"The Kiss". Jean-Marc and I celebrated our 19th anniversary with a hike along the sea and a swim at this calanque, in St. Cyr-sur-Mer.
la noce (nohce)
: wedding, nuptials
faire la noce = to live it up
la nuit de noce = wedding night
le voyage de noces = honeymoon
A Day in a French Life… by Kristin Espinasse
Stopping Traffic
Memories are like bubbles. Full and rounded, the richest of them come rushing to the surface of our minds. I marvel at how my husband remembers some things and I, others. With the help of our individual recollections we knit together the past, enjoying moments from our romantic history.
This week Jean-Marc and I celebrated 19 years of marriage. The French call this anniversary les noces de cretonne. Cretonne being a type of fabric, the symbolism hints at the consistent weaving together of a sacred fil, the thread of love and commitment.
All this talk of fabric and weaving reminds me of a vivid scene from our first wedding day. This was the town hall wedding or le mariage civil and in our case it took place two months before the church ceremony. It being a more casual gathering, there was none of that superstition about seeing the groom or bride beforehand. In fact, the groom and I drove together to our nuptials.
I'll never forget parading down the streets of Marseilles, in traffic. Grinning from ear to ear, I looked out our car window as Jean-Marc navigated from behind the wheel of his poor man's sports car. The red exterior of his Honda was chipped and dented, but inside might have been finer than silk and leather–the latter being Jean-Marc's just polished shoes (as for my dress, it was silk-like).
As we drove past all the chic boutiques on Rue Paradis on our way to pick up my bridal bouquet, it was thrilling to feel a part of this glamorous world surrounding us. And when Jean-Marc stopped smack in the middle of traffic, one lane away from the fleuriste, I literally stepped out onto Paradise Street.
"You'll have to hurry! There's no place to park," Jean-Marc explained.
I opened the creaky car door and landed in the middle of two lanes of impatient traffic.
It is awkward to be the center of attention, but there on my wedding day–crossing the street before the halted commuters–I all but twirled in my two-tiered dress! Jaywalking across traffic lanes, light on my heels, I stole in and out of the flower shop, returning to my modern day carriage with an armful of calla lilies.
The bumper to bumper traffic outside had not budged an inch, but was united in a collective (if imposed) pause. As I passed before the halted traffic, my wedding dress fluttering in the breeze, our parking sin was quickly forgiven as horns began to sound. Allez, les mariés!
The French are such softies when it comes to weddings! I smiled thanks to the audience of strangers and hurried into the car as drivers practiced their patience for one more "Marseilles minute". Even the calla lilies blushed, witnessing that steamy kiss!
To read about our church wedding, where the groom feared he was stood up and the bride got stuck to the outside of the church (wind and stucco are bad company for a bridal veil), read the chapter in my book.
French Vocabulary
le fil = string
le mariage civil = civil wedding, registry office wedding
la fleuriste = florist
allez les mariés! = cheers to the bride and groom!
Marseilles minute = the amount of time (seconds, actually) another car will wait before blaring its horn at a stoplight turned green
Max was born 9 months after Jean-Marc and I tied the knot…
Jackie came next… She turns 16 in September (this post was written in 2013…). This photo was taken recently, in Idaho–where she is spending the month with her grandparents… and trying on her American hat! Whereas I dreamt of France at her age, Jackie's life goal is to live in the States. "France is so old," she moans.
"Through Thick and Thin". Everyone and everything needs closeness. Picture taken in Orange (Vaucluse)
Those calla lilies and our town hall wedding on July 4th, 1994.
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Happy anniversary, Kristin & Jean-Marc! May you continue to have many joyous years together!
Your friend,
Tom!
Happy anniversary, Kristin & Jean-Marc! May you continue to have many joyous years together!
Your friend,
Tom!
Happy Anniversary! May God bless you with many more wonderful years together!
Gerry Ventura
Happy Anniversary! May God bless you with many more wonderful years together!
Gerry Ventura
Happy Anniversary! may you have more years together.. I enjoy reading your blog while learning little by little french.
Happy Anniversary! may you have more years together.. I enjoy reading your blog while learning little by little french.
Happy Anniversary!! The French truly have a separation of church and state – just think of all the trouble the U.S. would have had if we would have done marriage the French way, separating the civil from the religious. As to Jackie’s comment that “France is so old” we encountered a similar comment from the owner of an Internet cafe in Alsace who wanted to live in L.A. rather than France!
Happy Anniversary!! The French truly have a separation of church and state – just think of all the trouble the U.S. would have had if we would have done marriage the French way, separating the civil from the religious. As to Jackie’s comment that “France is so old” we encountered a similar comment from the owner of an Internet cafe in Alsace who wanted to live in L.A. rather than France!
Ma chère Kristin,
JOYEUX ANNIVERSAIRE À TOI ET À JEAN
MARC! 19 ans, c’est déjà un bon bout de route ensemble…Félicitations! Que le bonheur et la santé continuent à vous habiter.
Big bisous de Sutton,
Clo
Ma chère Kristin,
JOYEUX ANNIVERSAIRE À TOI ET À JEAN
MARC! 19 ans, c’est déjà un bon bout de route ensemble…Félicitations! Que le bonheur et la santé continuent à vous habiter.
Big bisous de Sutton,
Clo
Happy anniversary to you and Jean-Marc! Enjoy celebrating.
Happy anniversary to you and Jean-Marc! Enjoy celebrating.
Ah!!!
Felicitations!
Ah!!!
Felicitations!
Happy anniversary, Kristin & Jean-Marc!
May your days be filled with lots of love and laughter!
Happy anniversary, Kristin & Jean-Marc!
May your days be filled with lots of love and laughter!
KRISTI DARLING,
YOU’VE COME A LONG WAY BABY!!!
I laughed when I first looked at your top photo – laughed because I immediately remembered how many years you wrote your blog before you even dared to post a photo of yourself. You are the most conservative and modest person I have ever known, so to see you break out of your old mold and bare all on the beach witH the grace of an angel just blew me away. The moment of ‘THE KISS’ is so pure with light and love – and really looking at the photo it is pure Kristi as it is the most modest bikinni (sp?) I have ever seen. How you manage to stay true to yourself while pushing the envelope of life is beyond me…I guess you truely are an angel.
You really should post the photo of your original wedding dress – it was fantastic – and you put it together all by yourself. I remember the big wide brimmed white hat in the photo.
Love the photo of Jackie – she definately looks like a French girl pretenting to be a cowgirl….
And Max has grown another 6 inches since I departed…how can he be so tall against the rock wall in the garden?
Yes, I am the luckiest GM (Grandmere) in the world.
I’m so happy you shared that moment in the street of Marseille – that was a new memory for me.
XOXO
MOM
KRISTI DARLING,
YOU’VE COME A LONG WAY BABY!!!
I laughed when I first looked at your top photo – laughed because I immediately remembered how many years you wrote your blog before you even dared to post a photo of yourself. You are the most conservative and modest person I have ever known, so to see you break out of your old mold and bare all on the beach witH the grace of an angel just blew me away. The moment of ‘THE KISS’ is so pure with light and love – and really looking at the photo it is pure Kristi as it is the most modest bikinni (sp?) I have ever seen. How you manage to stay true to yourself while pushing the envelope of life is beyond me…I guess you truely are an angel.
You really should post the photo of your original wedding dress – it was fantastic – and you put it together all by yourself. I remember the big wide brimmed white hat in the photo.
Love the photo of Jackie – she definately looks like a French girl pretenting to be a cowgirl….
And Max has grown another 6 inches since I departed…how can he be so tall against the rock wall in the garden?
Yes, I am the luckiest GM (Grandmere) in the world.
I’m so happy you shared that moment in the street of Marseille – that was a new memory for me.
XOXO
MOM
I agree with your Mother, that picture of you two is fantastic! And I know you are bashful! I wonder who took it? Surely not your embarrassed teenage son! Oh Mom, not in public. haha Congratulations on 19 years – keep going, it only gets better. Love and Happiness.
I agree with your Mother, that picture of you two is fantastic! And I know you are bashful! I wonder who took it? Surely not your embarrassed teenage son! Oh Mom, not in public. haha Congratulations on 19 years – keep going, it only gets better. Love and Happiness.
Happy Anniversary to you both!!! The marriage of two people and two cultures is not always easy and you two are obviously still very much in love after 19 years. C’est fantastique. Love the story of Marseilles. And your children are so beautiful…. Wishing you continued happiness and health and love as you move into your 20th year.
Happy Anniversary to you both!!! The marriage of two people and two cultures is not always easy and you two are obviously still very much in love after 19 years. C’est fantastique. Love the story of Marseilles. And your children are so beautiful…. Wishing you continued happiness and health and love as you move into your 20th year.
Hi Kristin!
I love this post! I could picture in my mind the whole scene and what a beautiful scene and how happy you made all the people in Marseille that day! Happy Anniversary and love the photos of Max and Jackie! The photo of you and Jean Marc on the beach is priceless!
Hi Kristin!
I love this post! I could picture in my mind the whole scene and what a beautiful scene and how happy you made all the people in Marseille that day! Happy Anniversary and love the photos of Max and Jackie! The photo of you and Jean Marc on the beach is priceless!
Happy Anniversary! Beautiful photograph – you are both gorgeous! (And you can still rock a bikini after two kids and 19 years of marriage!!! Love it!) I continue to envy you Kristin! Wishing you many more happy years together.
Happy Anniversary! Beautiful photograph – you are both gorgeous! (And you can still rock a bikini after two kids and 19 years of marriage!!! Love it!) I continue to envy you Kristin! Wishing you many more happy years together.
Happy Anniversary. Wishing you many more years of happiness.
Happy Anniversary. Wishing you many more years of happiness.
Thank you so much for the thoughtful wishes! Your words extend this celebration and warm my heart!
Mom, your colorful comments add so much to these memories. Thank you!
Jeanne, Our friend Nicolas, who was Jean-Marcs witness (at our church ceremony), took the picture. See a picture of him here (standing beside a very nervous Jean-Marc!) http://french-word-a-day.typepad.com/motdujour/2012/07/petit-sac-pour-les-restes.html
Thank you so much for the thoughtful wishes! Your words extend this celebration and warm my heart!
Mom, your colorful comments add so much to these memories. Thank you!
Jeanne, Our friend Nicolas, who was Jean-Marcs witness (at our church ceremony), took the picture. See a picture of him here (standing beside a very nervous Jean-Marc!) http://french-word-a-day.typepad.com/motdujour/2012/07/petit-sac-pour-les-restes.html
Joyeaux Anniversaire! fun story and great pictures- a beautiful family!
Joyeaux Anniversaire! fun story and great pictures- a beautiful family!
happy anniversary, Kristi and JM!
happy anniversary, Kristi and JM!
Joyeux anniversaire de mariage et félicitations!
Joyeux anniversaire de mariage et félicitations!
Kristin:
Bonne anniversaire to you both and many more!
Edie from Savannah
Kristin:
Bonne anniversaire to you both and many more!
Edie from Savannah
Bonne anniversaire, je vous rémercie de partager le photo charmant de ce jour avec les lecteurs, vous nous inspirez, merci merci!
Sara
Bonne anniversaire, je vous rémercie de partager le photo charmant de ce jour avec les lecteurs, vous nous inspirez, merci merci!
Sara
HAPPY, HAPPY ANNIVERSARIE!
I loved the picture. What great examples to Max and Jackie – and the rest of us for that matter.
But someone is missing. Where is Mr. Sacks at such a grand celebration –and not even an honourable mention?
Happy anniversary, beautiful couple, and I hope there are many, many more 19 years to celebrate.
HAPPY, HAPPY ANNIVERSARIE!
I loved the picture. What great examples to Max and Jackie – and the rest of us for that matter.
But someone is missing. Where is Mr. Sacks at such a grand celebration –and not even an honourable mention?
Happy anniversary, beautiful couple, and I hope there are many, many more 19 years to celebrate.
You look like $1,000,000 bucks doll! XO
You look like $1,000,000 bucks doll! XO
Happy Anniversary!!!! I love this story and wish there were pictures to go with it. I can picture crossing the stopped traffic and waving thanks to all who stopped for you. Beautiful memory!
Happy Anniversary!!!! I love this story and wish there were pictures to go with it. I can picture crossing the stopped traffic and waving thanks to all who stopped for you. Beautiful memory!
Happy anniversary to both of you!!
Happy anniversary to both of you!!
Such a sweet photo. Congratulations. Keep it up . . .
Such a sweet photo. Congratulations. Keep it up . . .