Our son, Maxime, examines some weight-lifting equipment on his birthday. Notice the patch, just above his ear (read on, in today's story…). Never miss a word of photo: get French Word-A-Day delivered by email, here.
les cheveux blancs (lay sheh veuh blahn)
: white hair
Also:
le cheveu gris = gray hair
les cheveux poivre et sel = salt-and-pepper hair
Audio File: Listen to Jean-Marc pronounce these French words: Download MP3 or Wav file
A seize ans, notre fils, Maxime, a déjà quelques cheveux blancs!
At sixteen, our son, Max, already has a few gray hairs!
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A Day in a French Life… by Kristin Espinasse
Sage at Sixteen
Well, Mr. Max, you turned 16 yesterday! And, mon pauvre fils, we spent the landmark occasion doing errands, or les courses, but you did not complain.
Having picked you up from collège, we headed over to Orange, for your appointment chez l'orthodontiste. From time to time, as I drove, I would look over at you, Max, as you sat there in the passenger's seat, earplugs in, listening to your favorite song, Mocking Bird. A cloud of calmness settled over you and I had to ask, a few times, "Est-ce que ça va?" You assured me it was.
Now and then, my eyes fixed on that patch, over your left ear. I'll never forget when, earlier this week as you sat in the coiffeuse's chair, the hairdresser shut off the electric shaver and announced, Votre fils a des cheveux blancs!
Unbelieving, I got up out of my chair and went to see the very same: a patch, no bigger than the tip of an eraser, of white hair!
You were pretty cool about that, too, taking the information in stride, just as you are taking this afternoon of errands with the same calm and collectedness.
When we pull into the grocery store drive-through, to collect our commande, you ask whether it's too late to buy a can of sirop de menthe….
But when I try to amend our order, the machine balks. After several attempts to add the sirop de menthe to our virtual cart, I dissolve into a mist of exasperation. My forefinger punches the menu screen until I finally give up.
That is when, Mon Fils, you quietly exit the car, come around to my side of the vehicle, and say in a soft voice: "I'm going to try to figure it out, Mom."
***
You may have received a few cadeaux on your birthday, but I wonder whether you are aware of the gift of peace and serenity that you have clearly shown me, this week? Your newly-won patience was again evident in the car ride, at the grocer's and, later, at the sports-goods store, where we would try out a gamme of weight-lifting equipment, only to leave the shop empty-handed when all of those "promotions" added up, costing your mother a lot of confusion. I needed time to figure things out–to decide just which set of barbells, which bench press, which curl bar… would be best for a growing boy. When I broke the news to you, I braced myself for your disappointment. Instead, you responded with a tender smile, and that serene gleam in your eye. "T'inquiète pas, Maman. Je peux attendre."
Last night at the dinner table, after blowing out your birthday candles, you told Grandma Jules and me that you have had a very long life, that it feels as though you had been around forever – and not a mere 16 years.
As I listen to your wondrous thoughts, my eyes return to that patch of gray, just above your ear. Though I don't understand the metaphysics of time and space, of one thing I am certain: in my hopes, in my prayers, in my wishes and in my far-flung dreams… forever, my dear son, you have been with me.
Smokey (left) and Momma Braise illustrate that tender, mysterious, and sacred Mother-Son bond. (Photo taken in 2009, when Smokey was a wee whippersnapper.)
Corrections, comments, or stories of your own are welcome here, in the comments box.
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French Vocabulary
sage = wise
mon pauvre fils = my poor son
Orange = a city in the Vaucluse
est-ce que ça va = is everything OK?
la coiffeuse = hairdresser
Votre fils a des cheveux blancs! = Your son has some white hair!
le cadeau = present
la commande = order
le sirop de menthe = mint syrup
mon fils = my son
la gamme = the (product) range
(ne) t'inquiète pas, Maman. Je peux attendre = don't worry, Mom. I can wait
le cadeau = gift, present
And how about a Reverse dictionary for some of the English terms?:
now and then = de temps en temps
a patch (of white hair) = une tache
to take something in stride = accepter quelque chose sans sourciller
empty-handed = les mains vides
une bougie = candle
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We had to round up some candles… (1 = 10… +1 x 6!) (left to right: Kristin, Jackie, Max)
Max, I love your smile, I love your engaging sense of humor, I love that twinkle in your eye, that faith that says "I will try". I think you are cool (I think you're a geek), I think you are intense, I think you are very, so very sweet. Enigmatic, charismatic, diplomatic… are just a few words to describe you, Mr. Moose (from "Maximousse", not his name, but a term of endearment all the same). The two photos, above, are by Jean-Marc. The one below Jackie took.
Max, you have brought so much joy to our lives. Your mom and dad thank you (and your sister, too, though she won't admit her appreciation just yet!).
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What a sweet young man you have, Kristin! I know “sweet” isn’t usually used to describe men, so maybe instead I’ll just say he is a real ‘tresor.”
I was very touched by some of the things you described.
Bon anniversaire, Max!
Bon Anniversaire to Max. It’s been such fun watching him (and Jackie) grow up into such handsome & beautiful young adults and see that your insights and sensabilities continue in them.
What an exquisite post. The last line brought a lump to my throat…lovely story of your mother-son bond. Merci mille fois!
Hi Kristin:
Happy birthday for Max.
May God bless you all.
Thank you again for sharing your beautiful family’s life with us. For the wisdom and the French lessons. For the amazing natural pictures you display on the site. To me, they are a great gift that I look forward to recieve every other day of the workdays.
Claudia
Yet another touching post–happy birthday and God’s blessings, dear Max! I feel as if I know you! you share a birthday with my son Alex who turned 31 yesterday! Kristin, I have always dreaded the birthdays of my children–isn’t that terrible to admit? but I felt a sadness to see them grow up. Yet, I am so proud of the young adults they have become. What a contradiction. Perhaps you understand. At any rate, thank you again for sharing your beautiful family with us.
Max!
16 already!
Only seems like yesterday you were writing about “toads in the swimming pool”!
What a treasure you are and I hope you had a wonderful birthday! Your mother has given you a wonderful present…birthday wishes from all around the world…not many 16 year olds would have that! In fact….I might have to ask you for your autograph soon ;-)!
beautiful in every way.
your blog is an oasis.
wishing all the best for you and your family.
Kristin, I posted my Commentaires yesterday. Today, I felt I HAD to return to my laptop to see, once again, the beautiful photos and “les sourires sur tous les visages”!
Ahaaah! “Le sourire tellement radieux des heureux parents fait grand plaisir à voir et à revoir”…
“Le rire amusé de Max en ouvrant la grande enveloppe” is … contagious!
It’s only now that I’ve really ‘seen’ the details of the enveloppe showing the darling ‘mini Mr Moose’ 16 years ago… (and your handwriting)
Admirable composition de “maman et ses deux enfants” -> 3 happy faces united into a perfect triangle against “l’armoire rustique”… I love the festive foreground on the old pine table, with its flowing line of bells (ding, dong, Que les cloches sonnent sonnent pour célébrer l’évènement!)
and then my eyes got glued to the tempting red spot of delicious strawberries in the centre of your “savarin”. Perfect!
I seem to end, once again, with “le gâteau d’anniversaire”. Interesting to know it was the famous “gâteau au yogourt” baked in “un moule à savarin”… – a clever idea and a practical way to fill up the centre of it with fresh strawberries.
Jules, were you the phothographer?
How wonderful for you to be there, with them, to share Max’s birthday,
re-“Fête des Mères” on Sunday…
and soon in June, “la Fête des Pères”…
but I suppose everyday is “un jour de fête” for you, isn’t it?
Bye and have a brilliant weekend!
Thank you so much for another beautiful column. It sounds like you have raised a wonderful son, and you should be very very proud of the entire family you have carved out in Provence. The picture of Smokey and Braise was another precious touch! Merci beaucoup —
Beautiful story…lovely photos…thanks for sharing such wonderful moments with all of us.
Happy Belated 16th Birthday Max!!! *<:) Have a wonderful year! Music for your birthday:
This was just beautiful! happy Birthday to Max (belated). What a precious, wise young man, and you & Jean-Marc so blessed and wise yourselves.
Thanks for this very moving article.
I’m late an reading FWD, but happy belated b-day Max. Love the pictures of the family and the dogs. Your story is wonderful as always and so touching.
Dear Kristin,
What a beautiful story. Thank you for sharing. Sounds like Max was happy just to be with his wonderful family on his birthday. Happy Birthday Max! And I’m so glad Jules was there for him.
Beautiful pictures, as always. I love both mother and son pictures (you and Max as well as Smokey and Braise). Love is love, no matter what species and it bonds us all together.
Hope you’re all having a great day.
Carolyn
Well done, Kristin. A family of which to be proud, and a really lovely post . . Congratulations.
fils de papa – a spoiled rich boy (another expression with “fils”)
I love your almost daily musings. ” Mon fils maintenant a soixante-sept ans et va se faire opere de la deuxieme hanche. Il parle bien le francais, ayant passe trois annees en France de 7 a 10 ans. Comme je me diminue tous les ans , lui continue de grandir.”
Dear Kristin,
I don’t even have kids, but I’ve tears streaming down my face reading this & seeing that adorably sweet photo of smokey & braise.
one of your best pieces….incredibly, beautifully poignant.
Merci
Wishing Max a wonderful birthday and life ahead !
In our family, we gift “Excellent Adventures”, to mark such special moments in lives of our loved ones.
Gifts can be fleeting and often overlooked as time goes by, but a special event creates memories that last a lifetime !
It can be just the two of you on a hike, or perhaps day spent sharing an adventure., whatever you choose, Max will forever remember that time spent with you!
Much love,
Nina
Well done, Kristi and Bon Anniversaire, Max! I hope your special day together was as wonderful as it all sounded.
Merci for the continued inspiration and lessons in French, Kristi!
Chanelle