L'APPARTEMENT

We make the turn into the vineyard and even before I knew exactly where I was headed I knew exactly where I was going. Twenty-five hectares of vineyard were splayed out along the side of a mountain and I can't even see the restaurant and hotel that also rests on the estate. We twist and wind along the vines at a furious pace. I think the silence has finally gotten to her and she just has to get rid of me. (Later when she drives me for a bit of tour around town I learn that is just the way she drives, like a bat out of hell.) We pull up to the restaurant and she gives me a quick tour of the area and sets me out a plate of food and a glass of wine back in what turns out to be the break room and as people pass and talk the last moments of confidence are stripped from me as I now resort to shrugging and repeating "quoi?" et "je ne sais pas." I eat in a gathered silence and I remind myself that right here and now is the absolutely lowest I will ever be and to learn from it and concentrate on learning and, oh who am I kidding, it was just plain weird. But I knew it would be and that is what's been keeping me up at night. I wish there was some trick to advance the future all the while keeping the knowledge but skip the wrinkles. Yep, I want to stay pretty but it ain't easy when you live as hard as I do.

We finish lunch and as I'm following her we run into the father and the moment is that of encountering big foot but a weird thing happens as we meet. He speaks at me and I actually seem to understand what he says. I search for words and he finds them for me and I can only extend an emphatic "oui!" and before I know it we, the mother and I, are gone and off to the apartment I will call home for God only knows. Note: Adélaide told me that her father had warned her that I better not try and teach him English since he wouldn't be having it. The only English word he knows, supposedly, is no and that's because it's the same damn word. I mean if you forget the extra "n" and the nasal pronunciation but I think I already went into all of this. She gave me such nerves about the whole thing and here I find him to be a genuine and reasonably tempered person. She also did warn me to try and not drink him under the table since although I've considered going pro in the liquor ranks he will finish me. I believe her.

We drive up the mountain a bit further and duck behind a curve to reveal a beautiful chateau style home behind gates. After a beat we walk into the ground floor, which is my apartment and it is small but has everything I'd possibly need; dishes, a table, a shower, bed, an espresso machine and the best thing of all...heat. Not sure if I mentioned this or not but it is the beginning of March and it is cold and wet. She leaves me so I can get situated and I decide to finally lay down and take a nap. After thirty minutes of laying there I realize it's not going to happen so I unpack. I'm supposed to head upstairs for dinner at seven. Even though I'm sick, nervous, and can't speak the language I feel a sense of calm since I am now finally here, finally living what I had been talking about for so many months. I guess this is why women feel so relieved after marriage; they can finally stop talking/thinking about it. I should have married more of my girlfriends.

(I know it sounds sexist but it's true. No one says to a thirty year old man, "So you're thirty, huh? How come you're not married yet?")