Giverny Dream

Monet memories... My mom would always get me pictures and posters of Monet's work that took over my walls of my childhood room. Naturally, I had the book "Linnea in Monet's Garden," a book that helped children learn about the impressionism art movement.

I have the most vivid memory of watching my dad look at art in museums. My memory is of him, with reading glasses on and hands clasped behind his back, getting as close as possible to the paintings to observe the brushstrokes and movement of the paint on the canvas. I didn't really understand it until I saw my first Monet painting.

When other middle-schoolers had posters of boy bands on their walls, I had Monet's water lilies, trees, boats, poppies, weeping willows, and haystacks covering my room.

The brushstrokes that looked so blurry up-close create a masterpiece when you take a few steps back. Something about Monet's work has always given me a feeling that I've never had before- the way the paintings capture nature's beauty by blending colors and light has always made me feel like everything will always be okay. It gives me chills just thinking about it.  

Okay, so you get it now. I love Monet. What's the point of this post?

The point is that I am taking a class called Impressionism in Paris. I will be spending a long weekend in Paris at the end of April. The Saturday while we are there is a French holiday. Everything, literally, everything in Paris will be closed. The only thing open? Monet's house and garden in Giverny. We will be spending the day at Monet's house and gardens. I am so excited I can't even stand it! This is amazing!!! How did I get so lucky!?