The whole dream was homespun happiness. My entire village celebrated some obscure holiday. It was a county fair, a big reunion, a birthday party, a veteran’s memorial day.

There was not a single whiff of sophistication—we wove delphiniums in our hair, decorated the square with candles and lamps, played with all the kids, set up chairs and buffet tables in the town hall/church, hugged and kissed friends. And this was just the preparations. I woke up before the actual festivities began.

But I woke up grinning.