Connections

Gabe is still in the US to help care for Sheila and will not be returning. All of our friends here have been reaching out and offering help and company. I am genuinely moved by their kindness. Bruno is selling the car for us (beyond), and the Castros and Sivaks have been coming up with several plans to deal with all the moving parts. They even suggested that one of them would fly Luke back to the US so he can go to Greece with Emile. Beatriz and Clyde offered to let me leave the car at their house if it doesn’t sell before we leave, and Cecile and Romain offered to help me pack. Caro, Emile’s mom, keeps sending texts to check in and make sure I am okay. Even Lolo at Belza gave me his number in case I need anything. The "c’est normal" mindset here is incredible—bien sûr, j'aide! I love that we've made such nice connections. So all in all, I’ve got this with the help of this amazing community we are now a part of. Gabe can focus on helping Sheila while the boys and I make the best of our time here. The plan now is for the boys and me to fly back to California on July 17.

Okay, so with that being said, we have been busy. Here is the rundown from this week. On Friday, Luke stayed with Emile, and Charlie and I had an evening together watching Outer Banks. The weather has been cold, rainy, and windy, which doesn't exactly motivate me to go out, but I also don't want to spend our last days cooped up inside this apartment. On Sunday, I walked the Cotes and did the stairs twice before the boys woke up. We were invited to have lunch with the Lansons and then head to St. Jean de Luz for the city celebrations. Everyone was dressed in black with red scarves or berets. All the bars were overflowing, there were carnival rides, and several tamborradas marching throughout the streets. It was drizzling, but that didn’t stop the festivities. Thank you, Beatriz and Clyde, for a classic Basque day.

In French primary schools, memorizing and presenting poems is required. First, the teacher selects poems from French literature that cover a variety of themes and styles. These poems are introduced to the class by the teacher, who reads them aloud to help them understand their rhythm and pronunciation. Both in class and at home, students read and practice the poem repeatedly. This repetition is key! Charlie worked with Lula on this at home, which was a great help. When students feel confident enough, they have the opportunity to recite the poem. Charlie, for example, initially chose to present privately with Mr. Zubieta - who then assesses students based on how well they memorized the poem, their pronunciation, expression, and overall understanding.

Last Friday, Mr. Zubieta surprised Charlie by announcing he would present his poems and exposé on Monday to the class. Charlie spent the entire weekend practicing. He was also ready to present his report on Jack O’Neill, which had been sitting in his folder for two months. On Monday afternoon, Charlie ran out of the schoolyard with the biggest grin—he was so happy! He successfully presented his poem and exposé. Not only did he deliver his report on Jack O’Neill in French to the entire class, but he also earned an A+! Charlie is incredibly proud of himself, and he shared that his classmates cheered for him when he finished. These kids in Charlie’s class are so supportive and accepting. I’m so happy that he had such a positive experience here. It’s moments like these that make me grateful for the warm and encouraging community we’ve found in this school.

Luke is pretty much done with school now, and summer has officially begun for him. It's all about sleepovers, a camping trip with Alexandre, beach days, and the thrill of jumping off the "rock" into the port vieux. He's embracing the freedom that comes with the summer break, enjoying every moment to the fullest!

Bryan and Stacey invited us over for a barbecue to meet their friends from San Rafael. Stacey was optimistic that Ben and Luke might hit it off and become great friends. As we walked into their kitchen, we were introduced to Sam and Alicia. Alicia's face struck me as oddly familiar, and as we chatted, it became clear why. We exchanged stories and realized we had both attended Cabrillo College, albeit in different years. Just as I began to let it go, the conversation turned to our childhoods. "Where did you grow up?" I finally asked, trying to solve the puzzle. When I mentioned Palos Verdes, Alicia's eyes lit up. "Kathryn..." she started, and I immediately chimed in, "O'Connell!" The room filled with excitement as we realized we shared a mutual friend. Alicia had lived with Aimee Dunder and been friends with Kathryn before my time in Santa Cruz. It was a jaw-dropping moment, connecting the dots between our pasts in such an unexpected way. Sometimes, life's coincidences are truly mind-blowing! We sent a photo to Kathryn and Aimee! Too cool.

The birthday week kicked off for Stacey with a trip to the L’Hammam Biarritz followed by lunch at L’Arty Chaud. Ashley, Stacey, and I had an amazing time there. The interior was designed with intricate tile work and warm lighting, creating a serene ambiance that instantly put us at ease. The staff welcomed us warmly and guided us through the experience, though we did have a few funny moments trying to translate from French to English all the steps. Half the time, we were like, “Wait, is this what she said we should do?” It was quite amusing. Our hammam ritual began with covering our bodies in an oil/serum before entering the steam room. The gentle heat was perfect for detoxifying our skin and relaxing our muscles. After the steam room, we enjoyed some time in the warm room. Next, Stacey and I experienced the traditional body scrub, or "gommage," on a heated stone table. The therapist skillfully exfoliated our skin, removing dead cells and leaving us feeling incredibly smooth and rejuvenated. Ashley followed suit afterwards. Following the gommage, we rinsed off in a cold shower and dipped our legs into a cool pool. We didn’t realize that we could actually take a full body plunge into it. Oh well. To complete our pampering session, we had a relaxing massage. I think we all fell asleep at some point; it was that good. Stacey and I enjoyed some Moroccan tea while we waited for Ashley. By the end of our time, we were completely unwound and refreshed- ready to take on the rest of the day. Afterward, we headed to lunch, and Stacey had no idea where we were going. It was fun teasing her with fake turns into random places, leaving her completely confused. When we finally sat down at a table set for eight, she didn’t even notice at first—I think she expected the server to rearrange things! Then, Bryan and Luis appeared, surprising her. A little while later, Sam and Francesca arrived—surprise again! It was a good time. We had a delicious lunch at L’Arty Chaud, as always.

Luke managed to convince me that he didn't need to go to school because he had already completed the required safety training during Sauvetage Cotier. Looking back, perhaps I should have been more skeptical, but I fell for it. However, we turned it into a mother-son bonding day. Instead of school, Luke and I went surfing together (perfect waves, blue skies, and warmth). Afterward, we had lunch with Ashley and Luis, and then we headed to pick up Charlie from school. The smile on Charlie's face when he saw his brother waiting for him was priceless.

Tuesday night was the Jules Ferry spectacle at the Casino—a big end-of-year show. But let's rewind to the morning when Charlie insisted he was too sick to go to school. He laid on the coughs and sniffles pretty thick. Granted, he does have a cold, but nothing serious enough to miss tonight's event. Here in France, if you miss school, you can't participate in any activities later in the day. So, reluctantly, I drove him to school. Normally, I prefer to walk, but he gave me those puppy-dog eyes and said, "Mom, I really don't feel well." I reassured him, "Charlie, have a good day at school. You'll be fine." He replied with, "You're the worst! Can't you see I'm sick?" I sighed and said goodbye as he slowly dragged himself from the car and into the schoolyard. Fast forward to pick-up time at 4:30. I found a happy, excited Charlie waiting for me. "Mom, we have to be at the Casino at 6:30 sharp," he exclaimed. "Let me show you exactly where to pick me up because there's a special spot, and they won't let students leave without their parents." Needless to say, he seemed perfectly fine now, and I was relieved that he was eager and ready to go tonight. I did have a moment of panic earlier, thinking about a backup plan in case he threw a fit about going. Maybe I'd call one of the moms to walk over with us, or maybe... Thankfully, I didn't need a plan B because, truthfully, my plan B wasn't a very good one anyway!

The spectac was absolutely fantastic! It featured performances from all the children, from the littlest ones to grade 5, and it was a joy to watch. The performing arts teacher truly showed their talent—the dance moves and music were not only age-appropriate but also sophisticated and cool. Unlike in the US, where performances for kids sometimes use cheesy songs, here the emphasis was on showcasing the children's sophistication. I could tell the kids were having a blast. I was thoroughly impressed with the whole production. Charlie’s class sang Belle-Île-en-Mer, Marie-Galante. That song will always make me think of Gaston as well as our amazing time together in Tahiti. My favorite part was seeing Charlie up there, genuinely enjoying himself. In the past, he often had a deadpan expression and would go through the motions without much enthusiasm. But tonight was different. He was completely into it, and seeing him like that brought tears to my eyes. It was a moment of pride and joy to witness him embracing the performance with such enthusiasm and energy. He genuinely feels accepted here.

And it didn’t end there! The boys, along with Lexi and Evie, decided to cool off and hit the beach for a swim. So off they went together, seizing the freedom they have here. Meanwhile, Stacey, Bryan, and I headed over to the Castros' to prepare a pizza dinner, even though it was already 9 pm. Around that time, the kids swung by our place to grab their bathing suits, and after that, we didn't hear from them until after 10:15 pm when they showed up at the Castros' ready to eat. They shared their evening—they had gone to the Port Vieux, met up with friends, and were jumping off the "rock." They had an absolute blast. It is happening - they are growing up! They had a fun night at the beach with their friends. It's happening—this newfound freedom and independence that comes with summer. It's exactly what this season should be about: making memories, exploring with friends, and enjoying every moment of it.

Charlie lost his canine tooth, but here's the funny part—he forgot it in his pocket! And he hasn’t mentioned it again. I guess the tooth fairy days are officially over, haha!

Luke had another appointment with the foot doctor. It turns out that the acid treatment worked a bit too effectively and went deeper than expected, resulting in a hole in his foot. Whether this outcome is ultimately positive or negative remains unclear at this point. For this week, the doctor decided not to apply any more acid. Instead, Luke has to apply Homeoplasmine to the hole twice daily for a week. He's been instructed to keep the area dry for two days and then ensure that any redness subsides before exposing it to water again. Throughout this ordeal, Luke handled everything remarkably well, even taking on the role of translator for me. I felt somewhat helpless in this situation, but I was also relieved and proud to see Luke, at just 14 years old, taking charge and understanding the medical details. He's truly an amazing young man.

The family cooking class at Mimo in San Sebastian was an absolute highlight! I can confidently say we all had the best time. Our group of 15 included the Castros, Sivaks (minus Evie), and the Basch family. Patricio and his team were simply fantastic—striking the perfect balance between casual and professional. They called us all "chefs" while guiding and correcting us as we cooked. It was such a fun and interactive experience. We prepared a variety of delicious dishes together. We cooked Guindilla and Guernica peppers, chistorra sausages, traditional taloa (corn tortillas), and the now famous Basque cheesecake. Everyone, from Frankie and Wyatt (who are just 7 years old!) to the adults, had their own tasks to handle. The atmosphere was lively with laughter, learning, and plenty of Txakoli flowing. We sat a long table and savored the food we prepared. Overall, it was an unforgettable experience where we bonded over food and enjoyed each other's company. What fun indeed!

After leaving Mimo, we went around the block to grab a coffee at Volt. While waiting for our coffee, I turned my head and was surprised to see Rob Weil approaching me with a huge grin. They had just arrived in San Sebastian after their Camino de Santiago adventure. Can you believe we all ended up in the same place? It was quite a coincidence considering their hotel is on the opposite side of the city, and Volt isn't exactly the most touristy spot around. I love these spontaneous meetings! We had a great time catching up while Luis handled getting a nail removed from the tire of the borrowed 7-seater car he had arranged for our trip down. I really appreciated not having to worry about parking our own car in a garage here and being able to enjoy some Txakoli. Thank you, Luis, for making that possible!

Tonight, is the last birthday surprise for Stacey at L’Artnoa and tomorrow is the Jules Ferry Fete de LEcole.

And that concludes this week filled with unexpected twists and sweet moments. From the excitement of school performances and newfound friendships to the challenges and triumphs, it's been a week. The boys have been stepping up, taking charge, and handling their responsibilities without resistance. We're missing Gabe every day and keeping Sheila in our prayers, hoping for her swift recovery. Looking ahead, I'm excited for next week's adventures with Luke officially starting his summer break and Charlie enjoying his last week of school with field trips and games. With each passing day, we've embraced the beauty of Biarritz, soaked in the warmth of its community, and started to savor the joys of summer. I'm grateful for it all. Cheers to a week well-lived and to the journeys that lie ahead!