Nick, Joe and Kevin Fever

They came toward us flowing with the crowd leaving the concert. The princess was sobbing, bangs plastered to her forehead, damp with sweat. I hugged her and asked her what was wrong. "I saw Nick".

Nick JONAS, that is: the cute, sensitive one from the Jonas Brothers band. The princess and her best friend from school had been anticipating this big concert for months. At the last minute I bailed out and only acted as chauffeur. Our 25 year old friend accompanied them in my place. Happily, Katie is a much more accomplished concert goer than I am. She knew how scope out the best spot by the stage. The girls were all three close enough to claim, "Joe looked right at me; so did Nick." As a bonus, another Disney star, Demi Levato was the opening act. Evidently it was stinking hot in the Zenith that night. Plus they were all squeezed together in the crowd. Security men were passing out water. Young girls were just passing out. This is where Katie's skill was most appreciated. During the final song, "Burning Up" little Rose passed out--and the Princess was on the verge. Katie successfully navigated them to the first aid section to join all the other girls who had "seen Nick" and were recovering from the experience.

After all they had been waiting a couple of hours outside before the doors opened--standing in the sun. When we dropped them off Luke took one look at the thousands of girls and said, "I'm starting to think maybe I should go to this concert." But Amy had the best quote of the night, "This is the second happiest day of my life--just after my wedding."

1. I sure hope she marries some day so she has something to live for now.

2. Where did I get a daughter who screams, cries, and passes out over a musician?

So Close and Yet So Far Away

Yesterday Will took his SAT exam at the American School in Paris (which is actually in the posh suburb of St. Cloud). If there is anywhere in the world where he should feel at home one would think that a High School, in France, where Americans go to school would be it. So close and yet so far away. He felt very different from the kids in the exam room; felt strange answering questions by filling in little ovals; didn't have enough time to finish his essay on the topic of "must there always be losers; or is win/win(/win) possible. He got deep into philosophers and religious ponderings through the ages and ran out of time on his very last sentence. So close and yet so far.

I had four hours to kill ; so I drove around looking for a place to plug in my computer to finish some urgent stuff. Whilst cruising around Paris looking for a friendly Starbucks, I saw police presumably preparing the route for Obama and Sarkozy to get out of Paris and to their helicopters for the D-Day commemeration. Probably the only time I'll be in the same city as the Obamas. So close and yet so far away.

On my way to pick up Will after his exam I drove right past Rolland Garros while the women's final match was beginning. So close and yet so far away.

I watched all the ceremony held at Colleville sur Mer for the 65th anniversay of the Normandy invasion. My mom was only a few 100 km from where all those veterans in their 80s and 90s landed so long ago. So close and yet so far away. It was a beautiful ceremony.