Big News from the smallest State

A cold rain has been falling off and on here in Providence for the past week or so. We dodged yet another major snow bullet and just had to dodge the hidden potholes floating beneath the surface of lingering puddles (since the city storm drains went out years ago).

It's been nearly a month since I last posted -- my dad's 100th birthday in fact. And frankly, he's largely responsible for what I'm about to tell you.

Johnson & Wales University offered me a job and I said yes. It was that simple.

As many of you know I've been working as a freelance consultant at JWU for nearly two years. This past Friday morning, out of the blue as they say, I was asked if I would like to become a full-time, salaried employee of the university. While it means I won't be joining Susie in Paris in April, the offer and my decision are pregnant with so much more value for the two of us.

So, Susie rescheduled her return from Paris -- she'll still be there nearly a month; more of those details shortly. And we're now planning to reschedule my ticket for Christmas so . . .

Well that's another tale to be told soon.

Anyway, Susie will have plenty to occupy her time: she'll be taking language classes at Alliance Francais in Paris, and a croissant class at Lenotre. Naturally, she plans to spend several afternoons at home working on and developing her croissant technique. I don't know about you, but I can't wait for that. She'll also spend a couple of days with her friend Misato who is now living and working at a pastry shop in Mulhouse, just south of Strasbourg.

And we hope she'll be able to link up with Valerie and meet her fiance -- they're getting married the day before our niece Rachel and Steve tie the nuptial knot in Grand Rapids in May.

Two more tales waiting to be told.

So, our lives have taken another turn, or rather a series of twists and turns. For the past five years in fact. One twist after another; one place of self-discovery followed by a flurry of uncertainty as one door closes only to be succeeded by another door opening. And we are now working on our two-year plan to buy a home in Brittany. Affordable, coastal, and in France. If want to see what I mean:

http://www.moulin.nl/water-mill-france and
http://www.ahouseinbrittany.com/

Once again, another tale waiting to be told.

Hang on folks and keep yur arms inside the car, the ride is just beginning.

Ciao for now, be well, keep calm and stay cool. They were certainly cool at Pascal Pinaud's pastry shop on rue Monge in the 5th:


Thanks Pop for getting me here. You gave me the strength and taught me to realize that the only challenge in life was the fear of putting one foot in front of the other.

Ti amo Papa!