Hello there,
It's 7:30 ish in the morning, late by hours from my lifelong schedule, but here we stay out til midnight or later. We're so far north it's not dark Until ten o'clock and the nights are mild. This is my third time in Paris and the longest I've stayed anywhere while traveling and now the longest vacation I've ever had. We Have Met with Richard and Edna Boris A couple of times yesterday included Jeanine and Roland Plottel, all interesting people. We sat for hours over lunch and Talked, we sat in the Luxembourg Gardens and Talked. What a gift to-have this time with no worries about work, no pressing calls, no responsibility aim to enjoy life.

Traveling with Alexander worm is special. Physically he's grown and is Beginning to gain confidence in His Ability to speak French, he MOST Understand all that's spoken. He'll order food in French, esp with the women in the bakery Have you compliments me and encouraged him to use His French. At the Metro As We Were trying to get my pass to work, in frustration with the 5th waiting Have you only Gave us a one-time fix, he insisted end, in French, that 'the card did not work in the Machine ... it just came out like a native speaker. I got a new card!

I still love this city, maybe MOST wide cities, I Could imagine this purpose as long destination next year in the late spring or the fall and Especially as I have friends here to Occasionally Spend time with. And I Could Actually take French lessons and learn to speak a bit, how novel.

Yesterday a woman Approached us to take her picture in the garden. Turns out she's a Greek American living in Athens ... traveling alone. She Gave me some tips and promised to show us around if we shoulds visit Athens. Her name is Georgia Marketoy.

Just imagine this retirement, it's starting well.

July 14 Bastille Day.  we just arrived in Paris and plan to see the fireworks and dancing in the fire stations in celebration.
Belgium was interesting, grey and rainy.  We went to Antwerp, the diamond district which was an Hassidic enclave.  Pat was interested in a diamond; I bought a ring.  She didn't get a diamond.
Went to Bruges, beautiful city filled with tourists.  From there to Ghent which we liked much better though it was late and we only had a little time there.
Spent a day in the Netherlands with Allen's friend who took us to a working 1700s windmill; then to Amsterdam for the day.  Amsterdam has changed from the charming city I recall from year's ago to a crowded city, more chain restaurants.  But still interesting.
We've seen several museums along the way, Magritte, Autoworld, Dali, and a Museum dedicated to the Dutch Resistance WWII.
Europe is expensive.  We ate dinner in a Kosher restaurant, nothing fancy, cost 85 Euros.
Last night we spent with my cousin Anna who has been working in Brussels and soon to be moving to Switzerland.  Besides doing a chocolate-tasting tour, she took us to a view site of the city, ate all you could eat mussels and a Belgian dish similar to beef stew.  Then we watched the World Cup finals in a sports bar.  How European is that!!

Much more to tell, but it's all fading together.
Hope to meet my NYC friend today.  His apt is 5 minutees from ours.
Can't wait for my Paris croissant.  We've been eating baquette and cheese almost everyday.

send news from the States.
Also some pictures on facebook.

Today we arrived in rainy Brussels after a train ride thru the Chunnel. We've had a great time in London. Perfect weather, lots of walking and exploring.  High tea at Fortnam and Mason then a hot new play in London, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Niight-time.  A great rendering of the book and fabulous staging. We met a former grenadier, or so he said.  Alex saw so many high-cars he was in heaven.  Tour de France went right by Buckingham Palace, but we decided not to stand in line for hours to maybe see a rider or two, but we did go to an outside tdf fair.  Lots of fun.
Planned to buy new walking shoes in Paris, but the shoes I brought don't have enough support.  I ache everywhere. so, shoe shopping in the morning, renting a car and heading out on our first day trip.
Vacation/retirement....life is great.

It's done!

It's done, I've driven my 42 miles home after turning in all my identification cards, my satellite phone, my parking pass, my gate card.  I was feted and hugged and given lovely parties.  It was a wild ride these last economy-determined years.  I learned a lot; I met wonderful people.  I think I've earned my rest....if I can figure out how to do that :-)

The Mad Tea Party

Off to Wonderland

Tomorrow ends decades of work and the privilege of figuring out how to live the last year's of my life.

I hope never to feel, "I'm late, I'm late for a very important date." Long and lazy days, movies and popcorn in bed, time with the people I love.

I expect to feel as though I've eaten mushrooms and cake and the sense of falling down a dark hole.

On July 4, my son, daughter-in-law and grandson and I leave for Europe. I'll celebrate my birthday somewhere there on the official day of my retirement and the anniversary of my mother's passing. Endings and beginnings.