I am aboard a medium-speed light and airy first-class train, with only a few people accompanying me. Its peaceful here, except for the two giggly 70 year old French women sitting next to me and the all-too-frequent conductor’s announcements, complete with a scratchy voice and over-the-top feedback. Its crisp and sunny outside and I wish I could remember every detail of the golden landscape passing my window. Well-kept vineyards sleep next to sparkling rivers, half-erect ancient stone buildings push their way up clumsily and sleepily through soils of empty fields, two nuclear power smoke stacks nonchalantly keep watch over a quiet valley, the blue sky sings of its color to anyone who cares to listen, bright red church steeples break up the simple pattern of flimsy paintbrush trees on the horizon to dutifully point heavenward, white stucco-like houses with red brick roofs scatter themselves wherever the gardens grow best, fruit trees mark out the gentle slopes of the hills, oncoming trains speed by in the blink of an eye with a quick ‘hello’ toot and a sturdy rattle and sway of our train in response.
I turned away once to concentrate on a book I was reading about a kid who is learning to deal with the death of his dad during 9/11, and when I lazily raised my head again, a flat intense blue sea at my level covered the dry farming landscape. The changes from rolling hills to Mediterranean blue were probably slow and steady, but I like to think that the watery expanse pushed itself raucously onto the surprised earth, tapping its toes and whistling in feigned patience for my first glance and gasp.
I’m traveling solo to Marseille to visit Celine Pillonel, a dear friend from my first year in YWAM. The gentle and deep allure of a longstanding friendship beckons. My 3rd grade teacher taugh us the song “Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other, gold.” Although growing up I never knew which friend was which, I thrive on new friendships, and survive because of my old.
Beautiful Celine!
Notre Dame de la Guarde
View from the top
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