This is me diving into Lac de Paladru, a glacial lake in the southern part of France, sort of in between Lyon and Geneva. Our friends S. and C. have a gorgeous, ramshackle old farmhouse there ("La Ferme") that's been in C's family for decades. They were married there, and I had the honor of being a witness in their wedding. Friends came from all over France and slept in tents in the back yard, or in sleeping bags in the huge, dusty attic. A heatwave had taken hold of the area, but the beauty of the farm and the backdrop of the incredibly blue lake somehow offset the discomfort of being in a suit and tie in a sweltering municipal hall for the civil portion of the ceremony.
The party went on well into the wee hours, continuing even after an overly agitated Frenchman wearing boxers and an undershirt burst into the tent shouting about hearing the noise all the way on the other side of the lake. Needless to say, morning brought with it plenty of headaches and bleary faces. Thankfully, mere feet away, there was the lake, beckoning with it cool, refreshing water. The entire wedding party assembled for a day of sunbathing, diving, swimming, and horseplay. It's something I'll never forget and always hold dear.
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