On our inaugural kamikaze buying trip in the fall of 2015, we spent a lot of time running around like chickens with our heads cut off. So many towns were busts for purchases and, on one particular day, it felt like we were never going to find anything we wanted to buy.
Now this is not a normal complaint most couples have. “Geez honey, I just really can’t find anything on the French Riviera to spend money on today.” The struggle is real folks!
Now this is not a normal complaint most couples have. “Geez honey, I just really can’t find anything on the French Riviera to spend money on today.” The struggle is real folks!
After spending the morning visiting seemingly endless dead ends, we wound our way up, up, up into the small village of Coursegoules. We discovered a sweet little shop with the most interesting, diverse baskets. After some brief whispers about what we thought and did we like them and would other people like them, Dirk began a dialogue with the lovely store owner.
I am not sure if I have mentioned this or not but I, for some unknown reason, become a mute when we are in France. For anyone who knows me, this might come as a shock since most of the time I am running my yap incessantly. As you can imagine, Dirk does not complain about a wordless Westcott. Do not be confused, I understand every single word that is uttered in French so not much gets by me but after a decade long break from speaking the language, my confidence is shot. Plus, I have such a handsome translator at the ready!
For a minute or so, I listened to Dirk talking with this sweet woman about her baskets and her shop and she was asking which ones we wanted and Dirk, in his adorable way, was trying to point out several we liked. Progress was slow, needless to say, and my patience was wearing thin.
“Tell her we want them ALL!”
I am not sure if I have mentioned this or not but I, for some unknown reason, become a mute when we are in France. For anyone who knows me, this might come as a shock since most of the time I am running my yap incessantly. As you can imagine, Dirk does not complain about a wordless Westcott. Do not be confused, I understand every single word that is uttered in French so not much gets by me but after a decade long break from speaking the language, my confidence is shot. Plus, I have such a handsome translator at the ready!
For a minute or so, I listened to Dirk talking with this sweet woman about her baskets and her shop and she was asking which ones we wanted and Dirk, in his adorable way, was trying to point out several we liked. Progress was slow, needless to say, and my patience was wearing thin.
“Tell her we want them ALL!”
And there you have it. Out it came and there was no taking it back! To say her day was made would be an understatement.
After a brief price negotiation since we had effectively emptied her store that afternoon, we settled up. Baskets loaded in our station wagon and with a large hug and an even larger “Merci”, we were on our way!
How I wish we had gotten her email address! Those 35 baskets were all sold within our first 24 hours of business last Spring. We will have to make the drive to the lovely Coursegoules again next Fall and see if we can’t find a few more baskets to bring back with us.
After a brief price negotiation since we had effectively emptied her store that afternoon, we settled up. Baskets loaded in our station wagon and with a large hug and an even larger “Merci”, we were on our way!
How I wish we had gotten her email address! Those 35 baskets were all sold within our first 24 hours of business last Spring. We will have to make the drive to the lovely Coursegoules again next Fall and see if we can’t find a few more baskets to bring back with us.
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