Thursday, May 23, 2013

I Really, Like Seriously, Want To Go To France

With a sad, but full heart, I tell you that LoLo is no longer feeling pain.

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At least she went out with a bang, and accomplished everything she wanted to in life. My thoughts are with her family, and particularly her son Bryan. I hope that one day I can tell him all the crazy shenanigans that his mom and I got into. He needs to know how cool she was. Love you, LoLo!

Now onto a brighter note...meet Patricia!                                                                                         

I don't know about you,  but I am ALWAYS sucked into blogs that are written by bloggers in another country. Whether they are natives of said country or Americans abroad, I am always intrigued. Today, I'd like to introduce you to a Newlywed Beauty, who is sharing an intensely romantic story.

My name's Patricia and I'm a happy little American blogger living in France.

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At 19, I was young, curious, and just itching for adventure. A year long
study abroad program in France seemed glamorous and thrilling. So I stuffed
everything I could into one little suitcase and bought a plane ticket. A
few months later, completely excited, jet lagged, and a little naive, I
showed up in a city that I'd never visited before, not knowing any one or
even if I'd be able to find my apartment in the morning. I barely spoke the
language.


It wasn't long before a sweet lady from church decided to "adopt" me for
the school year. I fell in love with her son the first day we met. I know
how cheesy that sounds, but that's really what happened. He was tall, dark,
handsome, and barely spoke English. At the time we could only see each
other on weekends, when his mom invited me to Sunday dinners. He lived
three hours away from us in the south of France. At the time I thought that
was tough, but he quickly became my world, my first real love.


That school year passed quickly and the end of summer came. I had to go
back to my home university to finish my senior year, because throwing away
my education for a boy that I'd known for less than a year was out of the
question. He promised wait for me, but when he dropped me off at the
airport I couldn't stop from self from crying. I remember being slightly
embarrassed to be sobbing in front of so many strangers while he held me in
front of Geneva airport's Burger King. So not glamorous.


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I'm not going to tell you that living oceans apart was easy, because we
were so in love. People who tell you that are lying. Long distance
relationships suck. I'm also not going to tell you it was the hardest thing
I'd ever done. He was still my best friend, my closest confidant, and
always just a phone call away.  I had a lot to be grateful for.


We learned so much about are selves and our relationship that year. It
allowed us to grow in ways that we wouldn't have been able to otherwise.
When daily Facebook messages and the occasional call on Skype are your only
methods of communication, you learn to be more direct about what you want
to say and how you're really feeling. You also learn how much the other
person really means to you. There's a French proverb that says "Distance is
to love as wind is to fire. If it is a weak love, it will be quickly blown
out. If it is a strong love, the winds will only make it stronger."


We only saw each other in person once during that nine month separation,
one week right around New Year's. He was supposed to come to Nevada to meet
my family, but he broke his ankle the week before and the doctor told him
that he couldn't travel. I hopped on a plane as soon as I heard and went to
go see him.

Just so you know, happy endings do exist :) . After graduation I dropped
everything, bought a plane ticket back to France, and married that boy. We
still appreciate every day that we get to spend together, because we spent
so many days just wishing that we could. Even though I wouldn't ever want
to do the long distance thing again, I'm so thankful to have had that
experience!


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Blog || Twittwer || Bloglovin'

Welp, I'm off to Denver. I might even have a drink in LoLo's honor!
Catch ya on the flip side.






26 comments:

Alex, Speaking Denglish said...

What a story!! Pretty sure it doesn't get more romantic than that

P!nky said...

Oh sweet friend I LOVE YOU!!!

Prayers for her family!

What a beautiful love story, thanks for sharing!

xoxo

Nikki said...

I am so so sorry for your Loss girl!

Jenn said...

My thoughts and prayers are with you and her family....*hugs*

Rach said...

I'm so so so sorry for your loss. Praying for all of you today.

And Patricia is adorable. I love her story. So sweet. And so true that long distance relationships are not fun, but also totally doable! :)

Optimistic Existentialist said...

My deepest condolences to the loss of your friend Janna.

Jen said...

I am so very sorry! :( my heart breaks for you.

Alana Christine said...

I'm so sorry, girl. I'll send up prayers right now!

Miss Rachel M. said...

::hugs::

You're in my thoughts and prayers, sweetie!

Jamie Hart said...

"That which we have once enjoyed, we never lose. All that we deeply love becomes a part of us."

Take gentle care and know that you are ALL in my prayers. XOXO

Kelly said...

I am so sorry for your loss!

xx
Kelly
Sparkles and Shoes

Dinah Gacon said...

I am truly sorry to hear of your loss, I cannot imagine how you must be feeling.

Hugs to you and if there is anything I can do to make you smile please let me know.
xo Dinah @ sunshine super glam

J and A said...

So sorry for your loss. :( How heartbreaking. But I am glad she is no longer in pain. Sending you a big hug.

SMD @ lifeaccordingtosteph said...

So sorry about your friend. Big hugs to you and to her family.

France is on my list! It's a possibility for 2015!

Nicole said...

Oh I'm sooooo sorry to hear about your friend!

Rebecca said...

I'm sorry for your loss Janna, my thoughts are with you and her family. All those stories that you have are going to mean so much to her son when he is older. Take gently care lovely xxx

Kristine -Heart Shaped Sweat said...

awwww, I love a good love story! gah! And girl, Lolo's life story breaks my heart. def cheers the stars this weekend.

Brittany said...

So sorry about your friend. Praying for you and her family.

Shelley said...

I'm so sorry about your friend :(

Anonymous said...

I am so sorry to hear about your friend, that is really tough. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and her family.

& For once I actually read a guest post (usually I pretend), and I started tearing up at their cute little love story! I am definitely going to have to go check out her blog.. She looks just like Jane Levy!! (Plays Tess on Suburgatory)

Kait said...

Oh goodness, my heart sank reading about LoLo. When I hear things like this, it makes me question so many things in life--like why bad things happen to such good people. If I could send you a big hug across all these miles, I SO would. Just know that Dane and I are thinking of you :)XOX

Heather K. said...

Sorry to hear about LoLo, friend. I'd been praying and, I too, am glad she's no longer in pain. What a beautiful person, to have touched so many lives. Thank you for keeping us updated. Prayers for healing.

Girls Love Fried Pickles said...

I am sure LoLo is telling them how it's done. Hugs to you and her family.

Lins @ Country Roots City Living said...

That was a nice post to LoLo. It is hard to watch a friend who is fighting a disease and you can't do anything about it. I am in that position right now too. Thoughts and prayers are with you and the family.

Kate @ Daffodils said...

I am so sorry about your friend's passing. I am glad she is no longer in pain. Prayers for her family!

Courtney B said...

I am sorry this is late... but I'm so sorry for your loss! Praying for comfort!!

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