Right off the bat I started doing extra stuff at the school. That’s what I was there for (learning French and doing new things) and I was really into it. This included doing exercises on the internet. What kind of exercises? Well, the kind where you insert the correct answer into a sentence, usually choosing from multiple choice answers. (No, it wasn’t rocket science; but it was a fast and fun way to learn or confirm what you already knew.)

While doing one of them, I had to crack up. I thought of my dear friend Mary Hunter and how she would crack up too. So I sent her the following email:

date: Thu, Jan 14, 2009

subject: I just had a Mary Hunter mement! [sic]
(It was supposed to be moment. Just TRY typing on an European keyboard!)

Bonjour mon amie!

I was just now doing an exercise for French on the computer where you choose the correct answer. Question was, “Mon père a . . . ans.” (My father is . . . years old.)

The answer was 50!!!!!

Feel it?

I felt you laugh with me!

besos,

Susan

And her reply . . .

date: Fri, Jan 15, 2009

subject Re: I just had a Mary Hunter mement!

ah oui!!
NY TIMES pictures of the day today (Friday) included one of two kids rolling a snowball in front of the Eiffel Tower, so I had a Susan mement! Hope you are warm enough…
how do you say “blessings”??…a bientot, mon amie! xxoo multi besos!

•••

I’m in my late 40’s. She’s in her early 50’s. Most of the “kids” at the school are between 19 and 21 years old.

Feel it?

C’est moi avec mon amie Mary Hunter.