Do you like reading? Do you like writing? I enjoy both, but I wish I was better at it and more consistent. Well, every November for several years now, there is National Novel Writing Month. I’ve given it a go a few times, but unfortunately I have not stuck with it the entire month. You’d think it would be easy to come up with enough stories for an entire novel after all the places we’ve traveled and our many experiences overseas, and at home.

The other day I was in a small grocery store looking for a snack while I waited for the laundry to finish up at the local laverie. I noticed ahead of me was an older gentleman with a very long grey ponytail, tied up low on his neck, the way I tie my hair. Well, I am always on the lookout for people to meet, and ways to meet them, so I thought my own getting-long ponytail might be just the thing to forge a connection here. I walked up the aisle, and when he turned, I saw him look at me and my hair. Instead of an anticipated head nod or some other acknowledgement, he gave me a sideways smirk and turned away, shaking his head! Needless to say, I felt a little hurt! How could a long-haired gent so easily dismiss another? Well, suffice to say, there very well could have been cultural dynamics at play.

I was a little nervous about coming to France with long hair. Back in Central Asia men generally did not do that. To have long hair suggested that you also smoked drugs, drank lots of beer, and were generally up to no good. Sadly, many dudes I met with long hair in Central Asia actually fit that description! So I kept mine short for a long time, even though it pained me.

Here in France however, I discovered something amazing (two things): Many men wait until their 3os to start a family, and those same men have long hair! Imagine my surprise to be standing outside the kids’ school waiting for them, and to look around and see that most fathers had hair longer than mine! And were my age. Astounding. I’m still in the process of meeting them, but it has been a pleasant experience thus far.

Michelle has befriended and older lady at the church who needed some help cleaning her apartment. Kind Michelle of course offered to help, and while there the older dame gives Michelle French lessons! She has introduced Michelle to a few other older lady friends who are in the same situation as she (living alone, difficulty getting out and about, cleaning and tidying), so Michelle has met some and is working out how to bless them all. Pray for her!

Our chickens are still with us, but one, Popcorn, is not feeling well. Please pray for her. We don’t know what is wrong. We’ve read that chickens can get depressed from cloudy and rainy weather, and well, we’ve had a lot of that lately (almost every day this month has been rainy). Despite her laying eggs again suddenly after a lengthy spell, she has returned to some kind of funk. This is Liberty’s chicken, so Liberty is also worried for Popcorn. Please pray!