Ah, La Vie...

Today started out rough: My American bank decided to withdraw some money for a random transaction which left me panicking that my payment for my plane ticket wouldn't go through. Ahhh!!! I should know by now how much Bank of America sucks at life, but what can ya do. Overall, the crisis is resolved, and I will deal with their waste of a life selves when I am back.

Secondly, I had to go to the cathedral today. It is 2 years since my beloved cat Homey passed away. I still remember the day I left for France (the first time) and his big roly-poly kitty self, despite being sick, managed to waddle over to say good-bye. I looked at him and said, "I know you have to go someday. Either go now, or wait until I come back." But since when did a cat ever listen to humans...

When I learned he had passed on, it was through a text my brother had sent me at 4AM France time. "Call me. I don't care what time." I remember the panic: either something was wrong with Dad, or something was wrong with the cat. So I threw on clothes, ran down to the payphone and called, only to learn that Ho had left us. It was the first time I got homesick. He had lived a good life, and we knew it was coming, and I just have to give him props for not requiring us to make that horrible decision whether or not to put him down. At 16, he lived a good kitty life.

My friend Anne took me to the cathedral in Le Mans to light a candle in memory of him. I am not religious whatsoever, but I took solace in it. And a year later, while living in San Francisco, I randomly read my journal.... and saw the entry for this date, last year. Such a coincidence. And such a coincidence that the North Beach cathedral bells went off just then. I went down and lit yet another candle to mark the one year we had been without the Big Kitty.

And today, just like I did 2 years ago, I lit another French candle in his honor. I had some other words with the spiritual powers that (may) be. Although I am not religious, I did find some comfort in it, especially considering the pissy way my day had started. If Ho is an angel, Bank of America surely is satan.

I got on with my day-- attempted some lesson planning (by the way, if ANYONE has ideas for a good Saint Patrick's day lesson for lyceens, TELL ME!), watched TV shows on Fanpop, called my mom, chatted to my poor, sick fiance. But eventually I had to wander out to find something for dinner.

I ran into another prof from my school, Antoine, who had invited me to his home for lunch when I first got here. He was walking down the main street of Troyes with his kids (I forgot their names but they are SO cute!) We chatted for a bit, he is really nice. His wife teaches English at another school, and I remember telling her to please call me if she ever wanted to speak English, get ideas for lessons, etc. His kids even faired la bise with me!!! Seeing them all, so happy, so family-like, really cheered me up.

It isn't warm, but nice out nonetheless. I could have gone without a coat. I popped into Marche Plus, found some random items for dinner, and walked back thinking, "Bank of America can kiss my ass. I've got the Big One watching over me!!!"