A very short and (hopefully) funny story to ease you past the holiday rush. Enjoy. The regular edition will be back after Christmas. All best wishes to you however you may celebrate.
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse
Yesterday in church I noticed a young man (35ish?) glancing at me. Tall, with longish, rich brown hair, he was a new face at Sunday service. After a few more of his glances, perceived from the corner of my eye, I looked back at the stranger whose regard met mine, with a smile. I quickly returned to the songbook in my hands, my eyes now glued to Amazing Grace.
Before long, and a couple of he-stares later, my mind began to interpret things in a most colorful manner. Why did he keep looking over at me? Perhaps it was the new way in which I am wearing my hair, wavy and free? My thoughts continued along that (unusually confident) theme until I corraled them, in time to focus on the words of Grace Infinie.
Ô grâce infinie qui vint sauver
Un pêcheur tel que moi!
J'étais perdu, Il m'a trouvé,
J'étais aveugle, je vois.
Next we closed our hymnals, and I settled into my pew, to listen to the pastor read from John 6, and talk about the meaning behind the bread and grape juice we were about to consume. He spoke about how various churches interpreted the symbols differently (Ouf! I wasn't the only one interpreting things!).
Speaking of interpretations, Mr Glance, was at it again… This time, on seeing I was without my Bible, he handed me his own. Gosh, he was attentive and I did not know how to interpret this attention. But when after church the tall, dark gallant (can that be a noun?) walked up to me, I braced myself, preparing to flash my wedding ring! Instead, his words rang in my ears:
"Bonjour. I haven't seen you here before."
"Oh, yes. I'm new."
"What brings you to La Ciotat?" he smiled, but before I could answer he offered a guess: "…La retrait?"
Retirement???
(At this point in my story, I may as well type LA FIN, because it really was the end of any and all illusions. All those adoring looks, those attentive glances–were surely because I reminded him of his grand-mère!)
Mr Glance's question hung in the air and, not wanting to correct (and so embarrass him), I mumbled something about my husband bringing me to La Ciotat and hurried out of l'église. I was on my way to a special lunch to celebrate my birthday, which happened to be Le Jour J, or the very day!
(My 52nd and not my 65th–or whatever the age of retirement is here in France!!!)
On a positive note, over lunch my husband offered another possibility as a consolation: "Maybe he thought you were a rich American who came here for an early retirement?"
I'm not sure that explanation soothes my busted ego. But it does get my imagination going once again, and suddenly I see a beach, a faux pina colada, and suitcases of dollar bills–seagulls flying overhead and a gentle breeze. There, there now. Just let those words float away.
* * *
Dear Reader, when is the last time you were stung by a comment? I'll never forget the time I wore an ill-fitting dress and someone asked me when was the baby due? Tell us about an aggravating remark you once received, in the comment below. I could use a good laugh! Couldn't we all?
A little older. A little grayer. A little more thick-skinned. But no where near ready to retire! (Thanks, Mom, for the photo.)
At least not until I have finished my story.
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I wanted to share one of the few times I thought of a comeback in time.
A 20-something asked if my « Virginia is for Lovers » t-shirt was vintage.
I said, « No, darling. I am. »
kristi, i think your new, younger friend simply thinks people are retiring as soon as they possibly can! he imagined that you looked as though you have reached the pinnacle of excellence, and are ready to sit back and relax. i think it is more of a comment on your relaxed demeanor than age.
may the new year bring you and your family the joy and happiness you have shared with your readers!
marlies
Kristin, I love the pictures of you and Jean-Marc.
When we moved into a new house thirty years ago, I kept telling my husband that the OLD man behind our house acts like he knows me. When my husband introduced himself to him, he came back in the house and (too) happily told me, “He graduated with you!”
I always thought you reminded me of a younger Catherine Deneuve – that’s why he was looking at you! Many years ago I was asked out on a non-romantic “date” by a much older aristocratic heroine of the French Resistance. She was in her 70s and people smiled approvingly at us as we walked arm in arm – by the end of the evening she had turned into a coquettish teenager and I think I had fallen in love with her! Remy
.. Dear Kristin… a belated BONNE ANNIVERSAIRE! to you. You always look young and vivacious to me… and I love the pix of your and JM! Life seems always to be a state of being something…. and if we choose happiness .. all the better. I will be 79 next month, althought iI do not ‘feel’ it. There is a 35 year old inside wanting to get out! I am totally convinced after all these years, attitude is everything. I hope you and yours will have a wonderful Christmas and a fabulous 2020! (PS .. I believe you will look like your Mother when you are older, and she is one beautiful and classy looking woman!)
Joyeux Noel et bonne année…. Judi
I can share a story. It’s reading this blog today. My god, you would think being in your 60’s means you’re half dead. Let me tell you something, I feel sorry for all of you still going to work every day. I am retired and have all the time in the world to do exactly as I please. I spent mother’s day in Paris, I returned to Europe again in October. I spent a week enjoying a hotel stay in Florida in November followed by a week at my sons just soaking up the sunshine.
We have a nest egg that allows us to come and go as we please. Oh, did I mention we downsized to a home on the lake here in Massachusetts.
At 58 I was still putting up with corporate goals and people asking me what my goals were 15 years from now. Retirement is like menopause. Once you retire you can’t ever imagine going back to work every day. It would be just like starting your period all over again.
The whole group of you should be ashamed to treat aging in such a disparaging fashion. Last week I spent a day Christmas shopping with my 20 year old grandson. I was taken for his mother more than once but I was proud to tell them I’m his grandmother. So, don’t knock it until you try it. You should be so lucky to be in your 60’s and retired.
That is so funny, Susie! I think so many of us can relate to this story you shared 😂
This is a lovely thought. Thanks, Marlies!
Wow. Thanks, Remy! And for the fun story.
Excellent ! 👌
Thank you, Gabrielle! And I agree wholeheartedly about women being attractive at any age!
Thank you, Teresa! Thankfully there are those men and women who go for, are attracted to, what is in the heart and spirit 💕
J’aime ceci beaucoup . A perfect greeting for a francophile . Tres psychologic .
— Franck
Haha! True!
Happy Day, Kristie!
On a somewhat-relevant-to-your-story note…
Yesterday I looked at myself in the mirror and said, “You never looked this old before.”
To which I replied, “Well, I’ve never BEEN this old before.”
I simply must remove that mirror.
Nan Morrissette, now living back in my beautiful Maine.
In my early teaching years, my worry was that I was mistaken for one of my students – not helped by being asked out by an 18 yo (not from my school I hasten to add) when I was 28. At the time, I was mortified to feel that I looked so young. I wonder if you and your very welcoming male friend will laugh over this story one day. PS I was thinking of you on Sunday and hoping that you were having a lovely birthday.
I have one such story that occurred to Lauren Averill, my loving wife.
When she was in her late twenties, she was shopping at the grocery and a young college girl asked her for some advice about a cut of beef. Lauren thought it was cool to be just one of the co-eds until the girl turned to her companion and said, “This lady says we should try this one.” That dashed Lauren’s hopes and there her into the category of middle-aged housewife!
Thank you for sharing, Nan! 😂 Merry Christmas to you and Tom. 💕
I confess to being guilty of making an embarrassing comment years ago. My sister’s boyfriend at the time came to our home with his parents….my meeting both for the first time. I walked into the room in the midst of a conversation they were having about “Romeo.” It was Romeo did this and Romeo did that over and over. Out of curiosity I asked if Romeo were a cat or dog. When they told me it he was their grandkid, I felt like an idiot. Oops!
What a darling story! AND, it would be hard to tell what the age of retirement is right now…isn’t that part of the problem? They keep changing it. 🙂
Kristi, you are beautiful. Hopefully your husband tells you frequently. And you will continue to be beautiful even as you ‘age’!
Oh, Kristi, it breaks my ol’ heart that so many of us human beings still find it painfully grievous to let go of our youthful bloom, yet I suppose this woe is natural in cultures fixated on looks. Most of my almost 75 years I looked more youthful than my numerical age, but nowadays, the skin and the gait match my vintage. Even so, it’s a delightful surprise to see my late parents’ beloved lines and crinkles in the mirror. I like to watch how a grin at the lively old woman reflected there transforms ‘her’ into the bright-eyed girl of yore! After all the time that has passed through me, that same sensitive and occasionally sparkly spirit endures — no matter what.
May you all, mes chers Amis ici, soon overcome any regret over our normal passage toward the softening of life’s lineaments. It’s freedom indeed to reach out in welcome to the way life is sculpting us. Our glow still shines like gold when we DO accept our ‘new’ face and form! It’s the illumination from a peaceful and contented heart that attracts the glance and interest of strangers. And no wonder!
HAPPY CHRISTMAS and WARMEST GOOD WISHES for a peaceful, loving Holiday Season, no matter your faith!
I agree, Kitty! It’s our inner glow that gives us the outer glow of youthfulness!
for many years I taught an honors statistics class that was known to be demanding. On the first day, I would ask students why they had signed up for this demanding course. One student said, “my mother had a class from you and she said that before I graduated I needed to take a course from you.” I was complimented, but also felt really OLD.
Good one, Gary. Thanks for sharing! P.S. I would love to attend one of your classes, even if statistics is a foreign language to me.
This is lovely, Kitty. I have so enjoyed your words here, and before; your beauty, sparkle, and charm sings from the page and uplifts us. I will be rereading this one, and saving it. Merci encore, Mon amie.💞😘
Merci, Coleen!
Tim, Thank you for sharing Laurens story. Sending you two, and your dear family, warmest wishes for the season.
Merci, Carolyn.🙂
Yes, and you are beautiful inside and out.
💕
So true Liz .That happens to me (same age range) Great feeling
Happy Christmas !!
I was sitting next to a young college age student in my summer session French class. He asked about my children. I told him I had four, but didn’t mention that three were in elementary school and the little on was still in preschool. Granted, my hair was getting very grey, but I didn’t know what to say to him when he asked me if they were all still at home! Did I look old enough to have children who were old enough to leave home? Yikes!
It’s a good story now, but I was fairly crushed then.
Who would ever mistake you, young Kristi, with someone’s grandmother? That lovely face all aglow with love of your dear husband…No, just perhaps being friendly to a stranger. And one day, you may indeed be blessed to be a grandmother, and that is not so bad, either~
Enjoy this season and each day of your life. Every age brings something special, and when you get my age, you must bless that you are here each day! Blessings from Phoenix…
Lovely. Joyeux Noel.
At the time I had very long hair. I was sitting on a bench, on a pier, looking out to the Med. I saw a young (20’s) man walk behind me, stop, turnaround and start to walk up to me. When he got in front of me, he glanced at my face (50’s) looked away and kept walking. Then he turned around, walked behind me again and kept on to his original destination. I’m sure he heard me laughing….
Our daughter was really beautiful and in her 20’s she brought a friend home for the weekend. Her natural beauty took on a new meaning to us when the friend asked her if she was the milkman’s daughter.
Oh, mon dieu! 😲
We are all so sensitive about this age thing! One time on vacation at a resort, I thought I looked younger than my actual age. Tan etc., so I asked the housekeeper how old she thought I was. She added over 10 years to my age!! Oh vanity.
Oh, you leave me with a laugh and sending a hug! Kids. What do they know?! 😉
When our son was about a year or so old, we had a large family reunion. Having moved out of state years before, I hadn’t seen many of them in a long time. My notoriously loud and not-so-subtle aunt was there. I saw her in the kitchen and, as she looked me over from head to tow, she exclaimed loudly, “Oh, Tami, hello! You’ve gained weight! I always thought you were too skinny.” Nobody around us knew what to say and I just stood stunned and thanked her. 😮
These photos are so joyous! Bonne année!