Monday, June 9, 2008

France - Post 1

~
How do you capture a moment?

Is it possible to remember every detail of a day...of an hour...of a moment? Why is it true that time must erode all memories? True, there are some memories I am glad to have been dulled by time...but there are others - so many others - that I never want to fade. Isn't this why, in fact, I reach for my camera so often? But there are those things that a camera can never capture...the things I really want to remember. The taste of a freshly baked baguette; the sweet voice of a little girl as she told me, in French, about the elephant she colored; the smell of a homemade dinner as it filled the narrow alleyways in the city of Langeais - proving to me that people really, actually live in such an indescribably beautiful, beautiful place; the sheer size of the Alps; the heartache and uncontrollable tears some nights when I could think of nothing but how much I missed my kids, and the freedom that came with their absence; the excitement I felt from Brian when the language started to click again; the sound as the most beautiful water I've ever seen crashed as waves into the rocks; the lightheartedness and giddiness Brian and I shared together; the fear as we drove down narrow, winding roads at the posted speed limit that felt way too fast; ... I won't bore you with so many others - but these are the things I want to remember most about our vacation to Europe. And these are the things that are impossible to share...they must instead be experienced.

Here is a brief slideshow of 16 of the most beautiful pictures we have...


I drink heavily from this moment,
And sadly know
That almost every drop
Will be lost.

So,

I will cherish the drops that remain,
And fondly remember
That there is so much more
That was lost.
~

6 comments:

  1. You gotta admit, you had awesome company, right?

    And very impressive haiku, or sonnet, or whatever category it falls under - you're a blossoming poet!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow, Linds. Your writing makes me feel as if I was there. I've always been impressed by your emails and how much fun you could make something as dull as searching for gloves. Yet, I've found a new sense of awe reading your blog. You have such a talent. I look forward to reading more. And you're married to the most HUMBLE man I've ever met!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Those pictures are so beautiful! How wonderful to be able to spend time together in such a pretty place. Glad you both got a break.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love reading your posts! You have such a gift for writing. And those pictures are amazing! What kind of camera do you have?

    ReplyDelete
  5. So Lindsay, I must say I am jealous of all your talents. You are an amazing writer, a gifted photographer, scrapbooker, and so many other things.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous4:41 PM

    I am so jealous of you right now. When I started reading these books by Rachel Ann Nunes, most of her books takes place in Frace and I have been wanting to go there forever but we don't travel much. Well, i just wanted to drop a note in for you to read

    ReplyDelete