I realize most of you can't drop everything and jet over to Paris, but if you happen to be there already I would love to meet you! Feb 6th at 6:30 For more info RSVP at rmkatsaros@yahoo.com
Now about that mystery man mentioned in today's title. I need your help to tell his story! So please read today's column and let me know how I may improve it!
First, today's word. Forgive the simplicity and obviousness of it, but often what is easy on the eye is exquisitely complex inside.
une plante (plahnt)
: plant
Audio File: Download M3 or Wave file and hear our son, Max, read the following sentence
Qu’est-ce donc qu’une mauvaise herbe, sinon une plante dont on n’a pas encore découvert les vertus ? What is, therefore, a weed, if not a plant for which we still haven't discovered its virtues. Ralph Waldo Emerson
A Day in a FRENCH Life… by Kristin Espinasse
Thank you for responding to my note about the recent setback in my book project. I heeded your words, took a breather and let my book angels Erin and Tamara work their magic. With the wave of a wand, Erin ordered me to shoo!, or allez zou!, while she and Tami got to work: "Go turn on some Bob Marley…” Erin ordered, via email, adding with a smiley face, "Don’t worry…bout a thing…cause every little ting…is gonna be alright…” : )
Now that the book angels had my back once again, I was free to consider a needed addition to the manuscript: attribution!
Heavens! The book might have gone to print and you wouldn't even know who the model was on the cover! This wasn't the only pépin, or glitch to my book release. I still needed ask my accidental model for permission to use his photo. My sneaky picture-cropping gesture, designed to protect his privacy, had its glaring weaknesses: that plant for one, a dead giveaway! Though some of you–during the book cover vote–mistook it for a stack of letters (interesting how the painted mailbox, located center picture, played tricks on your minds!) the plant was an obvious clue-in as to who is the well-known village figure on the cover.
To understand why, I'll need to take you back to the summer I moved to Sainte Cécile-les-Vignes. My husband was embarking on his wine adventure, having found 9 hectares of vines to tend. As Jean-Marc set about discovering the terroir, I discovered our new village.
The Plant Man
It was at the Saturday farmers market that I first laid eyes on Monsieur Farjon. I was mesmerized. There he was, two, three fruit stands away from me–standing at the head of the outdoor produce aisle chatting with a farmer.
Looking at this photo today I smile, shaking my head seeing that even then he was handing out plants to the locals, expounding on (just look at his passionate gestures!) the organic treasures that could be found along the gutter or in the weedy field relegated to the electric company or beside the busy roadway leading into Sainte Cécile. Sadly, most of the villagers regarded him as an eccentric.
This made the man all the more endearing in my eyes. Almost as attractive as that bike! If there are two things in this world I love it is antique bicycles and strong French characters. But a new realm was soon to open up to me and with it, a third thing in this world to love: plants!
I did not approach Mr Farjon there at the market that day. I quickly snapped his photo and hurried off, lest he chase me down with that splendid vehicle and confiscate my camera!
Meantime–without ever having known whose photo it was I had taken–a spell had come over me. I began to notice leafy things. Specifically I developed an obsession for a certain pink (and sometimes white) wildflower growing in the most unexpected places: jutting vertically out of rock walls and coming up through cracks in the pavement. Could it be a weed? What a gorgeous mauvaise herbe at that! It would be perfect in my garden, which was currently a pile of rocks. If that plant could push through concrete, it could populate my barren yard!
One day while driving home from Bollène, I saw the weed-flower growing beside a telephone pole. At the same moment, I saw a farmer walking along the road. Chances are that guy would have information about the plant! I thought, running my car off the road and hurrying up to the stranger.
Serendipitous meeting
"That guy" turned out to be Robert Farjon. Not only had I stumbled onto the man I'd seen at the market, but I was about to learn, over the course of the next year, the extent of one man's knowledge of the Provençal plant kingdom–beginning with le lilas d'Espagne.
"Lily of Spain. That's just it's common name," Monsieur Farjon explained. "It's officially known as valerian."
Our brief encounter led to a surprise visit, when Mr Farjon rode his bike to our vineyard, a good dozen or two farm fields from the village. His bike's saddlebags were bursting with my next lesson: euphorbia, prêle, and "love in a cage" among others. Monsieur Farjon passed me a leafy bundle, as though handing over a delicate newborn, and so transmitted his instinct to protect and to revere les plantes.
Those weekly (Tuesday) lessons–or "Mardis avec Mr Farjon"–lasted three seasons: spring, summer, fall. It was cold and windy the next to last time Mr Farjon rode his bike from Sainte Cécile all the way out to our farm. But we still saw each other, often crossing paths in the village. He always had a leafy example tucked in his pocket or hat band or in those saddlebags. He was ever prepared to share about plants.
No matter how rushed I always lended my ear, listening closely as he stuttered the name of the species in question shar-shar-shar-don mah-ree (chardon marie or "milk thistle"). His slight bégaiement only made him more endearing, and it was an exercise in French to coax those botanical words out of his mouth.
As I turn this book over and look at the photo on the back, I'm reminded of one of our last encounters. I can't quite identify the flower he is holding (les immortelles?), for that day I was more focused on the beholder. Just how many more chance meetings would there be?
Soonafter we decided to move, and my last visit with Mr Farjon mirrored the first. There he was on the side of the road, near a patch of wild dents de lion. I ran my car off the road and hurried across the street, feeling as scattered as a dandelion seed.
"Mr Farjon. I'm moving. It's been such a pleasure to know you…" At loss for a meaningful way to say goodbye, I reached down and gently plucked what some would regard as a pesky weed.
Handing Monsieur the vibrant yellow flower that's strong enough to break free through concrete, I listened as he broke my heart.
"Adieu," Mr Farjon said with simplicity and with warmth.
See you in heaven? So that was it? Did he not wish to see me again–or was he only being a realist (riding his bike from the village to our farm was one thing, but riding all the way to Mediterrannean sea…. No, not a possibility).
After we moved to "appelation Bandol" Jean-Marc began another vineyard and I focused on my writing, collecting together stories from our time in Les Arcs (before we moved to Ste Cécile). When it came time to design a book cover, I stumbled once again across Mr Farjon–this time in my photo archives.
No, I couldn't use his picture… or if I did I'd have to ask. That meant I would have to contact him–Mr See You in Heaven! But what if he was already in heaven?…
No, I didn't want to find out. Then, one morning last week I got up the courage to call his niece at her vineyard. This time I was the one stuttering.
"Je… je… je voudrais utiliser l'image de votre oncle…."
Mireille said she would pass along the message and get back with me. A few days after that I received this letter by email:
Bonjour, Kristi
Je viens de voir Robert ce matin et je lui ai montré ton projet. Il est tout à fait d'accord pour que tu imprimes sa photo. Il garde un très bon souvenir de ton passage à Ste Cécile. Il m'a dit qu'il avait réalisé une centaine de fiches botaniques et qu'il les avait déposé à l'Espace Culturel de Ste Cécile.
A très bientôt Mireille
Hello Kristi
Just saw Robert this morning and I showed him your project. He is entirely OK with your printing his photo. He holds a wonderful memory of your stay in Sainte Cécile. He told me he has written a hundred or so botanical papers and dropped them off at the cultural center in Sainte Cécile.
See you soon,
Mireille
I, too, hold a wonderful memory of Monsieur Farjon and I look forward to sharing more with you in the follow up to this book: the story of our passage in Sainte Cécile-les-Vignes…. As Mireille says, à bientôt!
Leave a comment here.
Please let me know if all–or a part of today's column–would fit at the end of my book, in a chapter titled "A Note About this Book's Cover." Also, let me know here in the comments how you like the back cover of the book, which will look very much like the yellow and blue sample above. Many thanks!
Monsieur Farjon visited me at a book signing I did in Sainte Cécile. He brought along two bagfuls of just picked plants. As book sales were as slow as a snail's pace, we spent the time studying acanthus, milkweed and lunaria while the bookworms filed by my stand.
Two places to stay in the South of France:
“La Trouvaille”–a true find in Provence! Affordable vacation rental in this beautiful old stone house in the charming village of Sablet.
New rental in Provence! La Baume des Pelerins, in Sablet–spacious, comfortable the perfect place to return to after a busy day’s sightseeing, bicycling or hiking.
Discover more from French Word-A-Day
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
The story about Mr. Fajon adds a great deal to the book. It’s a great story, and knowing who that mysterious man on the cover is is very important. And I am intrigued by the 100 entries at the cultural center–surely they should not remain hidden.
Allen
The story about Mr. Fajon adds a great deal to the book. It’s a great story, and knowing who that mysterious man on the cover is is very important. And I am intrigued by the 100 entries at the cultural center–surely they should not remain hidden.
Allen
Kristi, What a precious story! Reminds me of a favorite memory I have of meeting a little Welsh lady on a park bench in the Brecon Mountains. She was laughing to herself, noticed me & began to explain that she had gone to the grocery & ordered a pasty. The young man at the counter had given her a cream filled pastry by mistake! What a good sense of fun she had as she laughed & told me she couldn’t eat that messy pastry without a fork! When she heard my Alabama accent she became my instant friend even begging me to go home & stay with her. Thus began our eight year friendship as pen pals. I receive all the latest news on the royal family and best of all her stories of her younger days after the war. What a joy!
Kristi, What a precious story! Reminds me of a favorite memory I have of meeting a little Welsh lady on a park bench in the Brecon Mountains. She was laughing to herself, noticed me & began to explain that she had gone to the grocery & ordered a pasty. The young man at the counter had given her a cream filled pastry by mistake! What a good sense of fun she had as she laughed & told me she couldn’t eat that messy pastry without a fork! When she heard my Alabama accent she became my instant friend even begging me to go home & stay with her. Thus began our eight year friendship as pen pals. I receive all the latest news on the royal family and best of all her stories of her younger days after the war. What a joy!
Ne changez rien! C’est une belle histoire.
Ne changez rien! C’est une belle histoire.
I love the story and the back cover! Delightful!
I love the story and the back cover! Delightful!
I thought maybe that was your Monsieur Farjon! He has not only inspired you to see plants more – but here across the ocean to Colorado USA (where we have a severe shortage of oceans)I have been inspired to see plants differently too.
I thought maybe that was your Monsieur Farjon! He has not only inspired you to see plants more – but here across the ocean to Colorado USA (where we have a severe shortage of oceans)I have been inspired to see plants differently too.
I have missed having Monsieur Farjon as part of your life/stories and so glad to learn he is still able to ride his bike!
I have missed having Monsieur Farjon as part of your life/stories and so glad to learn he is still able to ride his bike!
What a wonderful story! Yes! Use it as the last chapter of your book! I
What a wonderful story! Yes! Use it as the last chapter of your book! I
Marvelous! The story and pictures delighted me. Looking at the book cover caused me to reflect on my trip to Provence, thank you! For me, your new book is a must! I concur with the above posts, the pictures and story will make it complete.
Marvelous! The story and pictures delighted me. Looking at the book cover caused me to reflect on my trip to Provence, thank you! For me, your new book is a must! I concur with the above posts, the pictures and story will make it complete.
What a wonderful story and isn’t meeting someone like Monsieur Farjon one of the very best things about life anywhere! Congratulations on your new release which I look forward to reading. I’m sure all of us will be with you in spirit in Paris!
What a wonderful story and isn’t meeting someone like Monsieur Farjon one of the very best things about life anywhere! Congratulations on your new release which I look forward to reading. I’m sure all of us will be with you in spirit in Paris!
I love that story! Do include it all with only one minor change: title it “The Story of the Cover.”
I love that story! Do include it all with only one minor change: title it “The Story of the Cover.”
Monsieur Farjon! I should have realized.Yes!to including the story. I recall thinking you were fortunate to have connected with him. His sharing of plants and knowledge and your appreciation of them are gifts that will keep on giving through the generations.
Monsieur Farjon! I should have realized.Yes!to including the story. I recall thinking you were fortunate to have connected with him. His sharing of plants and knowledge and your appreciation of them are gifts that will keep on giving through the generations.
Kristin, When he said he made a “centaine de fiches”, I think he means he made glass slides of his flowers…the kind you would put under a microscope…or samples like we put as kids between two pieces of wax paper (puis repasser…then iron), with biological titles and explanations for the school.
Kristin, When he said he made a “centaine de fiches”, I think he means he made glass slides of his flowers…the kind you would put under a microscope…or samples like we put as kids between two pieces of wax paper (puis repasser…then iron), with biological titles and explanations for the school.
This is such an extraordinary story!
You might want to consider a future book entitled RENCONTRES in which you write anecdotes about all the wonderful village people you have met over the years.
Amities, Janine
This is such an extraordinary story!
You might want to consider a future book entitled RENCONTRES in which you write anecdotes about all the wonderful village people you have met over the years.
Amities, Janine
You’re an angel, Kristin. Thanks for bringing these wonderful characters to life for us.
You’re an angel, Kristin. Thanks for bringing these wonderful characters to life for us.
Such a lovely story should indeed be included
at the books end!!! And the back cover picture
I think, is perfect!!:-)
Such a lovely story should indeed be included
at the books end!!! And the back cover picture
I think, is perfect!!:-)
It should definitely be included, but perhaps simplified and shortened a bit. This mirrors the saying that people come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime….and sometimes they overlap!
It should definitely be included, but perhaps simplified and shortened a bit. This mirrors the saying that people come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime….and sometimes they overlap!
Oh, and I love the handwritten notes-include for sure!
Oh, and I love the handwritten notes-include for sure!
I, too, love the whole story—charmant, perfect as is –(one other little typo, probably already changed: “Adieu,” he said with simply and with warmth.”)…I love the back cover, too. Congratulations.
I, too, love the whole story—charmant, perfect as is –(one other little typo, probably already changed: “Adieu,” he said with simply and with warmth.”)…I love the back cover, too. Congratulations.
Hi Kristin:
My first post with you…I’m CiCi from Park City, Utah…..David above captured the aura of this story in one word….”Passion”
Bless you and your magical life you are sharing with all of us!
Hi Kristin:
My first post with you…I’m CiCi from Park City, Utah…..David above captured the aura of this story in one word….”Passion”
Bless you and your magical life you are sharing with all of us!
Monsieur Farjon is a treasure, and his story will be a great add to the book. I agree with Leslie in NYC about all of the verbiage on the back cover promoting the book; not really necessary and perhaps a bit amateurish? Your photos and writing speak for themselves. If anything a brief statement about great stories and characters from France brought to life that are guaranteed to improve your French vocab.
Monsieur Farjon is a treasure, and his story will be a great add to the book. I agree with Leslie in NYC about all of the verbiage on the back cover promoting the book; not really necessary and perhaps a bit amateurish? Your photos and writing speak for themselves. If anything a brief statement about great stories and characters from France brought to life that are guaranteed to improve your French vocab.
Thank you for every encouraging comments, for the corrections and for the very helpful suggestions. I am deeply touched by your support and will keep your words in mind! Im delighted to add this chapter and hope to delight Monsieur Farjon, too! Yes, those botanical notes and, as Chris noted, possible dried examples, are a treasure. Who knows what is in store for them. It is wonderful to imagine!
Thank you for every encouraging comments, for the corrections and for the very helpful suggestions. I am deeply touched by your support and will keep your words in mind! Im delighted to add this chapter and hope to delight Monsieur Farjon, too! Yes, those botanical notes and, as Chris noted, possible dried examples, are a treasure. Who knows what is in store for them. It is wonderful to imagine!
I remember your last post about Monsieur Farjon and what you thought would be your last visit with him and that caused me to guess that you were moving. So he is back and his story deserves to be at the back of your new book. I love the layout for the back cover. The front is a bit of a tease and the back brings the two of you together.
I remember your last post about Monsieur Farjon and what you thought would be your last visit with him and that caused me to guess that you were moving. So he is back and his story deserves to be at the back of your new book. I love the layout for the back cover. The front is a bit of a tease and the back brings the two of you together.
By all means include the letter of permission. You most certainly
will give M. Farjon’s work a reciprocal boost if you mention his
botanical contribution to the cultural center in Set. Cecile. Writers
should help one another! Joanne, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA.
By all means include the letter of permission. You most certainly
will give M. Farjon’s work a reciprocal boost if you mention his
botanical contribution to the cultural center in Set. Cecile. Writers
should help one another! Joanne, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA.
It’s unanimous — yes and yes! Wonderful story and back cover, featuring two of our favourite wondrous human characters!
It’s unanimous — yes and yes! Wonderful story and back cover, featuring two of our favourite wondrous human characters!
Our dear Kristi,
How totally,absolutely wonderful!
You’ve given us–your fortunate readers–
the gift of a warm and entertaining story,and given M.Farjon an even more special gift: that of being acknowledged and regarded as a person of worth.
How appreciated he must feel!
How we all wish to be found this way!
THANK YOU!
Love, Natalia XO
Our dear Kristi,
How totally,absolutely wonderful!
You’ve given us–your fortunate readers–
the gift of a warm and entertaining story,and given M.Farjon an even more special gift: that of being acknowledged and regarded as a person of worth.
How appreciated he must feel!
How we all wish to be found this way!
THANK YOU!
Love, Natalia XO