Bonjour Summer. What a touching tribute to your California roots, your love of France, the great teachers who got you started and the professional life you created for yourself in the Loire Valley. I feel like I know you a little bit better now. -- Good luck training for that hike in Iceland. I know the stairs you mentioned in Amboise and took them on a couple of occasions. I can't imagine doing that 10 times in an hour! Félicitations. Bonne année (there's still time.) I am sure our paths will cross again in 2025 in spite of our busy schedules.
Thank you, dear Véro, for your kind & encouraging words & for reading! It means so much, especially from someone I so admire! Wishing you all good things in 2025 and, absolutely, yes! Let’s meet in 2025, perhaps in March, if you’re available, to toast to your birthday as we did together with April a couple of years ago! Merci et bonne et belle année et à bientôt! 🥳
Definitely Summer. I will be in Paris working that week but early (or late) celebrations happen too! I'll have to swing by Amboise to meet vendors anyway so we could meet there for lunch, after or before your training session up and down those stairs preferably! ;-)
Great Véro! It sounds wonderful to meet in Amboise! I will give you a call to arrange that, and I promise no climbing of stairs involved ;)! Looking forward to it. Bonne et belle journée!
Thank you, dear Emily, for reading & your kind, supportive comment. I loved your post,
« taking my substack seriously while having two subscribers is my favorite thing ever. »
I have been thinking about it ever since reading it. It’s delightful & inspiring! No surprise you’re following has increased, at last check, to nearly 1.000 subs and growing!
But, to your point, numbers don’t matter. Thank you for that reminder. I look forward to diving into your writing more. Sending best wishes from the Loire Valley of France! 🇫🇷
Hi Summer—what a poignant and bittersweet post. I’m so heartbroken for LA—one of my favorite US cities. Thank you for sharing your memories and reflecting on the fragility of life. Wishing you a happy, healthy and safe new year!
Hi Sacha, Thank you for your kind words & compassion. Wishing you also all good things in 2025 and look forward to meeting you in person soon in the Loire Valley!
Thank you, Summer for your newsletter. I, too am sorry for your beautiful Palisades neighborhood and hope that it will get rebuilt. Your life in France sounds so beautiful and lovely! I am doing my best to encourage my young students to learn French and value the skills of communication that might take them around the world some day, too. And yes, even dictées! Hahaha!
Bonjour Lindsay! How exciting to hear from you, a teacher! I've had the most wonderful, inspirational teachers in my life, including my own father, a high school teacher. Thank you for your kind and thoughtful words about the Palisades. I hope that it recovers and rebuilds, too, and that the community heals from this heartbreak. Thank you for reading and for all you do for your students, including encouraging them to learn French! Best wishes from the Loire Valley, Summer
What a fun read! Hello from a fellow Tourangelle who's been in France since 1978. I moved to the Loire Valley at the same time as you, in 2005. I'm also French American through my mom. My 3 kids were also born in France and are young adults now who have flown the nest. My dad's from an old California family (SF Bay area) but I only lived there for 1 year when I was very small, 2 or 3 years old. Looking forward to being you one of these days - I'm in the "campagne" (French countryside) north of Tours. A bientôt, Lorraine
Thank you, Lorraine! We have so much in common! Thank you for reading. I’m so excited to meet you on Friday, February 7th for Loire ConneXion’s First Friday Evening of the Month Meet-Up for February in Amboise. There is also a Games Night in Saint Avertin near Tours, tomorrow night, February 1st, at 6:30pm. Please join Loire ConneXion’s Facebook group at: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1B2p8C44LJ/?mibextid=wwXIfr or search « Loire ConneXion » on FB or you may send me an email at: summer@loirevalleyconcierge.com and I will put you on the Loire ConneXion email so you receive event invites directly! A bientôt!
Thanks for the link, Summer! Can't make tomorrow night, our youngest son is visiting. I'm good to come in the 7th, though. 🙂 We live north of Tours towards Luynes/Langeais
Bonjour Summer. What a touching tribute to your California roots, your love of France, the great teachers who got you started and the professional life you created for yourself in the Loire Valley. I feel like I know you a little bit better now. -- Good luck training for that hike in Iceland. I know the stairs you mentioned in Amboise and took them on a couple of occasions. I can't imagine doing that 10 times in an hour! Félicitations. Bonne année (there's still time.) I am sure our paths will cross again in 2025 in spite of our busy schedules.
Thank you, dear Véro, for your kind & encouraging words & for reading! It means so much, especially from someone I so admire! Wishing you all good things in 2025 and, absolutely, yes! Let’s meet in 2025, perhaps in March, if you’re available, to toast to your birthday as we did together with April a couple of years ago! Merci et bonne et belle année et à bientôt! 🥳
Definitely Summer. I will be in Paris working that week but early (or late) celebrations happen too! I'll have to swing by Amboise to meet vendors anyway so we could meet there for lunch, after or before your training session up and down those stairs preferably! ;-)
Great Véro! It sounds wonderful to meet in Amboise! I will give you a call to arrange that, and I promise no climbing of stairs involved ;)! Looking forward to it. Bonne et belle journée!
love this!
Thank you, dear Emily, for reading & your kind, supportive comment. I loved your post,
« taking my substack seriously while having two subscribers is my favorite thing ever. »
I have been thinking about it ever since reading it. It’s delightful & inspiring! No surprise you’re following has increased, at last check, to nearly 1.000 subs and growing!
But, to your point, numbers don’t matter. Thank you for that reminder. I look forward to diving into your writing more. Sending best wishes from the Loire Valley of France! 🇫🇷
Beautifully written. Send it to Palisades publications.
Thank you for your kind words, dear Pamela, & for the encouragement! What a good idea. Merci et à très bientôt!
Hi Summer—what a poignant and bittersweet post. I’m so heartbroken for LA—one of my favorite US cities. Thank you for sharing your memories and reflecting on the fragility of life. Wishing you a happy, healthy and safe new year!
Hi Sacha, Thank you for your kind words & compassion. Wishing you also all good things in 2025 and look forward to meeting you in person soon in the Loire Valley!
Thank you, Summer for your newsletter. I, too am sorry for your beautiful Palisades neighborhood and hope that it will get rebuilt. Your life in France sounds so beautiful and lovely! I am doing my best to encourage my young students to learn French and value the skills of communication that might take them around the world some day, too. And yes, even dictées! Hahaha!
Merci beaucoup!!
Bonjour Lindsay! How exciting to hear from you, a teacher! I've had the most wonderful, inspirational teachers in my life, including my own father, a high school teacher. Thank you for your kind and thoughtful words about the Palisades. I hope that it recovers and rebuilds, too, and that the community heals from this heartbreak. Thank you for reading and for all you do for your students, including encouraging them to learn French! Best wishes from the Loire Valley, Summer
Merci beaucoup! J’attends votre ‘Substack’ avec impatience! 🇫🇷🇫🇷🇺🇸🇺🇸
What a fun read! Hello from a fellow Tourangelle who's been in France since 1978. I moved to the Loire Valley at the same time as you, in 2005. I'm also French American through my mom. My 3 kids were also born in France and are young adults now who have flown the nest. My dad's from an old California family (SF Bay area) but I only lived there for 1 year when I was very small, 2 or 3 years old. Looking forward to being you one of these days - I'm in the "campagne" (French countryside) north of Tours. A bientôt, Lorraine
Thank you, Lorraine! We have so much in common! Thank you for reading. I’m so excited to meet you on Friday, February 7th for Loire ConneXion’s First Friday Evening of the Month Meet-Up for February in Amboise. There is also a Games Night in Saint Avertin near Tours, tomorrow night, February 1st, at 6:30pm. Please join Loire ConneXion’s Facebook group at: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1B2p8C44LJ/?mibextid=wwXIfr or search « Loire ConneXion » on FB or you may send me an email at: summer@loirevalleyconcierge.com and I will put you on the Loire ConneXion email so you receive event invites directly! A bientôt!
Thanks for the link, Summer! Can't make tomorrow night, our youngest son is visiting. I'm good to come in the 7th, though. 🙂 We live north of Tours towards Luynes/Langeais
Beautiful area! See you on the 7th, with pleasure. Bonne et belle journée!
Thanks! I don't go on FB much anymore but I'll check the group every now and then. I requested to join.