My life in general and as a volunteer for an environment group, just within the last few weeks, has been insanely weird, if not totally surreal. Here’s just a couple of things that remind me of things from a David Lynch film but in fact, are things happening in my neck of the woods:

1. I attended my first municipal council meeting in France. Now, for those of you who know me well, you might be wondering why on earth I’d ever find myself attending a municipal council meeting in France, let alone attending ANY municipal council meeting anywhere on earth. I was there to support the president of our environmental group, who ripped in to the mayor of a small village in Burgundy. (the corrupt mayor did deserve it, so I don’t feel bad about that.) Honestly, I wished I hadn’t gone. It was all mayhem, open corruption and near heart attacks. I also did my share of heckling the mayor, as well (a first for me – which felt good to do.) – but those couple of oxygen deprived hours probably will haunt me for the rest of my life.

Sidebar: All municipal counsel meetings in France are open to the public so you can hear about what’s happening in your town – and the public has a right to speak (addressing the counsel) at the end of the meeting. Just in case you need something to do…

2. A person I had just met suggested to me (as an active member of our environmental association) that we should “get rid” of someone who is causing a lot of anguish and pain for most of us. This “someone” is responsible for a terrible project that could be devastating to our region. So. I ask, “Um. ‘Get rid’ as in GET RID?!” “YES!” he says, “I know the right people.” I don’t think I blinked for a whole minute. I finally say, “That is not really our ’style.’” Then he says, “But I thought you HATED him!” I say, “I DO! But but ‘getting rid’…well, um…no!” At the moment, I imagined myself having a conversation with Ray Liotta and was waiting or the director to yell, “CUT!” It didn’t happen. So. At least I know to stay away from this person in the near future. And forever.

3. I’ve been attending “enquête publique” (public inquiry) meetings. These have been so unpleasant, I’m glad the last one is on Monday. This is where the public meets with a commission (3 people) to discuss the proposed project, in our case, a landfill in a nearby village. They are supposed to be impartial “judges” who are there to hear opposition and concerns, or answer any questions. Let’s just say impartiality LEFT THE BUILDING long, long (oh so) long ago.

4. We’re in the process of buying another property in France, and our notaire, which is sort of like legal counsel and a real estate agent (all at the same time), spent hours warning us that France is imploding and we need to have a Plan B. He went on and on, “You do know that France is in deep trouble! You shouldn’t stay here in France too long; things are going to get worse and worse and you should find another country to live!!!! Especially after the elections!” We’re like, “Yeah, yeah. We know.” And he responds, “I’m serious! Really, you should leave France within the next 6 years or so! Get out while you still have a chance!” We do have a Plan B and will probably leave France at some point but it was just weird to hear the warning out loud. Btw, our notaire’s Plan B is to take his family and live in the U.S five years from now.

5. To top off all the stressful events going on simultaneously, this one last thing is really the straw that is breaking the camel’s back: my in-laws (French mummy and daddy dearest) are visiting!!!!!!! OHHHHHHH NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

A last note: This is all based on personal experiences in my little corner of France. Please don’t get the impression that all of France is filled with gangster hitmen, conspiracy theorists and corrupt politicians. Well, maybe except the corrupt politicians.