(Continued from Brittany)
When I returned from Brittany and checked my email I had over 300 vitally important email messages. I turned the computer off.
![](https://culinarytravelsinfrance.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/709e8-traffic-auberge.jpg?w=133&h=200)
![](https://culinarytravelsinfrance.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/f4d57-knight-auberge.jpg?w=200&h=150)
“Hello, this is Ms. Jones from your dentist office? I’m calling to confirm your appointment in two weeks.”
My mind went from mighty swords and knights to gruesome creatures with dental drills. I know that my phone lies somewhere in the valley slowly loosing its signal, slowly closing down separating me from the modern world forever. Could it get any better than that?
Now, on the other hand, for so many Europeans that I know personally and professionally, the holiday month (either you are a July-ist or an August-ist) is an indisputable matter. It is a shrine to pay homage to. There are no negotiations about making two and half weeks and “make up the rest in November, like a good man.” No it is anticipated, planned for, expected, build around. It is as concrete as it gets. It is Holy. In fact there won’t even be a strikes because that cuts into vacation time, I mean how serious can you get? And frankly, my hat is off to each and everyone of them. I suppose I am just a bit envious, even though it does stick in my craw because I can’t tell you how many times I have tried to connect with someone for one professional reason or another and I get a message back that they are away skiing in the Alps and look forward to answering me on their return. I hate them for that but I also applaud that as being the sensible, sane and right thing to do. On this side of the pond, we often live with the tyranny of the boss, the pressure of work, the laptop, the cell phone and/or Blackberry. We multifunction between eating meals and reading emails, we talk to each other while texting over dinner (excuse me I have to get this..) Oh we take our two week vacation, just please do check your email and voice mail, and text messages, you know we have that deal we’re working on that could make or break our year and “our” bonus. Bring the computer with you dear oh and the baby too, I suppose.
I got home from my Brittany vacation and found my mailbox bulging with vital pieces of information including utility bills, coupons for dog food, medical breakthrough on skin cleansing creams (five copies all stuck together) and a cream color envelope with my name and address elegantly written out in long hand; it looked like an invitation. I guess Sylvie meant she what she said.
First things first, I have to tackle those 300 emails, I might have won a contest and I don’t even know I’m a multi-millionaire. I can throw away all the pots and pans and retire somewhere with no cell phone.