Yesterday morning, Landon and I went up to the lake, Scotts Flat Reservoir, which is 10 minutes from the house and where he usually rows.

We said goodbye to the owners of our little hotel in Veyrier du Lac and caught the bus for the six kilometers around the lake to the village of Talloires, which has been called ‘the most romantic village in France.’

Looking out onto the lake in Annecy, France, past ‘le balcon,’ the balcony of our little room. So lovely to be here.

The sun sparkles on the lake beyond the little terrace of our balcony. We’re resting after a day of biking and then will head out to take a boat ride around the lake.

We’ve settled into a rhythm here in our cozy hotel. We’re doing ‘demi-pension’ which means we eat breakfast and dinner here, very easy and ‘en famille’, like being a part of the family.

I guess that’s what I’ve become, hanging out with all these rowers! It’s a lot of fun though and very exciting.

Well after a rough start of a cancelled flight, 24 hours of travel, lost bags and about everything else that could go wrong, we’re back on track now, in the peaceful river-side village of Henley-on-Thames.

In 1996 my sister Sharon was about to undergo her first brain surgery to remove several tumors. Though we had lost our father five years before, I had never questioned that Sharon would always be a part of my life.