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"
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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
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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!
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Thank you, Dawn! It is so encouraging to read your words.
And thank you all for taking the time to comment. It is such a pleasure to read each note here.
Mon Dieu!! Cher Jean Marc, we are so sorry to hear of your accident!! 5 days in the hospital must mean it was a serious break!!
We know good nurse Kristi will speed your healing and maybe take over your responsibilities for the vines of your future Rose!?? This will you to totally relax and focus on healing!
It was good to see you still had your appetite for Sushi and Bandol!!
We love and miss you both,
Lee and Maureen
It’s good to see Chief Grape up and smiling with rose in (good) hand. Loved your very honest post, as I have been there too many times and can identify. Jean Marc seems so have a great attitude and will recover quickly, just make sure he doesn’t overdo it and have setbacks. My continued prayers for you both for quick healing and feeling better. Yes, great t-shirt by the way. 😊
I am not getting any sound. I have not been receiving any sound for the past few months. I do receive it from other sites.
I’m sure all will go well with Jean-Marc & his elbow and you always have Smokey to fall back on for nursing duties.
Hi Tom, thanks for the report re sound. I have had a few other reports and will look into it at the next chance. Do you usually click on the mp3 or wav file (not offered today). When was the last time my sound file worked for you?
Thanks.
Love Jean Marc’s tshirt. I think my husband needs one. Hope he is better soon. Heal quickly Jean-Marc.
My sympathies to you both, since I am currently a “member” of the “broken bones/broken French” brotherhood/sisterhood, having broken three bones in my left foot at the end of July.!!! The “Boot” finally came off yesterday (October 19th) and the Doctor said” you can take the car out of the garage, but I suggest you find a Church parking lot to familiarize yourself with the car again. That way, if you crash you will be closer to God”!!! Hugs. x
Ooo…. Cet homme est blesse mais il est beau en tout cas. ;o)
So glad Jean-Marc is home and you are feeling better from the flu. Sending you both loving hugs.
Dear Kristi:
I will add my wishes for speedy recovery to Chief Grape, as well. I noticed on Instagram that he was in his element sharing wine with good friends. That along with all his family’s and other friends’ concern will help him feel & heal better!
But let me add a well-wish for you, too, my dear, as you are just at the tail-end of the flu; you need to pace your nursing efforts (and worry) so as not to relapse yourself! Perhaps within Jean-Marc’s beautiful “dignity,” and not asking too much of “love Nurse Kristi,” was also a good measure of caring concern for his helpmate. 🙂
Having Smokey there will definitely help with the healing on all sides. He’s such a comedian and charmer!
Much love,
Alisa
Our dear Kristi,
Am so sorry to hear of this accident!
Please know you are both in our prayers;Jean Marc for a speedy and complete recovery,and you,dear Kristi,to keep smiling and stay well yourself while doing all that a devoted nurse needs to do!
Sending hugs and thoughts always.
Love
Natalia XO
PS Wonderful pictures of the patient and adorable Smokey!
Kristin,
Get well soon Jean Marc and don’t do anything stupid. Give yourself time to heal.
Jeanne commented on how short the hospital stay was for Jean Marc.Wow,my mother at age 97 had a partial hip replacement and was out of the hospital in 5 days. I like the sushi and wine. Wish we could do that.
Kathleen
Poor Jean Marc following our lovely afternoon with you both in Bandol, which we consider a highlight of our recent trip to Provence thanks to your excellent hosting of the event ( along with Smokey)
Despite this minor setback we look forward to the first of the soon too be famous vintage of Mas Des Brun AOC Bandol wines.
Bon Courage
Vince and Carole
Prompt rétablissement, Jean-Marc.
🙂
Aaaand, spellcheck:
Should either of these phrases be posed or poised?
“Posed to fly into action
I stood posed like a board”
Please tell Jean-Marc he will be much more comfortable if he places his ‘sling’ with the first loop pushed over the cast up to his elbow and then put the long part of the sling under his right armpit, pulling it up over his left shoulder — and then over his right wrist. So the support for his arm should be coming from across his back and not across his neck — or his neck will become very sore if the sling is placed the way it is in this photograph. As a nurse, I have often stopped people on the street & fixed their sling for them — and they are sooo relieved. I don’t understand why emergency departments don’t know and do this. Best Wishes to You Both, Diana
French healthcare is amazing! In the U.S.there would be no overnight stay let alone a 5-day stay, you’d be on your own getting home,and no nurse would call. Wow, am I envious. Best to Chief Grape.
I am so very sorry. Accidents seem to be natures way of telling us to slow down and learn patience. In my life it seems that way.
Dear Friends
Thank you all for the sweet and support messages
I am in the best possible hands with Kristi, they cutest and kindest nurse on Earth =)
I promise to take good care of myself
Cheers
I totally get where you’re coming from. I am a slug, and yet met and married a guy who is super athletic. When I met him he was a Kung Fu guy, then he switched to running which quickly became Marathons then he transitioned in to Triathlons! I was his groupy though all the transitions. He crashed on his bike and was nearly hit by cars several times. I took him to the hospital a few times because the wounds were beyond my capability to deal with. I don’t do blood! He was mad at me for that in the beginning, but the Doctors told him I was right to bring him in every time.
It’s going to be TOUGH nursing him through this time, but hang in there! He will come through it faster than the average guy. We are truly blessed to have these men in our lives as our mates. Be patient. It will work out! xxx Deborah
Thanks, Jacqueline. Will need to fix that. Much appreciated!
Thank you, Diana, for this great tip! Jean-Marc has a new, fancy sling now, but weve managed to velcro it upside down! Will work on this today…
Chief Grape, Thank you. I am so touched by your words, and so delighted to see them here. Aw!
Shift happens. We adapt. And we are grateful for our lives. Wishing you all continued love and patience for the peccadillos of life.
Re the sound. I have been using MP3 lately because the other did not work. Today the icon or graphic around the sound gives no choice. It worked fine once. I wanted to hear it again, but it is not responding to a second request. Maybe if I close the web page and open it again — but that would be news for another note.
Sorry Jean-Marc hurt his shoulder so seriously to need surgery. Glad he is mending.
Thanks, Sarah. Thats helpful.
Wishing Jean Marc a speedy recovery and you patience with his male pride…It is indeed difficult to see one such as he injured, but there are always special things you can do that will make his recovery “speedy” and help you feel needed at a time like this without injuring that pride!
Sending healing thoughts your way!
hugs, bj
Oh, and just when I arrive in Chalabre (near Carcassonne) for a week’s riding. I hope Jean Marc recovers fully and quickly so he can get on the bike again. Cold weather is coming.
from my perspective, il est un des meilleurs maris du monde.
Glad you’re doing so well, Jean-Marc. Would expect nothing less!
Wish I could throw my 72 yr-old efforts in to help with le mas!
s
Oh my! Such an unfortunate accident! Truly wish Jean Marc a speedy recovery and to you dear Kristin, all the energy needed to assist with his healing!
It seems that bike spills are on the rise. I am part of a (shall we say) casual senior bike group. Half of us have had spills resulting in bad bruising, broken arm and wrist and a fainting spell which brought out an ambulance and fire engine truck on our most recent ride. We are all adjusting to being more careful about our surroundings, bringing water bottles for hydration and being aware of our body’s condition or lack there of. Even then, accidents happen. 🙂
Best wishes to you both! This, too, will pass having broken my arm playing tennis some 20 years ago and doing well today!
Cher Jean-Marc,
So sorry to learn of your illness. God fill you with peace, courage and strength.
Cher Jean-Marc,
God’s greatest blessings be with you and strength grow day by day as you recover.