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| Scott Fountain on Belle Isle |
My nephew & niece-in-law, Kevin and Jen came to Detroit for a weekend visit to see me off to France. We ate much, talked much and enjoyed each other's company.
something cheesy good at Lucy and the Wolf restaurant in Northville and my hamburger and salad dinner
ffmy hamburger and salad 
famous complimentary doughnuts of the house
Drinks at Granite City Food and Brewery in Northville with Denise and John and a visit from Vishu, Kevin's University of Michigan classmate.
Sunday breakfast of chicken & waffles at Kuzzo's in Detroit--a must-do treat
Some more quality time at the new and improved Belle Isle, now a designated state park. Here is the bridge to Belle Isle with the Detroit skyline in the background
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some interesting people we saw in the park
some nice portraits to keep
As my days at home wound down, Denise and I had some time to spend together walking down Memory Lane starting with our neighborhood in Melvindale and with our parents' graves.
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| our home on Flint Street where we grew up |
Mom and Dad's graves
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graveyard at the Field, located at the end of our street;
it served as our playground
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| Bobby and Michael's house and my best friend, Charlene's house |
Best friend, Patty's house
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Aunt Frances & Uncle Marcel's house where we spent many good times
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| Our grandparents' house, a block away from ours |
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| Melvindale High School |
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We saw the former site of Dasher Junior High with the football field in background
We visited our high school band leader's grave, Mr. Naumoff
We saw the movie Paris Can Wait, a perfect preparation formy new life there. It was at my favorite theatre, the Phoenix
We had lunch at our favorite Chines restaurant, Dale Yee's
We visited the site of our old parish, St. Conrad's
We visited our old Church, Dearborn Woods United Presbyterian Church
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| house of Mrs. Williams, 6th grade teacher who inspired my interest in the United Nations and things international |
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| neighborhood view of the ever-present Ford Rouge Plant, the source of middle class jobs |
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| Dinner with Uncle Mario with cousins Paul and Mary and husband, Dan |
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| Joyce and Minnie, long-time Flint neighborhood friends with steak dinner |
We went to Mass together one last time.
John and Denise lit a candle for me. This was VERY touching and I was not only moved but overwhelmed by their gesture of love and support.
We sipped cappucino at Cantoro's one last time.
We had dinner together one last time....and it turned out to be a Christmas-in-July dinner with traditional family servings of spedini, sausage and broccoli.
My plan was to take a suitcase, duffle bag and purse--and I did it!
Final good-byes were happy but tearful.
Denise is a teacher and she knows how to plan activities and events. She went all out for me during these last days at home. She made them fun and memorable. I love her for that; but more importantly, I love her for who she is and the fact that she is my sister forever!
My plane leaves Detroit on Sunday, July 9 at 8:30 p.m. and after a couple stops, it will arrive in Lyon on Monday, July 10 at 5 p.m. The sisters at the International Centre will greet me at the airport--and my two 18"-cubed boxes filled with clothes and things that I sent three weeks ago will be waiting for me in my new home.
A few days later the Tour de France will come to Le Puy. That should be exciting to see a world classic up close.
