Christmas Came Early

Chanelle's second host family, Patrick and Celine, were the most unique people I had encountered thus far in my life.  If Santa Clause and Mrs. Clause actually existed, I'd imagine they would take form in these two.  Their 24/7 jolliness was unfathomable.

I could not imagine a house more fitting for Southern France

Partick is a retired banker that owns a 200 year old mansion on property so large it contains it's own forest.  It's comical actually, for when we rolled up for dinner one evening the local girl scouts had asked him if they could do their annual camping retreat in his backyard.  We were greeted by 60 Cub Scouts with their 30 tents sprawled across the forest of his backyard, having bonfires and roasting S'mores. 





The Hot Tub Room!

Alongside his forest, he has a dance patio (his philosophy is that 30 minutes of dancing a day keeps all bad moods away), a separate hot tub facility (which would be more likely to keep my bad moods away), 5 donkeys, and 2 ponies.  It was a zoo. 

Celine slaved away in the kitchen but not in vain.  The food she concocted would put any master chef to shame.  The whole evening she would randomly shout out:

"Lenai! You are so happy, and I am so happy, we are all just so happy!" with more genuine enthusiasm I knew the human body was capable of.   I want to create a miniature version of this lady, so I can pull her out of my pocket every time I need a moment of encouragement. 

She told me that they throw parties in their 5 star resort of a home almost every weekend. 

"Oh, we just LOVE parties! My favorites are weddings. When you get married, you come here, and I'll play ze wedding song on the piano for you! I LOVE to play that song on the piano! Yes, you must come back!"

You don't have to ask me twice Celine. I will gladly get married in your magical forest of a backyard and ride donkeys off into the sunset. 




Patrick and his Ponies



Catch Me If You Can