I have no good suggestions at the moment, but just want to say that this is an amazing story! Isn't it a beautiful thing to be touched by the kindness of strangers!

My sister-in-law did the walk with her sister and mother. What a great experience.. and your story highlights the fact that it isn't just the landscape and spirituality that make the experience. It's the interactions along the way.

I think anything perishable is problematic unless it is shipped from europe. I'd go one of two paths.. something to brighten her day (as she did yours)... or a (modest) piece of art or handcrafted item. My artist friends LOVE artwork from others. Obviously cost is an issue but I would think something charming from a local artist.. a student artist.. might be nice. I have seen a number of beautiful handcrafted mohair shrugs, cashmere knitted mittens etc at good prices. We have a few small businesses that specialize in these kinds of gifts. I'd imagine you have some local to you as well.

If she asked you to light a candle for her in her church, I am thinking she's catholic? If so, perhaps a beautiful handcrafted rosary? I bought a few beautiful handcrafted rosaries in NM.. one was silver roses that was so beautifully crafted it made me emotional (and I am not all that religious).

Auntjen, yes, everyone I met was so amazingly kind and generous that there just aren't words to describe how wonderful they all were.

And for those of you who've heard that the French hate Americans, I found it extremely moving that in several of the little villages I visited, people went out of their way to tell me how grateful they still are to the Americans who liberated their town during WWII. They even remember the names of the soldiers, after all this time.

Funky, thanks so much for your suggestions. Those are excellent ideas.

That's a beautiful idea, Oly!

That woman is a saint! What a nice story.

That is a nice idea, Oly. She had a large livre d'or which actually intimidated me quite a bit, since many of the Dutch pilgrims who had stayed there had included sketches as part of their thank yous (Not very many people walk this route, mostly folks coming from Belgium and Holland.) The person before me had left portraits of Salome the lovebird and Napoleon the dog. But sooner or later she'll need another volume. Thanks!

meyerk9, when I tried to thank her, she just said that people had done the same thing for her when she was on her pilgrimage, so now she's happy to pass it on to others.

Since she is into art maybe you can find a small painting of some kind by a local artist and send it to her. What a nice person, you were lucky to meet her!

Let me know if I can pass along your request.

Yes, by all means, meyerk9. Thank you.

Thanks, caminnc. I've been thinking about that myself. I saw just the thing a couple of weeks before I left, a charming little oil of this area painted back in the 20s, but alas it was gone when I went back to try to buy it.

Thank you so much, meyerk9, for taking the trouble to ask them.

You mentioned poetry, so she must like it, so perhaps a signed copy or a first edition, or just a nice volume of work. A good book can be a real treasure.

Thanks, ravencajun. Yes, that is a good idea, but a bit tricky, since she doesn't speak/read English at all and I don't think I'll be in France again for a while. I was limping because my foot was broken, so I'm still dealing with that. Still, I can look around and see what's available online. I need to track down a particular French cookbook for a friend, anyway, so I'll keep my out.

I like the book of poetry idea, is there an author local to you? Even if she doesn't read English, a beautiful, (illustrated?) slim volume can be treasured. Or, is there a local artist or artisan? I got my brother a handsome artisanal quilt for house/cat sitting while we were in North Carolina for a few months.

To your other comment, when I was in Normandy 40 years ago, there was so much appreciation and affection for Americans. It was really eye-opening for me as a teen. My DFIL fought in the liberation, in Holland, and went back every 5-10years for observances that included luncheons, dinners, parades, laying-of-wreaths, staying with residents in their homes, and young parents bringing their children on their shoulders out to the events with "thank you" signs. His was not an American unit, I don't know who he fought under (he was Polish and escaped POW camp to get to England) but the sentiment was for all the liberators. I have always found the French to be so kind.

Thanks, bpathome. We have some local artists, but our local authors are folks like Carl Hiaasen and Stuart Woods. Don't know of any good poets around here now, although in the past Wallace Stevens was partial to this area.

Why don't you offer to buy a piece of her artwork? Does she have a website? That would be a lovely remembrance for you to have and would make her happy.

Thanks, westsider40. Yes, I was thinking about that, although her work gets snapped up pretty fast, especially the smaller pieces that I could afford. She does lovely work in bronze, too, but that's way out of my price range, alas.