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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Hi Kristi,
What a beautiful birthday surprise.. or series of surprises, really. 🙂
Thank you for the quote; sometimes the “let people say what they will” part takes a little getting used to. Those are truly words to live by.
Again, joyeux anniv’ – I wish you so much happiness and beauty on this day and always.
Bonne Anniversaire!
Bonne anniversaire, Kristin!
What a wonderful way to be woken up – surrounded by the ones you love and who love you – all under one roof and even in one room, right by your side. Yes, aimer is the best word today.
Cheers!!
Bonne anniversaire! Very interesting about the nun, I will have to try to find some of Soeur Emmanuelle’s books.
Joyeux Anniversaire, Kristin! Karen is exactly right – what a wonderful way to begin your special day. Best wishes to you.
Happy Birthday, Kristen !
You have brought such delight in your words. Ange is fitting indeed ! Just wait to see what life brings next .
Happy Birthday to a very young and energetic 43 yr old. Ah, to be 21 years younger!!! Enjoy every minute. What a wonderful way to start your day. Jean-Marc is a loving husband!
Bon anniversaire et bonne journee, Kristin! What a lovely story, full of love et tendresse. I love the quote, too, and will take a look at the book. You bring such joy to all of us.
Hope you guys are surviving the snow we are reading about en France.
Happy birthday, Kristin! Enjoy your day!
Thank you for sharing your wonderful birthday experiences. So happy to hear that you enjoyed such a special day. Thank you for helping me pull away from my own self-absorption. I will now definitely read the Gladys Aylward book (another one on that page, If I Perish, also looks worthwhile).
Bonne Anniversaire,Kristi! The wonderful surprises your family greeted you with on your birthday morning reminds me of a book I read as a child. It is by a Swedish writer and the little girl in the story awoke on her birthday to find her bedroom filled with flowers and good things to sip and eat.
Every time you look at the olive tree, through the years, you will remember this day.
Bonne Anniversaire, aussi, Kristin! As Karen said, what a wonderful way to be woken up. It’d never work for me, though, because my wife is always up at least an hour before me, so my surprises tend to be towards the end of the day.
I agree with Donna that of the quote, the “let people say what they will” part takes a little getting used to – we’re always concerned about what other people think.
Boy, have Max and Jackie grown up since their picture was taken 7 years ago. (BTW, 43 is not old.)
Bonne anniversaire and thank you for gracing us for another year with your presence, your thoughts, your uncertainties, your beautiful pictures and for sharing such thought-provoking slices of your life with us. Let yourself be spoiled by those who love you without an ounce of guilt. That’s what birthdays are for! It’s your day!
Bonne anniversaire, chère Kristin ! Que tous tes souhaits se réalisent.
Kristin,
Don’t miss this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Wild-Swans-Three-Daughters-China/dp/0385425473
Candy
Joyeux anniversaire, Kristin! J’aime bien votre “blog.” Merci!
Katharine
Happy Birthday, Kristin Ange!
Joyeux anniversaire, Kristin. Merci beaucoup for sending us a present, too, with this wonderful little episode filled with love and good reading suggestions. Eat a chocolate for me.
Bon anniversaire Kristen, you are a fortunate woman!!!
Thank you for sharing such a nice birthday with us!
Wish I were 43 again!!!!
Happy Birthday, Kristin! It’s off to a good start, thanks to your wonderful family! Hope every minute of YOUR day is as good as the opening minutes!
Thank you for bringing so much joy to my life by sharing yours.
As one gets older, the best part of birthdays is being remembered. This past Saturday I drove an hour-and some others drove longer-to attend the 65th birthday party of a friend. She was totally surprised, and kept saying that what she appreciated most was not just gifts folks brought, but the effort made to come and being with her on her milestone day. Kristin, you have a ways to go before 65. The main thing to remember is that age is to a considerable degree a state of mind. One can’t turn back the clock, and as I get older, I do get tired faster, but if one thinks youthful thoughts, which I believe you do, birthdays will come and go without making you “old.” And remember the French saying, “On a toujours vingt ans dans quelque coin du coeur.” Have a great year!
Hi Kristin. Enjoyed the story, as usual. You might like to ‘tweak’ the following.
Qu’est-ce qui n’est pas possible?” Change qui to que.
Cadeaux no. 2 Change to cadeau.
Cadeux no. 4 Change to cadeau.
Reste là! Change to restes.
“Ne regarde pas!” Change to regardes.
Salut Kristin
Joyeux anniversaire! Wow, you’ve had quite a week. First you had to get past the winter solstice and now a birthday. You’re lucky you missed being a Sagittarius by one day; Capricorns have such interesting traits. Check at:
http://www.astrology-online.com/capricrn.htm
À bientôt
Happy Birthday! Thank you for the article reminding me what are the real gifts of another year of life. You have a wonderful family! They gave the gifts of the heart.
Enjoy!
Kristin,
This hasn’t been the best holiday season for me–insane work schedule and ailing father-in-law–so it’s been a bit tough to sort through my email in the morning. Seeing your email there–and your wonderful story–was a breath of fresh air. Merci, merci, merci beaucoup.
Si precieuxe! Bonne anniversaire. Vous êtes bien heureux!
Treasure each moment of being 43! My favorite year!
Kristin–you’ve got to convert yourself to thinking that birthdays are a state-of-mind kind of thing. Your life’s activities, coupled with three obviously vibrant family members, aren’t going to let you get ‘old’ in any real sense. Enjoy the maturation!
Marshall
P.S. I don’t go along with all of Nick’s corrections!
Happy Birthday Kristin!!
Your blog is beautifully written and beautifully presented. It’s the only blog I read.
♥ in the middle of a sort of ‘crowd’ in a very cold place
♥ borrowed a laptop from…. ‘an angel’!
♥♥♥Bless him! ♥♥♥
♥He also showed me how to make these little hearts! I’m so grateful!
XX ♥BON ANNIVERSAIRE KRISTIN!♥ XX
Re: singing Chorus at the end of previous FWAD
♥ Ooooh”, Kristin, the olive tree!!!
♥ must have been telepathy
♥ check your inbox. Can you see?
♥ sorry Nick, but…
–> “Qu’est-ce qui n’est pas possible?” is 100% perfect (yes, it’s “qui”, not “que”) – no time to explain. Got plenty to do and must return this borrowed laptop!
♥ sorry again, but…
–> “Reste là”! 100% perfect
–> “Ne regarde pas!” 100% perfect
1st group verb (“rester”, “regarder”) -> No “s” at end of the “tu” form of a 1st group verb in the Imperative mode
Plenty to do, people around,
Must return the laptop immediately
Byyye everybody
Kristin, have a wonderful day!
Happy Birthday, kiddo!
May the day and the year be filled with the continuing blessings of love, laughter, health, prosperity and connection!
Bon Anniversaire Kristin! What a lovely way to wake up on your birthday!
I love the painted saying on the fence! I have a painted wooden sign in my kitchen that reads: “Live Well, Love Much, Laugh Often”.
Jackie and Max look like little angels in the photo!
Eileen
Happy Birthday Kristin!
Wishing you all the best… Have a wonderful day.
Comme tous vos lecteurs, je vous souhaite un tres joyeux anniversaire. This is a lovely essay; thank you for letting us all into your special day. I hope you–and all of us–have a healthy and happy 2011.
Happy Birthday, Kristin. We share our nativity day (but mine was 60 years ago) 🙁 Well, anyway it’s nice to have a nativity day so close to THE nativity day, n’est ce pas!! Were you reading the bio. of Gladys Alyward by any chance? What an inspiration she has been in my life…refusing to be discouraged by those who told her she was incapable of doing what God told her to do! You are blessed by having a wonderful family. Have a wonderful conclusion to your special day.
What a lovely start to what I hope has been a wonderful day! Joyeux anniversaire, Kristin!
Happy Birthday. Thank goodness you are only 43!! Lots more to come from such a wonderful writer and photographer. Thank you for sharing your life with us.
by the time I awoke in rain drenched Los Angeles, others have said it all. I hope your wonderful day continues. Bon anniversaire!
Have a wonderful day and year as well. You have a very loving family and you are blessed to have a mother like Jules!!!Stay warm, Francie in Kansas
Bon Anniversaire a toi, mon amie! You are so much better at living the quote than I. I must learn (am I too old?!) to let others have their say. Perhaps I need to work on the “love well” part and the rest will follow. JULES always knows best, doesn’t she? She, being the one who gave you the ANGE letters to display! Amuse-toi bien a Mexico!
Happy Birthday!!
Joyeux Anniversaire, Kristin — and now that you’ve nudged your toes into the start of your 44th year, please KNOW that the most soul-rewarding years are yet to come. I was nearly 23 when you were born, & continue to be delighted at how freshly tasty life insists on being! So true that certain lessons persist … such as ‘laisser dire’, while new challenges pop up like Alice’s white rabbit to draw us into new adventures. Like your little olive tree, may your joie de vivre and pulse of gratitude survive and prosper. And may you always share with us in your wondrous way, enriching our lives and spirits as only you can do.
Bonne anniversaire, Kristin !
Joyeux Anniversaire Kristin ! Je vs souhaite une année remplie de santé d’abord,
plein de petits plaisirs et mille et une douceurs tout au long de l’année….
Rêve, rêvons, rêvez. Que tes rêves se réalisent.
Une grosse bise de mon petit coin de paradis,
Clo, Sutton, Qc
Bon Anniversaire, Kristin,
You remind us ALL that we have much to be thankful for, tous les jours!
Happy, happy birthday Kristin!
xoxo
Hi Kristin:
An excellent article today, I read couple of times.
Happy birthday, and happy holidays as well.
Claudia
Blessed birthday to a beautiful friend! I look out my window and see the quiet beauty and grace of nature celebrating you today. It warms my heart to hear of the love and care your family gives you. We’ve come so far from those two college girls, heads filled with dreams and stars… Here we are living our dreams! I cherish you, a star still shining bright in my life!
Oh, the quote is wonderful, might add it to one of my fences! Enjoy your birthday!
Bon anniversaire, Kristin!
Thank you for all the warmth and smiles you bring to us through this blog – love it!
Newforest
Thanks for correcting my corrections. I didn’t know that rule about the Imperative mode. Always happy to learn something new!
Kristin,
I’m a bit gobsmacked at how you were able to take delicate and seemingly unrelated threads and weave them all together into a sort of lifeline for for a well-lived life. Service, freedom, gratitude, kindness, faith, observation, tenderness, generosity, family. How did you do that in a few brief paragraphs? Amazing. Thank you for the gift you gave us today.
I’m glad you were born.