Au revoir Mexique. Our Mom is about to begin a new chapter in France!
On ne s'ennuie jamais
: never a dull moment
Click here to listen to on ne s'ennuie jamais
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE
A blow to her wings, not to her spirit!
by Kristi Espinasse
My mom has been an expat in Mexico for 25 years (the same amount of time I've been in France). Now, following a recent coup dans l'aile, or blow to her wings, Jules will be moving into our nest and we are going to take things au jour le jour (just as the birds do!)
Petit à petit l'oiseau (re)fait son nid.
Jean-Marc and I will be researching the administrative side of when an expat's expat parent comes to live with American daughter and French son-in-law in France. (Kicking myself for not applying for French nationality after all these years. It would come in handy about now!). Meantime there are some non-administrative pépins, like where to put Mom…now that our two kidults have moved back in for the summer. As the French say: On ne s'ennuie jamais.
I'll be back with you later for an update. D'ici là, meantime, please send Jules and my sister, Heidi, (who just arrived in Puerto Vallarta) bon courage. They'll need it. They have two days to turn the page on a colorful chapter in Mom's life. On to the next!
We may need a second bagnole now. How about this Méhari? Perfect for a sunset drive here in La Ciotat…
FRENCH VOCABULARY
un coup dans l'aile = a blow to the wings
au jour le jour = day by day
Petit à petit l'oiseau fait son nid = little by little the bird makes its nest
le pépin = glitch, hitch, snag
on ne s'ennuie jamais = life's never boring
d'ici là = meantime
bon courage = good luck
la bagnole = car
la maman = mom, mother, mama…comme Mama Jules ♥
Surrounded by my sister, Heidi, and our Mom, Jules at my 1994 Wedding in Marseilles.
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Hi Kristi snd All,
Good luck and happy for you you’ll have your Mom around!
Hopefully things will work out for the best!
All the best to All
Laurence
Wow, I LOVE this post!!! Best news ever!!!!
Hi Kristi,
Wishing Heidi and Jules safe travels and bon courage! I know you are so happy to have your mom with you soon!
Keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers!
Eileen
Bon Voyage to them !! Good luck with French bureaucracy .I am stilll waiting ,after3 months, for a permit for disabled parking, despite doctors etc saying it was necessary.
I am sure you will love having Jules with you .Such a personality !
Pas toujours facile de clore un chapitre n’est-ce pas? Mais il en reste plein plein d’autres à écrire!
Bon courage et plein de bonnes ondes positives pour accompagner ce changement!
Great to hear Jules is coming to France, maybe
She will give an art workshop.
Thank you for cheese puff recipe, made them last week
Added I/2 cup cheese, it had not said amount.
Thank you so very much for your posts!!
Bon courage a vous tous, obviously small changes will have to be made, but I agree with all your readers that this will be a wonderful new adventure for all of you!! Bises to all of you!
HOW LUCKY CAN FRANCE BE TO HAVE SUCH A VIVACIOUS LADY TAKE UP RESIDENCE? SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE EXPERIENCING
”
THE TRAUMA MOST FAMILIES GO THROUGH. LITTLE DOUBT THAT YOU WILL SOLVE THIS ONE.
Looking forward to Jules arrival. When we spoke this morning, she had slept with her shoes on. I sent her on her way with strength, hope, and a few prayers, and hope to see you all in France soon. I’m still trying to get out of Calif. Bon Voyage, Dear Jules.
congratulations on your Mom coming to live with you; what a joy! How delightful that your two young adults will be sharing some time with her! I think it’s going to be a wonderful experience for all; a bit of rearranging will be in order, mais, jour par jour. Bon courage!
How exciting (in many ways)! Bon voyage, Jules!
Bon courage, buena suerte Mme Jules.
Tout ira bien. Vous avez une fille adorable et un beau-fils bien sympa.
Bendiciones en un nuevo capítulo de su vida.
Amicalement,
Marti Hinman
Life’s changes…wishing you all a successful, fulfilling journey. Hope to at last meet Jules! Much love. ♥️🏖️🇫🇷🌻
Cindy, what is a roulotte!
Merci,
Cindy
Enjoy your French blog and have read with interest in your mother’s moving to live with you in France. What might be very interesting to many here in the . . uh . . confusing political shape we are in presently is how one is able to move from the U.S. to France, how long are they allowed to stay, does moving to ‘family’ have special clauses in the law and, especially, what will be possible for French medical for anyone making a hoped-for long term move? Is it hard to get? A lot of paper work? Necessary funds in the bank with the person becoming an ex-pat? Hoping for a good family reunion for all of you!