encore! tennis match

Winner: Team Melvil and Hannah. Loser: Team Milan and Stéphane. Stakes: loser clears the table every night after dinner until Laguna Beach.

After a long a grueling day full of riding bikes and learning mathematics in English, we headed to the tennis courts for the opening night of the Gros Colas Olympic tennis games. Yes, part of the Olympic games are hosted right here in St. Marc Jaumegarde, a mere 2km from the paradise in which I currently live. It was a match to remember, for sure. 6-6 and a tie breaking round that Melvil and I won in double over-time (whatever that means in tennis-speak). Brutal, to say the least.

The days are few in France now. Just a little more than one week and I will be back in America. I know this sounds a bit extreme and a little too patriotic, but I found myself humming the tunes of Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA" this afternoon as I was playing with Cécil, the little 9-month old bundle of joy who just began to crawl the other day. Daddy, do you remember that tape? Yes, I said cassette tape. I must have played that song at least 100 times each day on my cassette player. There is a nostalgia that eases the sometimes annoying ambiguity of foreign lands when one hears such a patriotic song. Call me crazy, but I still tear up when I hear the Star Spangled Banner. America does stand for freedom, for everything new and everything adventurous, and I am proud to be an American.

Don't worry though, my adventure is not ending here. I am just approaching the stop sign. Soon, I will turn right in order to stay on the route He has mapped out. He's a good driver and, trust me, I'm certainly enjoying the ride, window all the way down and hand floating in the wind.