Oh Canada

Elle's had a visitor for the past 5 nights, a French Canadian friend from her year abroad in Canada.

When they're not out touring the Capitol, the Library of Congress or visiting the cherry blossoms, they're here filling the house with fruity scented shampoos, cooking turkey burgers on the grill, drinking endless bottles of white wine and talking in a polyglot of tongues. I walked in the other night and they were both sitting on the sofa listening to and singing along to Abba"s Dancing Queen.


 And French or French Canadian they both make those poufy faces when displeased.

What"s not to love.

Tonight they grilled hot dogs, I had a kale salad. We met in the middle with smores.

I have to thank S-man for opening up my eyes to the joy of actually engaging with not just living with "The Renter".

If you're gonna live with someone, live with them, he said.

Elle has been a ginormous help during these 7 weeks of recovery. Perfectly coiffed she takes out the trash on her way to work, insists on scrubbing any pots or pans I may have used in my stabs at cooking. She puts the cover on my duvet and shakes, shakes, shakes it up in a very bonne femme manner.

She is the keeper of the gate for the cats, letting them in and out and in and out.

She is in charge of the dishwasher and scolds me roundly if I dare to empty it.

We're a good team, she says.

Oui.

My friends love her. She's been invited to Cape Cod to visit Susan and as I sit here typing, she and My friend Nelda are on line buying tickets for a soccer game.

This time last year my heart was cold and empty. Now my heart and home are filled again with friendship, cooking and laughter.

Glass filled to the brim. Thank you Universe.

xo J