2008 - Alia Graduates; Their First Grandchild, Teo, Born In France, Linda Exhilarated; Recession, Election, and Defined Distance

Noah’s mother-in-law lived in Sisteron, a small mountain town at the confluence of two canyon rivers in southern Provence. A limestone castle above perched between knife-edged cliffs, the town roads and medieval apartments and shops below winding with the twisting turns of the landscape. Noah helped secure them two monthly rentals, separate quarters as befitted their divorce, Paul keeping Jared as Linda’s flat was not flat, i.e., it had narrow stairs and low ceilings untenable for Jared.

Linda roamed about the town and nearby villages in delighted freedom and anticipation of the birth. Paul took runs along the heights and along the riverbanks. They visited the expecting couple but attempted to keep a low profile the last weeks until term. Linda and Paul shared some meals, but not all. Still, they could not stifle their delight, their sharing, having made it no matter the downfalls there for the birth of their first grandson, their next generation.

The birth went well, wonderfully, and they stayed weeks in France with baby Teo and his parents, their son and daughter in law, content in the moments, then headed home.