Easter Tradition in Normandy
Though Gérald and I will dine tête a tête this Sunday, our hearts are filled with memories of holidays past when our children were younger and we were surrounded by family. As with every celebration in France, Easter begins and ends à table. Normandy is appreciated the most at mealtime when land and sea are […]
Minnesota Strong: Courage Faces Inhumanity
It can be hard to believe the news, TV or social media anymore, but eyes do not lie. I witnessed Minneapolis during the ICE siege when a posse of 3000 federal immigration agents in Special Forces gears rode into town to make America “safe” by rounding up “illegals,” as if storming insurgents in Afghanistan. The […]
Happy Birthday to Me, E.T.
Oh dear, how do I tell my 91-year-old mother that she gave birth to an extraterrestrial being? What else could explain my extraordinary quirks, peculiar ailments, and uncanny ability to survive against all odds? I’ve recovered from accidents that no mortal should have survived. I suffer from maladies so bizarre that no one has ever […]
Endearing Tradition – Swiss Celebrate Seniors With Christmas Dinner
In one of its most endearing traditions, Swiss villages celebrate their seniors by hosting the annual Christmas dinner for retirees. The “Repas de Noël” has become a beloved part of the holiday festivities. In St-Cergue, at the community center next to the grade school, a few hundred retirees gathered around long tables to share fondue. […]
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X-Pat, a feisty globetrotter. Teacher, writer, coach, speaker, and trailblazer with the down-to-earth, open-armed persona of The Heartland and a European twist. I have lived in four different countries, speak three languages and raised two bi-cultural kids with one très bon Frenchman. My passion is inspiring courage, breaking barriers, and creating connections.
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