On Friday, I got up, delivered Miss Sophie to my generous friends at Le Houx and drove to Laval. Once there, I dropped off my rental car, boarded the TGV to Gare Montparnasse and an hour and fifteen minutes later, arrived in Paris. From there, given the fact that I had enough time, I took the Metro to the RER and rode that to the airport. Sometimes I will take a taxi if I’m in.a rush but it is way more expensive. The difference is a 12 euro ticket versus a 70 euro taxi ride.

Once at Charles de Gaulle, I waited in the Easy Jet line nearly forever to drop my bags. Then I quickly went through security and rewarded myself with a prosecco before I boarded my flight. The flight to Bristol only takes 55 minutes and because of the time zone change, I departed Paris at 4:55 and arrived in the U.K. at 5:15. I have to admit that the older I get, the more exhausting I find all the transitions involved in travel. I’m always humbled when I feel completely spent and notice a woman 20 years older than me sprint up the metro steps carrying her suitcase seemlessly while I sweat and struggle to keep up..

Lucky for me, Lily and Isaac were waiting for me at the airport so I didn’t have to get on a bus and then another train to get myself to Exeter. Lily looked beautiful and happy fresh from her travels to the Amalfi Coast. Isaac greeted me with a hug and a beautiful bouquet of flowers. I have waited a long time to meet him in person though I feel like I have a pretty good sense of him through frequent Face Timing with Lily and her descriptions of him. Lily’s beau is just as I had hoped. He is smart, kind, and clearly smitten with my girl. They are a a beautiful couple and I am grateful to spend some time with them and be part of their obvious love for one another.

There is something about young, first loves. The surprise of how good it feels, the rush of discovering something so beautiful that comes from being completely vulnerable with a new person. The feeling is infectious and I find myself smiling just to be in the presence of two people so clearly besotted with one another. It has made me remember my own experiences and be all the more grateful for the love of my Matthew.