Remember the story (click here) about Tessa and our walk throught the deserted town of Séguret? Here's that tea shop with the Christmas decorations still hanging. Remember the name for those little half-curtains? Les brise-bise. Aren't they sweet? Here's another picture, a little less lacy.
Good news! Chief Grape will be in OAKLAND, CA on March 21st! Check out some of the other cities he is visiting, click here.
LE COLIS (ko-lee)
: packet, package
.
A Day in a French Life… by Kristin Espinasse
Le Remerciement de Gus
(Gus's Thank-you Note)
I received a very kind remerciement from Gus Elison, who won the key in the "French Antique Giveaway". I thought you might enjoy the photos that Gus sent, and the captions that go along with them. Enjoy!
Gus writes:
From France to Jacksonville… The key has arrived!….
LIKE A FIRST VALENTINE, THE PACKAGE ARRIVED ON 5 MARCH.
THE KEY IS GRAND. THE MOST THOUGHTFUL THING WAS THE WAY IT WAS ENCLOSED.
TRUE GENTEELNESS AND IMAGINATION WITH THE OLD PAGES AND THE DELICATED BLUE RIBBON WAS THE FINAL TOUCH. YOUR INNER BEAUTY SHINES THROUGH.
THE "KEY", PAULETTE AND GUS. A REAL FRENCH BEAUTY RAISED ON A FARM DURING THE GERMAN OCCUPATION. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR VISIT TO SEE FAMILY AND FRANCE.
I WILL TREASURE THE KEY AND YOUR PERSONAL ATTENTION ALL THE DAYS I HAVE LEFT. THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR GIFT OF FRENCH WORD A DAY.
Kristin: Life's rough isn't it, Smokey?
Smokey: Walways me! Walways me!
Mama Braise: Son, what are you talking about?
Smokey: Life is rough. Walways me, walways me!
Mama Braise: Son, we need to work on your grammar! The expression is "Woe is me", and not Walways me!"
Smokey: Wow is me! Wow is me! I like it, Mom!
Mama Braise: Oh, Woe is we!
Kristin: …or would that be "Woe is us"?
(Braise and Smokey look suspicious and clueless, respectively)
Kristin: Just sayin'…
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A “key” to open up hearts! Gus, both you and your beautiful wife Paulette have opened ours as well…thank you for sharing your treasure!
I could not be happier if I had won the key myself!! J’aime beaucoup les photos de Gus et Paulette! Sooo happy for you Gus! This is just wonderful! Thank you, chere Kristin, for this joyous day! C’est si bon!!
Toujours, Pat
The embodiement of “La Joie de Vie” ~ what a delightful story of an antique key that opened hearts, unlocked joy and brought tears to my eyes! Mille Mercis, Kristin, for the joy your sharing brings to so many! ~~ and another mille mercis to Gus (and Paulette!) for the photos that enabled us to visualize with whom we were falling in love! Wishing you many more healthy, happy years abundant in blessings……
Elaine in Anaheim, Ca (65ish today ~ hoping for rain this weekend!!)
p.s. My husband and I will be at Jean-Marc’s tasting at Hi Times in Costa Mesa the 20th!!
What enormous grace and elegance you’ve displayed, Gus, in having written such an affecting letter of thanks; and what enormous creativity in having thought to take and include those charming photos. Same holds for our Kristin whose grace, elegance and creativity are displayed not only in her glorious gift-wrapping, but also- and always- in her delightful blog. Thank you both (as well as Mme. Paulette) for having brought such joy to what otherwise would have been just another mundane Monday!
TO BRING THIS STORY UP TO DATE. PAULETTE AN I ARE NOT MARRIED. WE HAVE KNOW EACH OTHER FOR FIFTY YEARS. WE BELONG TO THE SAME CHURCH. OUR CHILDREN WENT TO THE SAME SCHOOL. HER HUSBAND AND I PLAYED GOLF TOGETHER FOR YEARS.WE WERE BOTH NAVY MEN. HER HUSBAND DIED AND A FEW YEARS LATER MY WIFE OF SIXTY TWO YEARS ALSO PASSED AWAY. MONTHS LATER DURING SUNDAY MASS I WAS SEATED NEXT TO PAULETTE. WE HAVE A PRACTICE IN OUR CHURCH THAT CALLS FOR REACHING OUT AND HOLDING HANDS WITH THE PERSON NEXT TO YOU DURING THE RECITATION OF THE OUR FATHER. WHEN OUR HANDS TOUCHED, THE LORD MUST HAVE GIVEN A SIGNAL AND WE HAVE NOT STOPPED HOLDING HANDS. THE SONG, THE SECOND TIME AROUND, HAS GREAT MEANINGS.
Quelle une belle histoire! Gus, merci beaucoup for sharing it with all Kristin’s ‘famille de blog’.
God bless you both,
Andrea Tasmania, Australia
WAY too moving! Just crying away after Gus’ post. Lovely. Thank you all, and bon voyage to Gus and Paulette.
GUS, I think you ought to start your own blog. You’ve led an incredible life and you have a real writer’s voice. We could all benefit from the beauty of your prose and the power of your perspective. (And I bet Kristin would give you lots of pointers on getting started!)
Aloha nui loa from Honolulu, Hawaii, Gus and Paulette. Thank you for the photos and wonderful story. The key was indeed meant for you,
and you have opened many hearts.
Gus et Paulette,
Thank you for telling “the rest of the story”. Your pictures say a thousand words. I agree with Jules, we never would have known the love that went into the packaging had you not shared with us. What a beautiful human connection.
Amber in Illinois
Oh Kristin, I was so utterly touched by Gus’ words and his pictures. Thank you for sharing them with us and for sending Gus and Paulette some joy in the mail!
And thank you Gus for so eloquently expressing the thoughts that are always in my mind when I think of Kristin and French Word-A-Day. I hope to be a part of this circle of friends for a many years to come. I hope you and Paulette have a wonderful time in France and that you’re able to meet Kristin and her family. Thank you also for sharing the beautiful story of how you began holding hands in church and have been ever since then. You have a wonderful way with words. May you have many more years together. Be well and safe travels.
Thanks, Kristin, for the cute dialogue between Smokey and Braise. I love it when you write those. I’m always imagining and saying aloud what I think my dogs, Lady and Rory, would be saying in a particular situation. Glad I’m not alone!
Have a wonderful day and I hope Max is doing well with driving and
Ooops, I forgot to finish my sentence…
I meant to say, I hope Max is doing well with driving and that Jacki is enjoying her crazy biking jumps!
DEAREST GUS & PAULETTE,
I KNOW I HAVE TOLD THIS STORY BEFORE – BUT THAT IS THE JOY OF A GREAT STORY, IT HAS THE POWER TO BE RETOLD OVER AND OVER.
WHEN KRISTI BEGAN THIS ‘CONTEST’ I VOLUNTEERED TO TAKE THE STRESS OFF OF HER BY PICKING THE WINNER. ALL OF YOU KNOW KRISTI WELL ENOUGH NOW TO KNOW THAT SHE WOULD HAVE WORRIED AND OBSESSED OVER THIS DECISION WANTING TO MAKE EVERYONE HAPPY AND WINNERS.
LITTLE DID I KNOW THAT THERE WOULD BE OVER 15OO – MAYBE EVEN 1700 REPLIES – WE HAVE LOST COUNT BETWEEN THE COMMENTS BOX AND PRIVATE EMAILS.
THE POST MUST HAVE COME OUT ON A WEDNESDAY – BY THURSDAY EVENING MY EYES WERE BURING AND THE STORIES WERE BLURRING.
THURSDAY NIGHT WHEN I WENT TO BED I HAD THIS FEELING IT HAD TO BE GUS, I HAD RETURNED OVER AND OVER TO HIS WORDS AND FELT SUCH A CONNECTION OF PURITY IN HIS WORDS – HIS NOTE WAS A MASTERPIECE IN IT’S SIMPLICITY AND POWER TO DISPLAY HIS FEELINGS OF WHAT KRISTI’S WORK HAS DONE FOR HIM.
ALMOST AT THE STROKE OF MIDNIGHT I WOKE UP THINKING OF GUS.
I MUST INTERJECT HERE AND CONFESS THAT EVEN THOUGH I HAD OFFERED TO TAKE THE PRESSURE OFF OF KRISTI – SHE WAS HAVING A HARD TIME LETTING GO OF HER RESPONSIBILITY TO PICK THE WINNER AND WAS CONTEMPLATING LETTING THE COMPUTER PICK A RANDOM WINNER.
AROUND 6 A.M. THAT FATEFUL FRIDAY MORNING I BLASTED OFF AN EMAIL TO KRISTI INFORMING HER THAT GUS WAS ON MY MIND AGAIN WHEN I WOKE UP….SHE JUST HAD TO LET ME PICK GUS.
NOW WE HAVE ALL RE-LEARNED HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO FOLLOW YOUR HEART – JUST AS GUS CONTINUES TO SHOW US THE WAY.
ALL THIS TO SAY – SINCE GUS HAS POSTED HIS ADDRESS SEVERAL TIMES, ONCE IN THE COMMENTS BOX TO LET KRISTI KNOW WHERE TO SENT THE ‘PRIZE’ AND THEN IN THE PHOTO’S OF KRISTI’S GIFT –
I THINK IT WOULD REALLY BE FUN IF WE ALL STARTED SENDING GUS AND PAULETTE NOTES, LETTERS, POSTCARDS, AND MAYBE EVEN A FEW BOXES OF CANDY FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.
XOXO
JULES
Dear Jules & Kristi,
Gus is my Father and Paulette,for now,is a
beautiful Lady who has put a smile on my Fathers face,and a twinkle in his eyes.
My father is a remarkable man,and you have given him much joy with your site,thank you.When we talk after he and Paulette come back from the casinos,”He never wins anything, he’s just not lucky”. I can now think of 3 things.1. THE KEY.
2. Jules, Kristi, and all of you have commented with such “warm fuzzies” and last
but not least 3………………can any of you guess (hint) Her name begins with a P.
Thank you again Kristi, and Jules look
forward to more posts.
Gus and Paulette
I thought you might like this poem I wrote to go with the picture of you two holding the key……Enjoy
In the autumn of their fruitful life
After many years of struggle and strife
A charming couple stands holding a key
A picture-perfect scene of mutual harmony
The key’s so special, they hold in their hand
For it came as a gift from a far away land
It could be the key to their true love and trust
As life together, which they agree, is a must
More than just a piece of old hardware
It has future memories for them to share
They’ll always remember the package in the mail
And cherish this key, IT’S NOT FOR SALE!
HERM, YOU HAVE TWO ADMIRERS OF YOUR WORK. IT IS VERY TOUCHING. WHAT A GIFT YOU HAVE.
Just read Guss note to Herm. I think the notes in this comments corner are definitely best of.
What a sweet and touching story. Wonderful to “meet” Gus and his lovely wife. Just looking at their photos, I could feel their kindness. I know Gus will treasure the key all the days he has left — and I hope and pray those days will be many!
I am so blessed by these comments today! Gus, thank you for taking time to write a lovely note of thanks to Kristin, as it has been a note of happiness for everyone reading. Your comment about your life and Paulette has left me brimming with tears of happiness for you. Thank you for sharing, and thank you for your service to the country. I agree with other commenters – you need to write the story of your life!
Rebecca in sunny NYC
Hi Kristin,
I enjoyed the pictures of Gus, Paulette and the key! I also loved Mary’s note! How sweet!
Gus, you must be Catholic, because we also hold hands during the Our Father at our church. What a wonderful and heartwarming story!
I will be winding down my day with a lot of joy, and a smile on my face. Had already thought I’d join you in addressing a post card to Gus, Jules when you mentioned the address in the first posting…what fun!
And for those of you who can get to Jean Marc’s tastings, you are in for a treat! Please get there if you can!
Cambridge
Gus, I am sending this from Auckland N.Z. wishing you a wonderful birthday celebration. I am an 83 year old senior lady and have been travelling to France for the last 10 years to paint in the sytle of my favourite artist Monet. Today I am visiting an old friend who is celebrating his 90th birthday.Heis a NZ veteran from Casino campaign,in Italy so hope you will have many hapy healthy years ahead.
June, Auckland New Zealand Sat.5th Jan 2013
That was a lovely thank-you message that Gus sent upon receipt of the key – a true gentleman who writes from the heart. And I love Gus’ comment above, describing how he and Paulette became an item during Mass!It does sound like that relationship was meant to be!
Un grand merci also, Kristen, for giving us the thrice-weekly words!
Gina
Southampton, ON; Cda