Keeping Possibility Front and Center - loving life in Perigord Noir

Sunday started with a 15 minute car ride to the nearby village of Saint Cyprien, with maybe the best weekly market around.  As usual, I'm hosting Thanksgiving for my expat crowd, and I wanted to get a jump on a few things that could be purchased early.

Priorities!  I know the precious, unbelievably sweet on-the-vine cherry tomatoes from Italy are fast disappearing, so I scour the street for them first - victory!  Then, it's grabbing good-looking and reasonably-priced leeks for my dressing.  But, the main attraction is this stunning herbs, olives, and tapenades (you think there is only one tapenade?  Oh no no no...) vendor that only really comes this far south once a week here in St. Cyp.  Yes!  I will absolutely stand in line and be dazzled by the array of colors while I wait my turn - happily!

Misson accomplished, after many back and forths, ups and downs in order of priority, I decide to check out a little hole in the wall cafè I'd not noticed on previous visits.  The bells have chimed noon, so I'm decadent and order a croissant - all bio! - and a rosé.  Usually in St. Cyprien with a companion, today I am solo, so put my phone down and watch.  Fascinating.  I notice the folks at this market are much younger, much hipper.  And dressed up!  People dress to come to the Saint Cyprien market day - many women in heels and skirts.  Such a different vibe.  

It's full on Autumn now - even the parking lot is beautiful as I walk back to my hard-earned parking space to head home.

No sooner had a walked in the door, plunked my wares down on the kitchen island and was contemplating the spray-painting project I had promised myself I would tackle today when my phone buzzed and it was my friend Corrine.  They had just made lasagna and did I want to join them for lunch on their terrace?

Uh...oui.

Turns out, we had a lot to talk about.  Lunch ran about 3 hours.  It was tough to leave, honestly - the blustery wind, drying their beautiful French sheets, the delicious "thrown together" lasagna, the caring and lovely companionship, the brilliant and slowly sinking sun - how can there be more than this?  We talked about real things, in a real way, and held each other up, and it was all made more easily borne in the late Autumn sun on a terrace in this very special place.

And then I walked home.