Autumn excursion in France, especially for women – "Women in Burgundy: Life, Laughter, and the French Paradox” October 18 to 27, 2018 – includes two nights in Paris. Click HERE for details.
Today's French expression: partir en vrille
: to spin out of control, to go astray, to go south, to run amok, to go off the deep end
Click here to listen to "partir en vrille"
Après avoir dégusté un tout petit morceau de chocolat, elle est partie en vrille au centre commercial. After sampling a very little morsel of chocolate, she ran amok.
365 Days of French Expressions. Click here.
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE
by Kristi Espinasse
Last December in Denver, when Mom and I were kicked out of the marijuana dispensary I should have taken it as a warning. Instead, we waited for the rest of our motley crew (my husband, my sister, and her boyfriend)–those with proper IDs–to finish touring the "medicinal" pot shop. I never intended to eat any of it–that chocolate bar we were after–I was just going along with the adventure. But as my grandfather used to say, "when you're around trouble, you're in it!"
Next thing I knew there was this THC-laced candy bar hanging around. It was carefully zipped into our suitcase, lest one of my sister's sheepdogs found it. It ended up in our rental car (after the dogs figured out how to pick the locks on our bags), where I noticed it each time Jean-Marc drove us somewhere. The day after Christmas, on our way to the mall, I suddenly swallowed a piece….
It was tout minuscule–a half of a half of a morceau. It didn't really count and, besides, I wasn't feeling it. So I had another. Forty-five minutes later I was on a shopping spree that ended with a visit to a Tesla (voitures électriques sportives et de luxe) and a serious conversation with a loan officer for a cute little home in a seedy (but up and coming!) part of the city.
The chocolate must have gone to my head, or gone into effect, around the time we (for Jean-Marc had had a piece too) strolled through Macy's, where I bought my husband three new sweaters and a dress shirt. The shopping spree continued at a barber boutique, where I was now on a mission to buy my husband an "ecological" razor (no more plastic to end up in a landfill!). I quickly brushed past the low-cost gamme and raced right over to the top razor (which looked like a cool pocket knife!) and all of its pricy paraphernalia (like the leather ceinture used for sharpening it–who knew leather could sharpen steel. If only it could sharpen my senses!
Walking through the mall like a Sugar Mama, my husband trailing behind me with all his Macy's packages (and un razoir costing slightly less than my wedding band), I turned to watch Sugar Baby walk into the Tesla showroom. If the cannabis-infused chocolate had relaxed my grip on my wallet, it didn't completely shut off sound reasoning–besides, there wasn't enough fric in my bank account to continue pampering Sugar Baby.
But that's what loans are for! In the last scene of our regretful story, Sugar Mama and Sugar Baby are standing in a little brick home with my sister the realtor. We had called Heidi outside the Tesla shop after stumbling into a brightly lit home sales display there at the mall. Just like that, within the hour, we were teleported out of the shopping center–to a seedy (but trending!) Denver neighborhhood. My dear sister had no idea I was under the influence, or she would not have called up a loan officer for me.
Long story short, I failed the income part of the interview. My salary as a blogger might be able to fetch a loan for an RV–but it would not secure funds for a home in Denver–no matter how dilapidated the neighborhood. Speaking of dilapidated, by now my brain was returning to normal and this whole chaotic episode would soon be but a memory. A memory of losing my sobriety for a few hours in Colorado.
Every time I see my husband's platinum razor on the bathroom shelf, I am aggravated at the decision I made to swallow that tiny piece of chocolate, but my sister is quick to remind me of the bright side:
"I could be worse," Heidi sympathizes. "You could have bought a house!" And surely I'd have found a way, had the effects of that dumb chocolate lingered on.
Post Note: Cunning, baffling, powerful…
Some, in the field of sobriety, would consider it a relapse–my split-second decision to eat that drugged piece of chocolate. The thought is troubling, but ultimately, I shall have to wear my Big Girl Pants (or Sugar Mama pants, if you like) and decide for myself whether or not I may continue to say: I have 15 years of sobriety. (Or whether the truth, now, is: I have 3 months….)
Amicalement,
Kristi
Related story "So much for Anonymity"
FRENCH VOCABULARY
la voiture = car
la gamme = range of products
la ceinture = belt
un razoir = razor
le fric = cash
tout minuscule = teeny tiny
un morceau = a piece, a morsel
Safety razor (I should have gotten JM this one, or something similar! It would have saved the environment and my wallet!)
Embryolisse – the multi-purpose French face cream my daughter and I use–get the 2-pack here.
Eiffel Tower Peace Sign T-shirt, order here.
If you haven't read my book, please have a look at Words in a French Life: Lessons in Love and Language from the South of France
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Totally stunned at “A’s” comments … can only assume he/she has a personal problem with drugs. Regardless, the comments are irresponsible, ignorant, insensitive, and ill informed. Keep being your wholesome, honest, and open self!
Everyone has different reactions to different drugs – whether it be alcohol, mushrooms, marijuana, LSD, or any other. I choose to say no to most, but refuse to judge those who say yes, unless it is in excess.
You are loved, Kristi.
Dear Kristi – Thank you for your honesty. Most of us try to cover up our mistakes, instead of sharing them so others can learn before they make the same ones. Congratulations on your 15 years. With one hiccup into something else, may you now continue with confidence and many blessings, – Janet
Congratulations, Susan, on this milestone!
Me Too!
Dear Kristi:I don’t know if this is the best way to comunicate with you. I have been receiving and reading your e-mails for years.My husband, daughters (14 and 11) and I will be traveling to France for the first time this summer and we will visit the Mediterranean coast (Marseille or around) on June 29 and 30. We have been making reservations at several hotels (in Zurich and Paris) but on that area I would like to stay at one of those houses where a family rents a room, I believe they call it Bed and Breakfasts, so that we can be with someone there, interact with them. And maybe they would like to talk to a Costa Rican family as well. Do you know the specific name of such a family or place, that we can make reservations at?Thank you.
Dear Kristi: Love your honesty. I don’t know the answer. Many people were upset with Bill Wilson for his exploration of LSD.
Congratulations on your 15+ and for re-committing to your well being. Being a human is a full time gig and I’m not always up for the job. 🙂
Addiction is cunning, baffling, powerful and something we can turn over minute by minute.
Though alcohol isn’t my thing, the 12 steps continue to consistently transform my life. And it all came out of Bill & Dr. Bob being powerless over alcohol. And many of us being powerless over people, places, and things. :)xoLorrie
Dear Courageous Kristi, forgive and forget. Let Go! Your strength has been and continues to be amazing! (P.S. I think A’s on drugs.)
To me your blog is a breath of honesty and sunlight.
Well said… refreshing… real, awesome 👏!!!
I have 18 years of sobriety from alcohol. I quit drinking. I never “quit” doing anything else. I didn’t do drugs and have no desire to so it has been no hardship to not do drugs during my 18 years of sobriety. But the truth is, for me, I only quit drinking. I didn’t quit anything else. If you can make the same argument for yourself, then you can keep your 15 years. Otherwise …. Good luck.
Grace to you Kristi. It could have been worse!! Je suis d’accord – une petite rechute, mais pas de probleme.. ♥ On a lighter note… I loved how, in your altered state of mind, you thought of and pampered your Sugar Baby. Jean-Marc is loved.
You have really opened up your heart. I don’t know the answer to your query, either. Not knowing reminds me of something I read, maybe in some Adult Children of Alcoholics book: « Life is less about finding the solutions to our problems than in how we treat ourselves alond the way. » So maybe you need tough love from yourself. Maybe that is really the kindest thing. Or maybe you need a pass, a special dispensation, some tenderness. What will help you go forward?
Sometimes recovering addicts seem so hard on themselves. Other times, I see it as them being more honest than the rest of us. Fascinating dilemma. I would not have wished this on you, but maybe it is an ever more sophisticated challenge, and the world knows you are ready for it.
It sounds like the best answer to your question is to go to a meeting. Ask them. Or call your sponsor.