Bonjour à tous! Do you know what day it is?

It’s Fête du Muguet! My favorite French holiday, when everyone gives little bouquets of lily of the valley to their friends and family. (It’s also French Labor Day, when everyone protests. The two holidays aren’t related.)

In any case, I’m trying to ease back into this whole living-in-the-U.S. thing by holding onto my favorite parts of life in France. I may not be able to do anything about this country’s lack of good cheese, cheap champagne, or efficient public transportation, but I can hand out sweet little bouquets. I was a little concerned at first about where I would find lily of the valley since this country also doesn’t have flower shops in every neighborhood, but then I went over to my mom’s house and my jaw dropped. Her backyard runneth over with the tiny white flowers!

I was too excited not to immediately say something to Colin, so he’s known for weeks now that he’d be getting a hand-picked bouquet of muguet. (But he’s still at work and hasn’t seen it yet, so shhhh! Don’t tell him.) I also made one for my mom, since she’s one of the only other people I know here.

Today also marks the first time I’ve pulled out my camera since Paris. It’s hard to believe that I’ve been gone for three months. Thinking back to May 1 last year, I felt like I’d lived in Paris forever. Now, here, I feel like I’m still a newcomer. But last year’s bouquet of muguet did indeed bring us happiness and good luck, so I’m hoping for the same this year.