A favorite saying… painted on a modest fence; it reads…
"Pour bien vivre, bien aimer et laisser dire."
To live well, love well and let others say what they will.
aimer (ay-may) verb
: to love
j'aime, tu aimes, il aime… nous aimons, vous aimez, ils aiment…
A Day in a French Life… by Kristin Espinasse
Examples of Amour
It began in the black of the night. Lying there in bed, I was not thinking about my birthday and for this I was grateful. Please, God, let me think of other things besides myself and my well-being.
I must have been thinking about China in the late 30's and the heroine of the book that I am reading. Before I fell to sleep last night, she was still stirring… freeing so many tiny feet from foot-binding.
I wriggle my toes beneath the sheets… freedom all around me! What more could I want for my anniversary? And yet…
(The alarm rings…)
"Eh ben," Well, whaddya know! Jean-Marc teases.
"Ce n'est pas possible!" It can't be.
"Qu'est-ce qui n'est pas possible?" What can't be?
"43 ans!" Forty-three years old!
"Et si et c'est bien!" Yes it can and it is good!
And with that, my husband began to shower me with cadeaux…
There was the cup of coffee he brought me… in a mug featuring a photo of Braise and Smokey….
Cadeau no. 2 was my daughter, whom he awoke… in time for her to offer me une petite boîte of dark chocolates.
Up next… a book… by a rebel nun (I have written about her here).
The gifts continued every quarter of an hour! Cadeau no. 4: a little olive tree: the one I had feared buried beneath so many weeds. How much guilt have I felt, believing I had "choked" it in neglect (leaving it there, alone, in an abandoned garden patch). And now, a second chance! I sat there with little olive tree in my lap. I sipped my coffee, stared at my chocolates, the book, and listened to the water fill my bath.
Reste là! Jean-Marc said, disappearing into the salle de bain. "Ne regarde pas!"
When all was clear and I could come in I could hardly conceal an ear-to-ear grin. On the wall I saw the metal letters that had tumbled off a year or so ago:
"A N G E"
Whereas Jean-Marc had once used duct tape to hang the letters… this time he glued them!
I stared at the French word for "angel". I do hope to act like one this year. (As my mom always says "act as if!" (by the way, she is the one who gave me the metallic "A N G E" letters).
As for the angel in China whom I spoke of earlier (busy unbinding so many tortured feet) — I'm not sure what she has to do with my story, except to serve as a reminder of how much there is to be grateful for… and that the key to happiness is in the giving of oneself, as Jean-Marc did so beautifully with, among other things, the little olive tree.
.
French Vocabulary
le cadeau = present
une petite boîte = a box
reste là! = stay there!
la salle de bain = bathroom
ne regarde pas! = don't look
un ange = angel
A previous birthday party (my 36th) in 2003. Jackie and Max.
A favorite picture of my mom, Jules (photo taken in 2003). Looking forward to calling her today!
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Joyeux anniversaire indeed Kristin,
What a lovely story to share with us all.
How sweet and full of goodness, the true spirit of giving, of love…Ah, Jean Marc and your children are angels as well!
Enjoy, savor, celebrate 43! I just know it is going to be a very good year for you. May your heart be full with gratitude, your eyes open as always to new adventures and discoveries of every kind and your life blessed with deep joy, health and fulfillment. Thank you for sharing and giving so much of yourself to us through your writing and beautiful art work.
Hoping to meet you, perhaps in the new year ahead…avec un peu de chance en France! 🙂 Amicalement,
Joyeux anniversaire, je profiter de votre blog beaucoup. Pamela Smith Mme
Happy birthday! My birthday was December 19th – don’t you love having a December birthday? Especially with the gifts and surprises and blessings are beautiful, as you’ve noted.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!! I will joining 43 with you in a couple months. I love what marianne said about growing older. I haven’t been able to read the rest, but will when I settle down for the evening. SO many people who follow you have great wisdom and I love reading it! It is hard to remember we are still young as things change, the things only we can see about ourselves. There are so many wonderful years ahead, and great things to experience. I wish the best for you!
Buffy
Happy Birthday Kristin .. Hope it is perfect!
Happy Birthday Kristen! May God continue to richly bless you all the days of your life. And thank you sincerely for the gift of yourself to those of us who so enjoy your photos and daily experiences.
Happy Birthday from Australia, Kristin. Hope you have a wonderful day.
Bon Anniversaire Kristin and may you have a great year. You are still young. Jackie and Max have grown up and are beautiful children (young adults).
Happiest of birthdays Kristin!!!
<3 <3 <3
Bonne anniversaire Kristin.
I only know you through your generous offering of “French WOrd a Day”, but already feel much admiration and liking for you. Thank you for sharing some of your beautiful life and family with an Indian born Australian Francophile.
Bon anniversaire, Kristin! Adults are difficult to surprise. It is soooo nice that Jean-Marc and your children made it extra special. Thank you for the gift of your blog and Cinéma Vérité. Love both and don’t miss a one.
Bon anniversaire mon amie Kristin!
bises, Melo
Happy Birthday and best wishes…”Act as if…”- how cute is your mom?
Sounds like you had the best birthday…I hope you keep celebrating everyday as if it was your birthday…love from all of us here in Pasadena!
xx
Kristi Darling – I am speachless with the joy you have brought into my life.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
XOXO
MOM
Happy, Happy Birthday from Phoenix. What a joy to read your stories. xoxo
Joyeux anniversaire, chere Kristin. Tu es une belle lumiere dans cette monde. Merci beaucoups pour ta blog, c’est une bonne thing. I love your story today, the sweetness is palpable, lovable. It is good to have these generous outward flows of affection. I remmeber you in my thoughts and prayers today that you will have another wonderful year of living. hugs, Patty
Happy Birthday—–what a wonderful morning. (And a wonderful husband–to have remembered the little olive tree). Wishing you a blessed Christmas surrounded by love.
bon anniversaire…plus en plus!!! Love how you share your personal moments and the philosophy arising from it. you inspire the writer in me to be more conscious, attentive and expressive.
Happy Birthday and Happy Holidays! Your birthday surprises sounds wonderful!
Life begins at 43!!!
Love every minute of it, love the wonderful life you have and we happily share with you through your uplifting words, you share the “positive” more than you’ll ever know!
Thank you for being you!
lovely thoughts –
Aren’t you the lucky girl! A very Happy Birthday from Lynn and Ron
Happy happy day to you! Thank you for your clever gift of teaching French by sneaking in a few new words (and phrases) co-mingled with English. This method works for my brain. I am very glad that i found your blog and look forward to “knowing” you and more francaise.
Oh, and yes we Western women can walk on our “large” unbound feet – how great is that? Merci!
where will you plant your olive tree?
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for every single word!
Tom, yes, that is the book, by Gladys Aylward: http://www.amazon.com/o/asin/0802429866/mdj-20 …I’ve just finished it today (anyone could read it in a day… took me almost three, savoringly).
Gwyn, I was so nervous about writing a story on my birthday… never sure if any words will come. I waited until the “11th hour” and then decided that I’d better begin writing about the actual day… else risk forgetting it, as I forget many of the past days! I was very lucky to be reading “The Little Woman” by Gladys Aylward which inspired the first few sentences. After I typed those, I had to ask myself how they would possibly relate to my story? And then, as my grandmother always said “It’ll all work out”. Somehow it did and I thank you and everyone here for reading. I hope it will continue to “all work out” in the coming year.
Sue, I’m still not sure where the little olive tree will go — somewhere within “eye reach”, I hope. Jean-Marc thinks that the earth was too rich… that the little olive tree needs to struggle some more! The idea that a struggle will lead to growth… quelle idée! Quelle vérité….
Dear Kristin,
Happy birthday, a day late. Didn’t get to the email yesterday. You are so blessed to have your husband and children around you and filled with love for you. You have a lovely soul and it attracts others. Enjoy your birthday as you approach the birthday of our savior Jesus Christ.
Diane Young
Jacksonville, Florida
Bonne Anniversaire & thank you for bringing me back down to earth, I have been in such a grumpy mood very selfish of me to be like this on christmas eve, have a wonderful day and enjoy your loving loyal family xxxxx elizabeth
Happy somewhat belated birthday!
Age (the number), per se, is unimportant; how we inhabit our age and life – all important. May you find joy in every day, no matter which year you are counting!
Happy Birthday Kristi! I wanted to tell you that a friend of mine recently loaned me the beautiful movie about Gladys Aylward starring Ingrid Bergman! It was wonderful and I recommend it.
Happy Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your family Kristin. I look forward to my word a day email, it is always so interesting. I like your book too. We try to visit France every year and have had some wonderful holidays there with our children and grandchildren. Best Wishes from Vancouver, Canada.
Bonne anniversaire – what a perfect birthday!
I always enjoy your quick reads.
Bonne Anniversaire!! A bit late, but it sounds like it was magnifique!
I second Dhiana on the movie–it’s called “The Inn of the Sixth Happiness” starring Ingrid Bergman. I’ve watched it at least a dozen times…such an inspiring woman.
Pardonnez-moi, je suis en retard de dire bonne anniversaire! What a wonderful story today, brought tears to my eyes! How lucky you are!
I live in the Dordogne. I now live alone but do not feel alone because I help a lot of other people which gives me happiness. I have wondered whether I was being self indulgent, but feel better after your lovely quote “the key to happiness is the giving of oneself”.
Definitely my target for the year!
Thank you,
Geoff