Sometimes, it seems that I’m being unappreciative to my family I visit in the US. But when I return home again in Uzès, I can’t believe how happy I feel. I’m at home. But at the same time, I’m on a great adventure.
For now, I’ve reveled in spending time with my adorable grandchildren in Georgia for the last two months. We played together just as I had always imagined, enjoying the company of a three- and five-year-old. Tea parties, visits to a dinosaur museum, lunch on a red caboose, and birthday parties. We did them all. I cherish each moment knowing that these times are precious.
Then, it was time to say “goodbye.” As tough as it was for us to part, at least now they’re recognizing that “Grandma will come back.” Perhaps it gives us all a chance to rewind.
Back to France
The journey back to France this time was complicated slightly by the fact that I haven’t totally recuperated from my September accident. Knowing I had to spend part of the trip on a train, I had to pack light. Of course, “packing light” is a relative term. My suitcase still pushed the airline limits. Half of it was jewelry-making supplies for a friend near Uzès—clasps, findings, and little treasures she can’t easily find here. In return, she’s painting furniture for me. My plain brown desk has already been transformed into a creamy French Provençal beauty. Somehow, bartering like this feels like the thing to do among friends in a small town in France.
When I walked through the door of my apartment, I had that familiar feeling—relief, excitement, and comfort all at once. I was home again in Uzès, surrounded by familiar streets, markets, and neighbors. It’s remarkable how quickly life here folds me back in.
Along the way … Dordogne
One joy of living in France is that the route back from Paris isn’t just a line on a map—it’s an opportunity. This time, I stopped in the Dordogne to continue my obsession with the Plus Beaux Villages de France. Four days, four villages: Monpazier, St. Jean de Côle, Beynac-et-Cazenac, and Castelnaud-la-Chapelle. Each was more enchanting than the last. Half-timbered houses, castles perched on cliffs, quiet cobblestone lanes—scenes that make you stop and remind yourself this isn’t a dream.
I had the freedom to wander as I pleased, to linger over a coffee in the town square, or follow a side street just to see where it led. The Dordogne is a treasure chest of history and beauty, and each village offered its own surprise. Soon I’ll share more about these stops in separate posts.
Home Again in Uzès
By the time I rolled my suitcase back into my apartment, I realized how much I’d missed this life. The bell tower chiming, the sound of footsteps on the cobblestone outside my windows, neighbors stopping to say “bonjour”—these small things make me feel grounded. Being home again in Uzès is both comforting and thrilling. It’s my daily life, yet it still feels like a grand adventure.
I’ve learned that it’s possible to hold two homes in your heart: one where family is, and one where your spirit feels most alive. For me, coming home again to Uzès is the reminder that I can cherish both. And after every journey, no matter how far, Uzès is where I return to begin again.
