The best therapy

Some of you may know this, but we currently have relatives from France staying with us until August 6th. Some of you had reservations about me/us having family I had only known via the internet and with a language barrier staying with us for a month while we're going through all of this. I even admit, I was a tad nervous...Well, it has been the best therapy for me!!

From the moment I picked up Henri, his wife Loli, and 2 of their 3 boys - Nicolas, 14, Alexis, 9, (Michael 17 stayed home in France), it has been WONDERFUL! Henri's complete, genuine, and unequivocal expression of joy at meeting and knowing us is completely endearing, and I can only hope I am showing him and his family the same joy!

Some background information: My father, Jacques, is the 1st cousin of Henri's mother, Genevive, so our grandfathers, Frederic (my Papa) and Raoul were brothers. They were born and raised in Belgium. Raoul remained there until he died, and my grandfather moved to Canada circa 1939. The two brothers remained close via letters and visits across the ocean, but once they died their children (my father and Genevive - 9 years his senior) lost touch.

Fast forward to Jan. 2009 - I received an email from Henri at work asking if I was the daughter of Jacques Mesot and granddaughter of Frederic Mesot and that's how it all started... a year and half of frequent emailing, sharing of stories, family history, memories, photos, anecdotes about our own children, and plans for meeting. He has been communicating with Jen, too, and we were all hoping for a way in which we could all be together even for a couple of days while they are in America, but with Jen having a month left until graduation with a BSN from nursing school, it is not going to be possible this trip.

Henri bears a small physical resemblance to my father and there are minuscule attributes that remind me of my father even though Henri is much younger than Daddy would be. Henri speaks English very well, although we still reach for our bi-lingual dictionaries now and again, but his wife and their boys don't speak very much English, although all three understand some and can read some. Additionally, the entire family speaks Spanish! I am now very motivated to learn another language!!

They have been so helpful - cleaning, laundry, cooking, but more importantly, their presence alone has been a remarkable distraction - really so much more - from this cancer business. We have all been learning so much about one another's countries and cultures! It's been really neat! The kids have gotten along wonderfully (having the wii as an icebreaker helped) and has prevented me from hearing "III'mmm booorrred" every other minute!! They have been doing their share of theme parks, too, and plan to go to Cape Canaveral as well as the Everglades next week. They are having a great time! They think America is amazing!

A final note, I have a a huge Victorian dollhouse that was purchased just before my mother (I think it was a dream of hers for us to have doll houses) died. My sister got a Swiss chalet, and we were going to work on them as a family. Well, 31 years later and still no work as been done on it! Henri is brilliant - I do not exaggerate - and very handy. He asked before he came if there was anything he could help with and my dollhouse came to mind. I feel like if I have a jump start (there is so much to do before I can even begin) then I'll be motivated to keep working on it!! He has been working on it every day and getting so much done! His creative mind has come up with such good ideas for fixing different parts of the house - he has even started the wiring for the electricity! It has been sooo exciting for me!

So for those of you worried or concerned, don't be!! I couldn't have asked for a more perfect summer!