When it sizzles

From Everyday August

Cole Porter loved Paris in every season, which I can understand because of its location. Look on any map of the known universe and Paris is right at the center.

But despite loving paris in the winter (when it drizzles), I have a special place in my heart for the warmer months - few as they might be.  Each warm month has its own flavor. One with a very particular flavor, an acquired taste you might say, is August.

From Everyday August

In Paris, August is a good month for "socializing" 

Yeap, August is a special month. Stores close for the entire month - they leave little hand-written signs on the shutters wishing you a good summer. In France, the best ice cream actually shuts down production and takes vacation. Yeap, that must be pretty good for business. In August, the streets are empty. And because they're empty, the City of Paris digs them all up. The ones that don't get dug up become a beach, or are closed anyway. Why? The only people who really know are on vacation.



In August, people don't do much work, especially papa. This is an especially good point because we get to see even more of him - which is every child's dream (right up there with riding in Santa's sleigh).

From Everyday August

This August we actually came back to Paris. We have taken advantage of the hot lazy days to speed down the empty sidewalks in our tricycles. Of course, we visit Ata every chance we get. And if you think August is special in Paris, just wait 'till you see what it's like at the Chetif Moulin. This weekend, Clara and Robin came down, parents in tow.

We did the usual August stuff: not much. It's pretty much the same all over France. The roof is still unfinished. There are tools where the firewood should be. The grass is getting high. The garden needs weeding, and so on, and so on, and so on. August is not even a good month for complaining. In August, people forget scandals. They read. They forget what they just read. They drop diets. They drop names. They don't call home. In August, people ask themselves why they work in an office and decide that they are going to sail around the world, someday. Then they decide that they are going to lean to sail (which means that they will just have to buy that nice yellow "ciré jaune"). Oh yawn. It's August. Even the Loire River is lazy...

From Everyday August