Today was an extremely eventful day. Ammon started out the day still feeling sick. Poor guy.
We packed up on the morning to leave Paris and were out waiting for our ride around 9:30. Lily is always the hero with packing up. She is just so efficient, organized and good at it. I generally try to help, but I’m the supporting cast to her amazing energy that zaps all the chaos into organized suitcases that are ready to go. When we got outside we realized that our Uber driver cancelled on us and was not going to pick us up. Our AirBNB host then called two taxis for us, which was extremely nice of him. Lily took off in the first cab with Clarissa and Mary and I waited for the second cab with Ammon and Lydia. While waiting for the cab, Ammon started puking. Lily gave me two paper bags just in case Ammon started puking and he got both of them dirty with his puke. I was so embarrassed because the second cab driver pulled up right as Ammon was throwing up into the bags. The driver was in a button shirt, and very clean cut with gel in his hair. His cab was very nice and clean and had leather seats. I was half expecting him to say that he was not willing to take this bio-hazard family to the airport Avis rent-a-car, but I was so grateful that he still offered to take us. There was one more problem though. I now had no bag for Ammon in case he needed to throw up again in the car. I was just about ready to jump in the car with Ammon and just pray to God that he would not throw up. But at the last second, our airBNB host (the same one who called us the taxis) ran inside, grabbed a bag, and stuffed it into my hand. What a saint! 25 minutes into the ride, Ammon started throwing up. I was soooo grateful for that bag, and for the wonderful man who helped save the day. Thank you God for good people.
We waited a long time in line at Avis, but we finally got our car. While checking out for it, I learned that it was a manual transmission, and they had no automatics in the size that we needed. It had been about 20 years or so since I drove a stick shift, and even then I didn’t drive it that much. I felt very grateful for Suzanne and Jere (who both let me drive their stick-shift BMWs) so I at least had some exposure to a manual transmission. I worried though that it was going to be rough as it had been such a long time. The first time I hit the gas, I left forward with a jolt out of my parking space and then killed the car. That was cause for some concern. But then I settled down, and everything started coming back to me. I drove it just fine. It’s now a week later, and sure I’ve killed the car a number of times, and I’m still a bit jolty, but overall, I’m driving it with no problem. It has actually been really fun to refresh an old skill.
We took the long way to St. Malo so that we could see the war sites of Normandy. Our first stop was Omaha Beach. To prepare us, Lily had the whole family watch the movie The Longest Day. It is gut wrenching to imagine what it would be like to be one of the first to charge the Germans on that beach. You almost certainly knew you were going to die, but you also knew it was a crucial mission. The US and our allies actually freed France from Germany and turned the tide of World War II. The whole place felt sacred and had me thinking about my own commitment to noble sacrifice.
While the adults and older kids were having a transcendent experience, Clarissa was completely beside herself and wailing in protest. She literally could not process (at least not calmly) the idea that we would go right to a beach, and not play in it. Her wailing lasted a solid 10 or so minutes.
After Omaha beach, we went to St. Mereglise. This town is featured in The Longest Day, and thee town is very famous for the paratrooper that got caught on the church during entry via parachute. It is a very tragic story, because the paratroopers dropped at night to take the town by surprise. But someone’s house had caught on fire, and the German officials in the area were all awake and in the town square trying to help put the fire out. Thus, when the paratroopers landed, the German officials just gunned them all down. The paratrooper caught on the building was one of the only (and maybe the only) survivors, and he also died a year later, I think due to complications from his injuries.
Some of the paratroopers landed in swampy areas.
Remembering the heroes that died in World War II in Normandy was so inspiring. I felt a deeper conviction to make the sacrifices for good that my own life calls me to do. I am truly humbled and inspired by the people who died to save the world from a fascist dictator. Democracy is such a precious, fragile thing, and I’m so inspired every time I see someone stand up for it. I even felt a wave hope and inspiration go through my heart when I learned about Dick Cheney’s ad calling out Donald Trump as the greatest threat to American democracy. Politically, I have a lot against Dick Cheney, but the fact that he’s sticking up for democracy, and that his daughter is too as she runs the Jan 6 hearings, to me is another example of good people making sacrifices and sticking up for democracy. I thank the Lord for good people who stand up for goodness. It is honestly one of the things that most keeps my hope going.
After the adults and older kids got heir education, we gave the little kids what they most wanted. Something purely fun! Yay for carousels!
https://youtube.com/shorts/E1yWh3vqKIY?feature=share
In that same town, we then bought a bunch of yummy fruit and drinks at a grocery store and got burgers from a food truck. We were also delighted to find out that there was a magic show happening right while we were eating. It was in French, but the kids were still enthralled.
In the car, the kids had fun taking pictures.
They played a game where someone would make a face and then everyone else would try to copy it. How did they do?
We arrived late in St. Malo. What a wonderful day! Honestly, one of the best of my life. I was so amazed and touched by the World War 2 heroes.