It was this… or a picture of a broken elbow. Read on in today's story column. And for more pictures of our garden, and these citrons and these guavas, join me on Instagram!
TODAY'S WORD:
le nid de poule
: a pothole, or pit in the road's surface
Un nid de poule literally means "hen's nest"
WHERE TO RENT IN FRANCE? Special thanks to our longtime sponsors–Marilyn, David, and Marianne–who have been a great support to my newsletter! See their French homes, below:
- Mas de Perdrix. A home in France that artists and writers love to rent. Work on your creative project in this inspiring environment.
- France and Monaco Rentals: short-term holiday rental properties throughout France.
- Sablet home for high quality vacation rentals in the heart of Provence.
ECOUTEZ/LISTEN
Hear Jean-Marc pronounce the French words in his sentence:
Nid de poule. La semaine dernière, alors que je faisais du vélo à Marseille, j'ai roulé sur un nid de poule, ce qui a provoqué ma chute et la fracture de mon coude.
Pothole. Last week, while riding my bike in Marseilles, I rode over a pothole, provoking a fall and an elbow fracture.
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE…
by Kristin Espinasse
Yesterday I watched as a medical taxi delivered my husband home from the hospital, where he'd landed 5 days before. I stood there, perched in the driveway, feeling as though a hundred hummingbirds were holding me upright.
Posed to fly into action, my heart took on a hummingbird's beat. True, I had been doubtful about readiness and how this would all pan out–the next 6 weeks of nursing my husband, "Chief Grape." (We don't call him the chief for nothing! Jean-Marc is a force around this vineyard, sweeping through activities from dusk until dawn. But after falling off his bike and breaking his elbow, how will he make it through the next weeks? And will I have the patience–the unlimited energy–to be his doting nurse Kristi? Will I listen sweetly to orders? Cut up his steak? Zip up his pants after a potty break?)
Such flippant thoughts–along with a host of fears and assumptions–coursed through my mind as I watched my husband painstakingly exit the taxi. I felt guilty not to have chauffeured him myself, but having just gotten over the flu it wasn't possible. Gripped by a fleet of hummingbirds, I stood posed like a board ready to spring to action for my new nursing duties. And then the strangest thing happened.
I watched my husband collect his bag with his free hand and walk peacefully into the house where he quietly and efficiently carried out a host of tasks before retiring gently to bed–without so much as asking for a glass of water (or the feared bedpan that I might have to empty, nightly!).
Reaching for my nightstand to turn out the lights last night, I heard Jean-Marc's rhythmic breathing beside me. Rocked by the familiar and comforting sound, my mind played pictures of my husband's homecoming: I saw him scribbling sloppy To-Do notes, with his left hand, and awkwardly spooning chicken soup into his mouth (much of it ending in his lap). I saw myself helping him carry in the wood, and remembered how he did not ask for help building the fire–nor to unpack his bag or to rifle through the household pharmacy for the supplies the real nurse will need this week, when she comes to our house to changes our patient's wound dressings.
Lying there in the dark, I watched as my mind reviewed all it had seen, when, suddenly, my heart skipped a hummingbird beat at the thought of an injured man's dignity.
COMMENTS
To leave a comment, click here.
Is Smokey trying to get out of nursing duties too? Or is he just playing hide-n-seek?
No, Smokey is just being silly, as always, comme d'habitude. Please share this post with a friend, via one of the share buttons just below. Mille mercis!
Click here to be on your way to fluency in French
To effectively improve your French, check out David Tolman's French lesson:
2-minute French lesson : French E's with examples from an interview with a French beekeeper
Discover more from French Word-A-Day
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
God bless both of you as you go through Jean Marc’s healing! My daily prayer contains a request to God that should one of us become ill or incapacitated, we would show patience and love in caring for one another . You have these qualities and he will heal quickly!
Get well soon. After your elbow heals, find a good massage therapist to supple the stiff muscles above and below the elbow, before you start physical therapy. You’ll be as new very soon.
Kristin I am so happy he is now home with you. Bon courage et bisous à vous deux.
Oh, gosh, what a ghastly ordeal for both of you! But, Jean-Marc’s handsome face is still smiling and his independent spirit is obviously still well in place. It’s a great relief to know he’s now home and drinking excellent rosé, but I’ll bet the nurses in Marseille miss him a lot!!!
Your thoughts here really resonate with me Kristin. Empathy in this situation is so important. I hope he has a quick recovery.
So glad your man is home! A dear friend of ours hit some lose gravel last year on his bike, fell and broke a hip! Best wishes to your family in this time of healing. Love the photos of Smokey he just makes my heart happy everytime I see your photos.
Andrea Jane
All will be well all manner of things will be well.
Julian of Norwich
Sushi and rose wine at the hospital? Prayers that he recovers quickly, and for your patience too!
I know what this is like. First full day in Rome, I broke my wrist! We are on a 6 week vacation from Arizona. One of our stops is to walk the trail in Cinque Terre…I still hope!😉
So glad he’s home as I know it will make him mend faster with you all around him. Wonderful post.
V
Sorry to hear about Jean-Marc’s injury. It looks like he is handling it well, which says a great deal of good about him. Hope you stay well. Having the flu isn’t fun. We just received our flu shots at work. I hate getting one, but soon I will have at least one flu patient a day to take to the hospital. Take care and stay safe. Hope Jean- Marc has a quick recovery.
1. He’s home!
2. The hospital food looks amazing! Wine, really?!
3. His determination to “do it myself” is a great asset.
4. You are a devoted wife and will have all the patience necessary.
5. Wishing Chief Grape as speedy a recovery as possible!
“Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.” ~ Corrie ten Boom
Oh, our dear Kristi … worrying about bedpan duty? For a fractured elbow (awful as that is), not broken legs? That made me smile almost as much as the photos of Smokey 🙂 Lovely, lovely photos by the way and gorgeous lead pic of the lemons.
Wishing JM a quick recovery!
Meilleurs voeux pour un très prompt rétablissement, mais 6 semaines tout de même… patience & courage!!! Best wishes for a quick healing, get well soon Jean-Marc
I think you’ll be fine soon. I shattered my elbow (2plates and 14 screws) last year and was up and back to decorative painting within weeks. The main thing is to rebuild muscle, especially tricep strength again, although your break may well be different from mine.
I love this blog and have been following for a few years now. Good luck and mend fast!
Of course he is OK. He has beautiful you, silly Smokey, and a glass of bodacious wine !
What more could a man need ?
You all will be fine. In 1982 in the first few weeks of graduate school I was roller skating with
my daughter – 6 then – me 39. I fell – dislocated right knee, spiral fractures in right leg to both bones above the top of my steel-shanked- 3- leather-layered roller skate. Never missed a class due to assistance from all sides. Greatly needed and appreciated as the cast was all the way up to my ass !
Love to you both,
Sh’reen
Things can’t be too bad… he’s eating a restorative serving of sushi!
Here’s to a swift recovery with a minimum of pain and bother.
He’s looking very good . Lots of positive spirit there I can see . Between Nurse Kristi & himself the healing time will fly by . Anyway all good wishes for a steady & complete recovery.
p.s I think Smokey is just overcome with joy,because Jean Marc is home !!
Zut! Quelle chance!
For you, Kristin: someone opened the door and “in flew enza” and for Jean-Marc: now he can empathize with the proverbial American one-arm paper-hanger . . . .
Get well soon!
My thoughts went to my spouse as I read. Two months ago I fell going down two little steps at my parents’ house and broke both ankles. My poor husband has had to put up with so much, not the least of which is what he refers to as his “sanitation engineer” duties. My legs were named by my children ‘Dumb’ and ‘Dumber’. It’s difficult at times but a sense of humor helps. Bon courage!
Wishing Chief Grape a very speedy recovery which couldn’t be otherwise with the help of his wonderful nurse Kristi’s love and tender care.
I broke my arm and wrist last year and therapy helped a lot with my recovery.
God bless you both.
Wow that is my kind of hospital, if you must go..looks like everyone is on the mend, and then this will just be another chapter in your life’s history. Glad you are on the tail end of this one.
Dear Kristi,
Quiet, measured persistence…your challenge may be in keeping Jean-Marc there so he can gently heal. The better he feels the more he may try to do with his usual élan! Your family has successfully worked through such situations before. Wishing you all patience and strength to do so again. And…it seems Smokey can always be counted on for a reason to smile and moments of levity!
Jean-Marc is alive and will recover! Those are major blessings!! May his recovery be swift and humor in your lives be ever present! I think Smokey can help with some of that – just look at his photos.
Challenging time for you both. Prayers that you would have grace-filled words and actions towards each other. That you would both do and say the right thing at the right time. This will soon be a memory. Create something beautiful during this time!!
Oh, Anne and Nancy! I see Jean-Marc is not the only one healing right now! Wishing you a full recovery – – and thanks to everyone writing in, now, with such cheerful and thoughtful wishes. Really brings a smile!
Our patient has been busy all day, since waking in the middle of the night. It is so good to have him back home. Now if he will only get a good nights rest.
Wishing Jean-Marc a speedy recovery and wishing plenty of patience to you both! As the others said, look to Smokey for inspiration!
Oh, je suis très désolé; réparer rapidement, Chief Grape.
I broke my elbow and my arm when there was ice on the porch in Nov., 2013. I went skating but wasn’t prepared to for the jump. I hope you do as well as I did. No complications.
You and Smokey will be the perfect companions for “Mending,” Kristi.
xoxo, Micki
Dear Chief Grape & Kristi – what a thing to happen!…. a pause for thought – for all of us …… & Smokey to be there with you …….
Terrific pic of Chief Grape – his strength shows in photo – ‘ ever onward ‘ …..
I would have a glass of wine too in his shoes …….
Wishing Chief Grape quick healing – but taking it easy …..
and Kristi – loved this story….Hugs & Kisses to you all and Smokey,
always wishing you all the best !
Cheers,
Vada
Get well quick, Jean Marc. Being a “lefty” is not so bad….I was born that way. Being a “righty” would be my problem. Fortunate for you, an elbow injury was the least of the injuries you could have sustained in your fall.
Take care and have nurse Kristi take good care of you. Bet Smokey can also help somehow, some way.
All the best.
You married one tough hombre! Not at all surprised to read about his independent adjustments. He is a force for sure, and a man of wisdom for deciding to make a life together with you. Comme toujours!
Mes meilleurs voeux for you all. Armando had very good advice for breaking up the scar tissue. Smokey seems like a good light to guide you!
Heal well and remember it only SEEMS to be taking forever.
My sincere wishes for a speedy recovery, Jean-Marc … just don’t try to make it too speedy. Healing takes time and you have so much to do! But the love and care from your family, Smokey included, will help you to mend as fast as possible. I believe that “un verre de rosé” is in order throughout the day and evening.
Best wishes for you, too, Kristin. Thank you for this “story”… may the hummingbirds keep surrounding you!
That’s how we know we are finally “getting it” … marriage, that is. That’s exactly how. When all our inner compulsions and revulsions melt in the face of one man’s dignity and integrity. One man who, inexplicably, wanted us by his side, through it all.
Beautifully said, Kerry!
JM, glad you have a great nurse!
And I must say the t-shirt in the pic is priceless. Terry
And, Gaelle, lovely thought about Create something beautiful at this time. Jean-Marc would like to harvest the olives this weekend. So that means creating some delicious olive oil!
Together you both will manage this. You have been married 21 years. This is just a bump in the road of life, He is strong and so are you. And love is even stronger.
Glad to see that JM is home. He looks great.
The welcome home meal of sushi and rose was
a surprisebto me. Hoped he liked it.
All the best in healing vibes to Chief Grape and his Nurse Kristi.
I prescribe patience for both of you, and perseverance. I am recovering from hip replacement surgery….healthy doses of patience and perseverance come strongly recommended! You will do it!
Bonne Chance!
He has such a great attitude!
Can’t help comparing the length of hospital stay in France with that of the U.S..Seems like you stay longer there….is this so?
Get well soon and get a well earned rest in the meantime…..God is good he will provide.
Brenda, The Bandol wine and sushi were brought to him in the hospital, by a good friend.
Jeanne, hospital stays in France tend to be longer. For Jean-Marc, this had to do with having to wait a day for his operation. He lost a little time that way, but it forced him to rest.
Hi Kristin,
I hope Jean-Marc is better soon! I had to laugh about the “zipping up his pants” line. That could lead to other things that might make him forget his elbow! LOL….I love the pic of Smokey on his back! He’s such a cutie!
Sweet story Kristi
Kristin,
Your writing about the return of Jean-Marc has such beautiful and tender imagery. Thank you for sharing. Wishing him a smooth recovery.
Amicalement, Rosalie
Very sorry to read of Jean-Marc’s accident. My son did the same thing…went right over the handle bars and injured his elbow. He’s fine now. J-M will find a way to head to the fields tomorrow, probably, and all will be well—with your help, Kristin.
Best wishes, Chief Grape, for a good and full recovery. You will definitely have the best looking nurse around and with your fortitude, you’ll soon be back at the vineyard. Do exactly what they say in therapy as that’s what counts. We are all praying for you and Kristi.
Kristin, so often I want to comment on a post – just tell you how much I adore your point of view-your genuine nature and your remarkable ability to share your thoughts in words so eloquently. Then I see the L-O-N-G thread of comments and figure…’aw…one more comment won’t be noticed by Kristin’
But here I am today – I have said what I needed to. I feel as though you are an old friend. Have been following for many years. Thanks – Dawn Willey/ Birmingham Alabama and Placencia, Belize CA