It is cherry picking season here in Monflanquin. My friend Mado invited me to her orchard today to enjoy the bounty.  Today was one of my favorite days. At the Thursday market, I met so many friends. It felt like coming home. Diana invited me for a special aperitif at noon to celebrate her new French citizenship.  Our entire block  toasted her with delicious champagne followed by a savory tart,  artisan cheese from the Pyrenees,  cherry tomatoes and sausage. For dessert, a choice of tarte aux pommes or fraisier, creamy strawberry pie. Impossible to choose, so we all sampled both. Our block may be the nicest in the village. It is certainly one of the liveliest. Cheers!

Goofy Airport Selfie

Michael can actually take a great selfie of himself and Erin. No clue how he does it. The only thing good about this picture is the reminder that my dental implant now lives securely in my mouth. What an ordeal. Nine months of patience; actually impatience. Relating to all the toothless people out there. Traveling to Hong Kong without a tooth. Avoiding nuts, seeds, and popcorn. Hopefully this experience won't need to be repeated.
My flights were all on time and smooth. Air France still offers free champagne. I toasted everyone I could think of. Food was okay. My seat mate decided her little boy should sit next to me. I have no idea why. He kept kicking me while he slept. It felt like Maggy was sleeping with me. The grand finale was his hurling into the barf bag. His mother just smiled. What are you going to do?
I wrote another diamond poem Saturday and Sunday. Here they are without the diamond shape format.

Saturday Diamond Poem:                                     Sunday Diamond Poem

Airports                                                                  Air France Bus
Distant Bustling                                                      Slow Bumpy
Watch Wait Whisk                                                  Stop Go Rattle
Impersonal Busy                                                     Convenient Gray                                               
People Mover                                                          Bus Michael loathes
                                                                           

Diamond Poems

This week I learned about Diamond Poems. I thought to have my French 101 write them the last day of class. Instead, they got into a long discussion in English about saving the planet. It was a rough term with too many students struggling with personal issues. When I first started at PCC thirty years ago, students did not have personal issues or so it seemed. Now they are eager to tell me how many times they threw up in the bathroom. TMI

I thought to try a Diamond Poem myself the day before  beginning my summer adventure in France.

                                       Anticipation

                                anxious           uplifting

                            hopes     foreshadows   predicts     
                         
                                  helpful             harmful

                                         Preconception

My bag contains a vegetable peeler and four pillow cases, signs of home ownership.  I can't wait to be in my little kitchen in Monflanquin. I am most worried about the rental car. Will it be small enough? Will I feel comfortable and safe?  Anticipation is traveling with me,