The point of a pun is to use a word in a play on words. "Touché" is the fencing term. "Toucher" is the infinitive form of the verb. Since the author was making a pun about fencing (and a clever one, I thought) "touché" works. My (French) two cents.

"When the girls would sleep in the car, I would often put my purse in the backseat just as an extra reminder. "

damn auto-correct is on French!

I think you're right. When the photographer said attend ing these puritain balles was often the girls' idea, my first thought was, "Yeah, FOR THE DRESS."

Oh, yes, the accent! My husband has to insist that his name doesn't have one every time he has to fill out any kind of official document!

It's 2:40 am and I'm on a full bottle of Beaume de Venise. Peas in a pod!

Not THAT much, but thanks for your snark/concern.

So is my husband. And he was also embarassed.

It's all good. I have a very antiquated French name that the French aren't familiar with. Go figure!

My dad's québecois! So many Marie-XYZ and Pierre-XYZ cousins...

Agreed. "Star Academy" has ruined "Jennifer" for all time.

Man, I don't. We thought it would be so obvious when we chose it, like, who *doesn't* know Mme. Thurman? had no idea I would find myself orally spelling it for her teachers so they could address her in a way should would respond: "Il faut dire ' Ouuuuma'".

Love your baby names! I'm kind of (note: KIND OF) glad I'm not attending playdates in Toronto. I'd be ashamed of the side eye I'd be giving the "original spellings" of baby names there.

Full disclosure: if Mia had been a boy, she would have been a Maxence, so I can't throw too much shade on that one. Marie-XYZ? Brilliant cachet.

Uh, how do I write it phonetically in English? "Eeewwwmá"I think is the closest I can get. Poor lamb. The Quentin Tarentino fans get it, though, so there's that.

I know, right? Such a disappointment.

Um, can I be your friend?

YES! Brettons are all about the tradition, no? Gaël/Gaelle throws me every time. Not bretton, but I also find "fréderic/Frédérique troubling.

So. Many. Aurélies.