Dear Dad

I can't believe it's been twelve years.  Twelve long years. Sometimes it still seems like just yesterday.  Sometimes not.  But I still remember.  I often wonder how many others do.

2011 was a good year for me. I got a big promotion at work.  Despite the male dominance, The Company has been good to me.  Looking back on it now, I realize I spent almost three months in the US last year.  Three months - how about that?  I am certainly lucky to have found a company that flies me back "home" so often.  And also lucky that C was able to spend two of those months there with me.

Then in March we got engaged. It's funny because right before each of these big life steps, I feel a bit of trepidation....but once we actually do it, it's like "Well, what were you waiting for silly?  This is wonderful".

And of course the engagement led to the wedding.  It was a great day - hopefully you were watching us?  You were certainly on my mind. I always said I could never do a church wedding without you there to walk me down the aisle, so the mairie ended up being the perfect compromise. Either way, I sure hope you approve.

Thanksgiving weekend found us back in our old town.  I haven't been there for a few years since mom moved away.  We celebrated our marriage with family and friends, and then I showed Chris all the traces of my childhood.  Where I went to school, where I worked, the ice arena where I practically lived from the age of 4 through 18. Our old house.  Your farm.  I also took him down to the cemetery to see your grave, but maybe you saw that?  It makes me sad that I can't visit you as often as I used to.

And now we are back in France. I am thinking 2012 will be a good year too. We have a lot of "maybe" projects in the works, and the wait is just about killing me. Remember when I was little and mom used to get after me for being so impatient?  Well apparently  I haven't changed that much since then - I have to keep stopping to remind myself to breath and not taken my frustrations out on others.  But I suppose that's a (slight) improvement from stamping my feet and throwing a fit, right?

It doesn't help though that so many of the (French) people around us are negative about these projects and are trying to discourage them.  Why can't they just be happy for us, and encourage us?  I have to remind myself that it's just a cultural difference, that the French are often resistant to risk and change, but it's not always easy.   Anyway, I know everything will work out as its should in the end, and that is what I try keep reminding myself. In the mean time, I think of you often, and I hope you are still connected to us somehow.

Love you Dad. xoxo