In our family, we count down the days until we see each other by “sleeps”. One night apart equals one sleep. I’m happy to announce that I am facing only one night’s sleep until I see my Matthew. He of course, loves to point out that he has zero sleeps as he claims it is impossible for him to sleep on a plane. I still feel like pretending to sleep goes a long way to getting you rested for that first day but he prefers to watch movies, eat snacks and feel terrible the next day. C’est la vie!

I have freshened up the flower arrangements, replenished the bourbon, changed the sheets, scrubbed the wood stove glass and only have left to bathe Sophie. For that I will wait until after our walk which inevitably gets her muddy regardless of the weather. This weekend I will make coq au vin which Matthew loves and we have been invited out to dinner at a friend’s home on Sunday.

Next week we both will have to work but just the idea of making coffee for him each day nearly makes me swoon. The last week of November will coincide with Thanksgiving break so I will work only two days and then we will have the better part of a week to vacation together and explore. On my birthday, we will return to Paris for a couple of nights before flying home to Maine.

I am excited for all of it. I can’t wait to see my boys at home in Brunswick and to begin preparing for the holidays. This involves lots of baking, cooking, decorating and wrapping. It also requires near constant Christmas music and evergreen smelling candles burning round the clock. Just after Christmas, I will see my sweet cousin which has become our tradition. We spend our New Years together and have done so faithfully for the last 10 years.

So much excitement and gratitude. Not a bad way to end 2024.