Do you feel like this Santa, during the holiday rush. Just hanging on? Waiting for it all to pass? Read on.
fêtard(e) (feh-tar, feh-tard)
: party animal, someone who likes to party
Audio File: Listen to the following sentence in French Download MP3 or Wave file
Dans ma jeunesse, j'étais une fêtarde.
In my youth, I was a party animal.
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE… by Kristin Espinasse
Last weekend the pressure was on to begin decorating our home for Christmas. Have you got your tree up yet? my Anglophone friends wanted to know. Feeling worse and worse for procrastinating, I clung to the thought that most French homes wouldn't have a tree up by now… but a quick trip to the supermarket, for a few staples, revealed another story.
There at the checkout line, Christmas trees were selling like hotcakes! I dragged my feet over to the display, to check out the stock of cellophane-wrapped trees.
There were two sizes and two prices : 35 euros ($45) or 45 euros ($60). I examined the two models that were on display (all the other trees were wrapped tighter than a bound umbrella, measuring not much longer than one either!). I noted the large gaps in branches, as well as the crooked aspect of the arbres. If these were the display models, surely the ones in cellophane were a sorry lot! I collected my groceries, and left the supermarket. I tried not to look at the other cars in the parking lot, as the drivers packed their sapins de Noël into their trunks. But averting my eyes wouldn't avert panic: Now even the French were on time for Christmas!
What had been worry, or guilt, quickly turned into grumpiness and finger-pointingness. I began to lash out, in my mind, at all the goody-two-shoes who were early to Christmas—with their goody-two-shoes trees and their goody-two-shoes decorations (by the way just where were our decorations? Having moved homes a few months ago, not all of our boxes were unpacked… which meant they could be anywhere! Now on top of finding a tree—we had to find the damned decorations! *&@!!!).
Shoving the groceries into the fridge, I hurried to my room to take refuge at the bottom of my bed. I began counting the days. It would all be over before long. Christmas would come and go… but then there would be New Year's Eve to deal with… and then Paques! And then What are your plans for Bastille Day? and What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
And to think that some of these celebrations are not even sacred observances. To the French, they are no more than traditions! This last reality made me even more frustrated.
As I sank lower into my bed, I feared the unthinkable: was I, deep down, no more than a grinch? If not a grinch, perhaps a spoil sport? If not a spoil sport wasn't I, at bottom, just one big party pooper?
…or just pooped?
Worn out or not, it is peace I am after … and, after all, it is peace we can share.
FRENCH VOCABULARY
un arbre = tree (story here)
le sapin de Noël = Christmas tree (click here for the story)
Paques = Easter (story here)
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Thank you, Zoe, for bringing up that heartening poem, Desiderata. I went immediately to read it, and it speaks to me in different ways as time goes by.
It also reminds me of Newforest, who so many of us appreciated, here in the comments box. See Newforests comment on Desiderata, with links to the French translation:
http://french-word-a-day.typepad.com/motdujour/2011/03/panier.html?cid=6a00d834515cae69e20147e39e7c42970b#comment-6a00d834515cae69e20147e39e7c42970b
I regularly receive inquiries as to where has Newforest gone? Last we spoke, I received a giant heart (Newforest had sent me a picture of some branches… on closer look a heart was in the clearing, where the tangled branches opened to the sky above. The mystery remains.
Dear Kristin, We too moved this past year (in November) and I can not possibly think about putting up any decorations, and I know where they are!! The fall is a terrible time to make a move and I hope I never have to do it again. We are still in boxes, which are piled in the entry and the kitchen. I can’t arrange the furniture to place a tree – I think maybe behind the piano after I unpack the lamp boxes that are sitting there. Or maybe at the window if I move the sofa to the right. Frankly, it doesn’t matter anyway since we are going to our daughters to celebrate Christmas – but I do like the look of the candles in the fireplace. Maybe if I added some greenery….
Since moving to the US northwest (from the UK) we’ve had 8′-9′ trees which we buy at Lowes on the day before Christmas at about 6:00pm — for $1 That’s one dollar! Last year, while waiting at the counter to check out with our tree, it was announced on the PA that all trees would be 50 cents. At that price, one could buy several! Good luck with those $50-$60 trees!
So glad to hear that you are still in touch with Newforest. She is a treasure and sorely missed. Her commentaries so enriched whatever the subject of the day touched on. Please, please send her good wishes from all of her email FWAD friends. It is rarely that we have such a gift to learn and see the world thru such beautiful eyes.
P.S. Kristi, that goes for you too.
Happy Holidays a tous!
Sunny 60’s beautiful!. for your Dad.
What good advice from everyone all over the world! It feels to us that doing less leaves more time to sit back and appreciate along with anticipating family and friends. The rushing around has been replaced with more giving throughout the year rather than under the tree. Advent and preparation take on a more inward quality with less fuss and more time to appreciate and give back. You have been giving all year! Take time for you and your dear family. Whatever appears with be perfectly perfect. Blessings to you all at Christmas!
You just had an attack of depression. Moving is a trauma, illness is a trauma and the lists of things to do add to the feelings of being overwhelmed. Being overwhelmed by thoughts bring it on. Keep calm and quiet your thoughts. All will be well, all will get done and all will pass. You have had a very difficult year. Give yourself the gift of knowing this will pass. Most people need outside support to get through these periods. Your ability to be in touch with your feelings is a great start. If you need help…get it.
Corky said it all. Good advice. Of course, you do so much more than the “average” person with your column, book writing, photography and travels. What an interesting life you have but added pressure, too. There are no extra hours in the day for you. So lucky to have a supportive, wise and understanding man at your side. Wishing you and yours the Merriest of Christmases in your new home with a tree from your very own yard. How splendid!
P.S. Your Mom is something else!
Kristin – I highly recommend the book ‘Younger Next Year’. I’m reading it now and it’s blowing my socks off! No more pessimism and grey skies hanging over my head all the time. I used to catch myself in your same frame of mind every now & then, and have a New Years resolution to knock it off and be an optimist! All the best for 2013!