French Policeman are Awesome

And not just because they are all about 12, yell at pickpocketers when they arrest them, and drive really fast through red lights when it is totally not necessary. (I know it's not necessary because my dad was State Police for 25 years and I never got to ride in his car with the siren blaring.)  Our detective was a hipster - a skinny jean, scruffy beard, tee-shirt, head-phone wearing hipster. My dad has never worn skinny jeans. Scruffy beard - yes (maybe not scruffy). Tee-shirt - yes. Head-phones - I'm not sure but he probably owns enough technology toys to fill half a Radio Shack - I'm going with yes. Sorry dad, but I'm calling it for the French. The skinny jeans alone tip it over to them.  Sad Face.

Anyway, they sent my husband an email on Friday morning to come pick up some of the euros the pickpockets had stolen.  The wife had turned herself in and said she was really sorry.  We got 120 euros back and four dollars.  (Technically, the four dollars weren't ours but obviously came from some American they'd stolen from and there was no way to know who they belonged to so I kept my mouth shut and pocketed them.)

So, down 60 euros but up four bucks - point to the pickpockets
Two nights in jail vs. 60 euros minus 4 bucks - point to us + police
Surrounded by French citizens and old women making unknown hand gestures - point to us
Great story vs. minimum two nights in jail- point to us

We Win.

The Full On Parisian Experience

We rounded out our French experience today. Yesterday we visited the Musee d'Orsay, Tuilleries, Arc de Triomphe and the Place de la Concord. Today we visited a police station and were treated to a chauffeured ride in the back seat of a siren blaring police car. Elizabeth loved it because we went through red lights at a really high rate of speed! We got pick-pocketed today. I'll write up the whole story tomorrow but I'll admit to a certain sense of satisfaction that the man who stole my husband's wallet is spending at least tonight in jail.

Eiffel Tower

We saw the Eiffel Tower today, yeah that was pretty much all we did if you exclude waiting in lines. We got off our flight, grabbed our luggage (I didn't want to check it because the only other time I've ever been in Paris 16 years ago the baggage handlers were on strike)and waited for a taxi. We made it over to the Eiffel Tower in time to join the crazy long line for going up the stairs which was shorter than the extra crazy long line for the elevator. I tried to talk my kids out of waiting but Brianne and Elizabeth were insistent. So, we also waited in medium crazy line to take the elevator to the top (I was relieved that we walked up the second level too rather than waiting for the stairs) and I waited in three long lines to use the bathroom. Brianne decided to show me that not bringing Will was the right choice as we waited in line to go down the elevator from the top by pinching me and saying, No Eiffel Tower," and "bed, sit please." Eiffel Tower sum up. It's a one time-er. The climb isn't that bad even for a fat old woman. If the line is long the first level is as far as you need to go.

Packing

A conversation with Elizabeth while packing.

I said to Elizabeth, "In Europe they dress up more." 

Elizabeth asked, "Should I bring my sombrero?"

Giggling.

"What do you mean dress up?"

 "They wear nicer clothes."

"Please don't tell me I have to wear a dress everyday."

Will's Poetry

Will writes a lot of poetry.  Today's poem:

1.  Let us gather in we all share!
2.  Let us always in a circle care!
3.  Let us always in we all care!

Summer Plans

Subtitle: Thankfully David doesn't know what he's getting himself into.

We, my husband and I, are taking the three children who don't pinch and scream when forced to wait in lines, fly on a airplane, go to museums and walk long distances to France and Spain in a couple of weeks. And my nephew David is flying here to stay with William while we are gone. David, who wants to be a pediatrician (you are welcome future patients and moms!) is going to check out Will's school while he is here and will learn that Will is a rock star in the severely autistic world and will definitely treat patients with special needs and their families with even more compassion and understanding than he would have. (He is already pretty great - as I doubt many 23 year-olds want to spend their summer vacation and birthday babysitting. And switch around summer plans so they can.)

My husband the plumber

I'm sure the reason my husband went to business school was because he wanted to be a plumber. So, It's worked out well for him. I conservatively estimate that he has saved us well over $700 so far this year. The reason? Oh, William + autism + a toilet + trash* = a delightful clog. My husband's new hobby is taking off toilets (aka plumbing). Impressive isn't it? I imagine he talks a lot about his hobby with his co-workers. "Oh, you like to travel?". He could ask, "I can remove a toilet in 1 minute.". I've heard that men like men with skills so I imagine everyone is impressed to hear that. * trash being anything from unwanted crumbled up paper, to sunglasses, to a rubber ball, to a McDonald's toy (Yes, that Happy Meal was totally worth it! Why do you ask?)