The top 25 in France and London

He was so happy to see me,
and I, him, riding up behind him as he
slowly pushed his walker, his small poodle at his side.

I want the top 25, he said, the top 25 things you loved,
make that 50, tell me when you come to see me.

Wine, the trips starts with single glasses of red
by the end, drinking from the bottle on picnic
vineyards as far as the eye can see,
blue skies,
baguettes, the crunch of the crust,
speaking French with old men sitting at the intersection
of the bike path and a country road,
sharing gardening tips with old men tilling their plot,
Buying a dress and sandals designed in Spain in Souillac
Bingeing on cassoulet, the real stuff, eating too much
and not getting a tummy ache.
Having everything I need in all ways
and appreciating it, including the husband.
FlexiRoam SIM card working in England,
Playing pandeiro on the streets of Bordeaux
readers, you can stop here, if you're getting jealous or bored.
but for me, to remember, no, to witness, to document,
because once my head is buried in calculations and dishwashing,
all the tiny streams of experience will flow into a river called
"It was great."

and so,
climbing a spiral staircase of stone
The view from the top onto Chateau Turenne
That electric bike, I could leave Stephen behind on hills
or anywhere.
Being moved, and reminded, in the Holocaust Gallery
a four hour kayak trip down the river in Les Eyzies,
People watching in Victoria Station
finding an escalator in the Tube station
Roses climbing up a stone wall along the route
We found water in every cemetery to fill our bottles!
Three more, and I'm sure I can do it!
Drinking beer in an English Pub with Stephen
although I prefer eating crepes in a small French village
We stayed in an apartment in Bordeaux like my Grandmother's
Last but not least, watching Stephen eat a bite of andouillette,
with the predictable response.

Great trip, good to be home.