate is a great reminder to us all to approach life with open optimism. Please keep writing – you have a special talent. Hope Taz behaves on the flight. Happy landings in Colorado xxx
Thanks for the lovely comment Rachel and for being such a loyal reader. It meant a lot to me. 48-hours into the rentrée and my head is spinning. I think there may be quite a bit to write about…all love. x
Bon voyage et a bientot … I’ll be watching and waiting 🙂 and selfishly perhaps you can guide me on flying a tiny dog transatlantic as I have Boston for several months in my runes – actually I suspect your reverse culture shock blog will be a lifeline to me Mrs Frightfully English, recently Frenched as I try and work out the US of might A! x
Hiya. Thanks for your loyalty and all your genuine comments. Email me nancybenioff@gmail.com and I will give you the 411 on getting a dog to the US. The airlines don’t make it easy anymore (especially the US carriers), meanwhile check this space for the next step in our journey. Life is an adventure, n’est pas?
A toute a l’heure! ( sorry can’t find my accents !)
Please post from “the other side”
I know exactly how you feelxx
Will do. Thanks for your loyalty over the year. I’m looking forward to having a little more time to really follow some of my favorite blogs now, and keeping up with your journey. Stay tuned for an update from Colorado.
You are truly an inspiration, Nancy. I love the way you view the world around you. You are like a bright-eyed child but WITH maturity and wisdom. I have thoroughly enjoyed following your blog and I do hope you continue on with 365+++ more things you love! I will miss you!
Awwww…thanks Sylvia for the very sweet comment. Life is a journey and I am trying to get the energy up to participate fully again. x
I’m looking forward to the 36.5 :0)
Me too. Stay tuned…
I’ve loved following your posts over the year. I’m going to miss them.
Best of luck back in the US!
Thank you. I am looking forward to having more time to really follow your posts when things settle down in the US…and living vicariously through you. Meanwhile my head is spinning after 48-hours…I hope you will stay tuned for the next part of our adventure. I know france will definitely factor in. Best to you as you continue on your blogging journey. 🙂
Wow, I feel bad I only discovered this now, on the last day.
Good luck, I’m sure Paris will be waiting for you to come back. I’ve seen it do that 😉
Hello. Thank you for stopping by and for taking the time to post a comment. I am sorry you just discovered me too. Paris/France, it was a great ride! Please do stay tuned for our next chapter as we try to find un peu of France in small town Colorado.
Bon retour – I remember the heartache of leaving France and now can’t imagine having to do so.
XXOOO – waiting for October!!!!
“True friends are hard to find,difficult to leave and impossible to forget.” 🙂 Good luck in Colorado!!!
Hello lovely Krisztina. Somehow I missed this comment, but whole heartedly agree. I’m wondering how you are doing with your own rentrée in Budapest and adjust to your new life sans Dori. Looking forward to catching up soon. x
So long and ‘bye for now. Very much looking forward to your future blogs. If you’re feeling nostalgic keep following Sixwheeler.net as I’m off to France on Thursday for two weeks walking holiday. Tag ‘Stevenson’s Way’.
Merci. We’ve been back for 48-hours and my head is swimming and spinning. So many contrasts to take in. I will definitely be following you regularly as soon as we sort out our internet. I’m looking forward to reading about and seeing your lovely pictures of France.
I’m sad for you. What an incredible adventure! I hope to hear about re-entry and catch up in
Colorado at Christmas.
Merci bien. Christmas in Colorado should be nice. 🙂
Been back in the UK
a month and certainly have experienced reverse culture shock, let us know how it goes for you.
Will do. I am feeling completely overwhelmed after only having been back for 48-hours. I would love to hear about your experience. Reverse culture shock is not easy.
After your jet lag has resolved, we should connect in Colorado! Safe travels home to the US.
Yes. That would be nice. Thanks for being such a loyal follower and all the great comments over the last year. 🙂
Bon retour! 🙂 xx
Merci bien. I appreciate your loyal readership over the year, and I look forward to really have time to sit and troll through your blog for future walking adventures in France. A promise of walking may be the only way I can get Superman to come back. 🙂
So glad u enjoyed ur last 365 days there this way! Thanks for sharing. The Rockies are grand- you’ll remember when u get back there. 😊
LOL. My Superman keeps telling me how great it will be to go to the Rockies’ games. (Unfortuantely, I’m not a huge sports fan.) Thanks for following my journey. 🙂
I’ve so enjoyed reading and living vicariously through your adventures and experiences. It will be nice to have you back as part of our community in CO. I’m sure you’ll find more than 36.5 things to LOVE about CO – I know I do!
Hi. Thanks for the nice comment. It has been an amazing journey. We are so privileged to have had these years in Europe. At heart I am a city girls, so coming home to small town Golden is not too appealing to me. You are lucky to live permanently in a state that you feel is home. Looking forward to catching up with you sometime this autumn. 🙂
Bonjour Nancy! I have enjoyed reading your posts so much. They have been lively, colorful, and so very well written! I hope all of your wonderful experiences in France will sustain you in the coming weeks and continue to bring you happiness back in Colorado. Please let me know if you want to meet for coffee, lunch (or wine?) I will be here until 9/19, when I leave for Oregon with Rachel. Welcome home!
Hi Sarah. Thanks for the welcome. Still without internet and phone (hanging out at the local coffee bar a couple hours a day to stay connected.) I would love to see you next week. xo
Hi Nancy- just wanted to make sure you received my email message from yesterday – do you still have the same gmail address?
Looking forward to your Colorado blog. I live in Australia and would love to read about your side of the world. It would great to read about it from someone actually living there and not from a travel book. Kylie
I’m so saddened!!! 😦 can I come visit you in colorado and listen to other stories you have about France? Uh! I’m just sad saying goodbye to this chapter in your life. But! On to the new!!
What a sweet comment. Just wish I could figure out what the “new” is. It is hard being new when you go back to something old. 😦