The House is Officially Ours

We moved into the new house on August 7th, immediately following the closing signatures on the deed. But, since the shipping container with our belongings may take several more weeks to arrive, we're basically camping here with a couple beds and a dining table that we purchased from the seller, and some kitchen essentials that our new neighbors kindly loaned to us. This arrangement has its challenges: we have no internet (other than from my unreliable hot spot), no comfortable place to sit, and we're in the thick of a record-breaking heatwave with temps over 100*, and our kitchen A/C isn't working and the repairman is on vacation this month. But, moving in now allows us to start ordering furniture and enjoy the swimming pool during this unusually hot summer. What we didn't anticipate, was being stuck in the house all day waiting for the deliveries stemming from those orders (here, you must be home to accept any deliveries) AND we're reluctant to start any major DIY projects, because all of our tools are sitting in a shipping container somewhere in Belgium. Did I mention that so many families go on holiday in August (before their kids head back to school) that many businesses simply close for the month to allow their employees this time with their family. A beautiful concept, but a bit challenging for those of us currently camping out with a mattress on the floor and an A\C unit in need of repair. Still, you can't fight city hall...... so we wait (and wait, and wait, and wait). We did manage to get a refrigerator and washing machine installed though, and those additions to the Walters' maison have improved our "camping" adventure considerably. And a few days ago, the soft, velvety Chesterfield sofa I ordered was delivered, and her grand entrance into the salon was such a thrill. She simply cannot live in that room as it is--with it's dull gray walls and trippy geometric wallpaper. So, in anticipation of creating a room worthy of the sofa (as well the antique marble fireplace and original herringbone wood floors that share the space with her), we spent an entire day shopping for paint supplies. And so the 2025 DIY projects have begun.

In unrelated news from this past weekend, an art installation reflecting the history of Moissac was projected onto the walls of our 7th century Abbey. In the dark of the night, people from town (including its 2 newest residents from Arizona) walked to the square and found seats in the outdoor cafes that had stopped serving hours earlier and were closed for the night. They chatted with family and friends while waiting for the giant projectors to start. I didn't understand a word of what was spoken, but it was a lovely evening and late enough that the heat of the day had disappated. The show was visually mesmerizing and the stars provided a stunning backdrop.

Moissac actually has a rich and impressive history. During the holocaust of WW2, hundreds of locals helped resistance activists rescue over 500 Jewish children. Shatta and Eduard Simon, a local Jewish couple, admitted hundreds of Jewish children from Poland, Romania and Hungary to a school they opened in Moissac in 1933. The children were smuggled in, sometimes with help from resistance fighters, so they could survive the genocide in which most of their family members were murdered. Not only were they fed, educated and loved, but incredibly, they were able to live out their Judaism in the open, under the protection of the heroism of the citizens of Moissac. In 1943, local police tipped off the Simons that a raid had been ordered on their school. Luckily, the Simons were able to distribute about 500 children amongst the village’s residents ahead of the raid, so none of the children were ever caught or deported. There is no record of any resident from Moissac ever informing authorities about the hidden children or the rescue operation. A poignant reminder, especially in these times, of the kind of compassion human beings are capable of--even when it comes at risk of great personal peril.