TODAY’S WORD: se relayer : to take turns, to relieve one another
PRONUNCIATION: [suh ruh-leh-yay]
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
En famille, il faut savoir se relayer pour que chacun puisse se reposer.
In a family, you have to take turns so everyone can rest.
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse
It’s early morning and a cool breeze is coming through the bedroom window. Outside, in the street, the sidewalks of our neighborhood are dotted with yellow poubelles. Tuesday is trash day (for recyclables). I breathe a sigh of relief, remembering I’ve already put our bin out. No need to rush downstairs and out the door to catch the garbage truck!
Inside the garden gate, our yard screams with thirst: the grass is the color of straw. Resident doves, Mama and Papa, are hopping around on the dry ground, beaks opening and closing. Smart birds—they’re hinting again. Hop, hop, hint. Hop, hop, hint. I head for the glass jar on the front porch, unscrew it, and toss a few handfuls of graines de tournesol across the front steps. Watching the gray tourterelles gobble up breakfast reminds me of the hungry machine that is this home of ours. Back from a visit to the U.S., will I be able to keep up?
Vincent, Jackie’s long-awaited petit ami, is arriving soon. What will I cook? The cucumber plants have dried up, and a handful of tomatoes are clinging to the yellowing vines… It’s too hot to keep up with bread-making. Thankfully, the farmers market and bakery are just up the street! I wonder what our guest will like to eat? How about chipolatas or rat-a-too-ee?
“Go get in bed,” Mom says. “Just rest! That’s what I do.”
There in her garage studio, where I’ve come to deliver her meds, Mom is resting from just about everything—including painting. Oh, she still creates still lifes and landscapes in her mind: a stroke here, a stroke there. She’s having just as much fun—and there are no brushes to wash when she’s done. I wonder, could I do the same with my stories? Scribble them in my head? Yes… but they’d eventually be lost to the recesses of my brain. I must get them down in essay form, print them out in books—have something solid to hold on to. Can I ever let go?
Earlier, I must’ve been fretting aloud about keeping up with everything—writing included—when Jackie suddenly said, “Mom, I’ve written a story. You can use it on your blog this week.”
And just like that—a deep breath of relief. But her offer was more than a reprieve. It sparked a quiet excitement in me: the thought of my daughter taking the baton and carrying this family chronicle forward into the future. Instead of narrator, I could be a character! I have always loved characters.
Having character requires adversity and development, just as becoming a writer requires practice, patience, and perseverance. But to succeed, you’ve got to be hungry, as Mom always told me. Hungrier than a couple of turtle doves on a hot summer’s day in Provence?
Rest is part of the engine—without it, we would all putter out. So bye for now. Enjoy Jackie’s story, and may she continue to contribute to this written mosaic of family life…
WHOSE TURN IS IT TO EMPTY THE DISHWASHER? by Jacqueline Espinasse
One thing I did the hour before Mom returned from the States was run to my room and grab all 8 couch cushions.
Two weeks earlier, Dad, Grandma, Ricci, and I were waving goodbye to Mom, who was heading to Marseille airport to fly to Grandpa. I had a lot of emotional thoughts at that moment, but one of them was, “Yay, no more chores!” How naive of me this turned out to be.
A few days went by and the only thing Mom asked me to do was to feed Grandma every evening, as she takes care of her own lunches. Knowing that, and not being busy that first week, I decided to break this rule and effortlessly put two eggs in the pan for her lunch. So here I am, cooking away, when suddenly I notice a fabulous-looking wicker panier. I start getting creative. A simple two sunny-side-up eggs on a plate is not looking its best in this fancy basket. What if I added some fresh sliced tomatoes? Oh, and how about a nice drizzle of olive oil? And finish it off with a touch of fresh feta cheese and ground pepper?
But wait, the basket needed more. So I added cookies, bread, fresh melon, et voilà—terminé!
On my way to Grandma’s, with Ricci escorting me to make sure I delivered her food, I gently knock before sitting quietly on her bed. “How lucky I am to get this five-star resort food!” she says. I become so proud of this basket that, over a phone call to Mom, she started to feel pressure to keep up with Grandma’s new lunch routine.
Meanwhile, during that first week, Dad came back from his cycling trip to Mont Ventoux—the highest mountain in the region. He was suffering from sciatique after that big effort.
For those who don’t know what sciatique is, it’s a really bad nerve pain that goes from the top of the butt to the ankle. It kept Dad in bed all week. I wondered: would he make it to Corsica, for his hike next week? I was sort of counting on a little more space and privacy when my boyfriend arrived!
Grandma in bed, Dad in bed watching the Tour de France (his only joy in life at that moment), our doves Mama and Papa chirping for food, Ricci constantly pawing at me—gaaaah! The next thing I realized was, whatever fun things I had on my schedule, I needed to cancel in order to keep up with this tired, hungry, and needy household.
Next, my brother Max popped by to say hi and to get some supplies. He asked if I’d made any lunch for Dad. I had just finished this elaborate basket for Grandma—he could take care of Dad’s lunch. I had errands to run!
But back to those couch cushions. The day Mom came home, I felt this urgent pressure to get everything impeccable before her arrival, to the point where, after cleaning the couch cushions, I hid them in my room to keep them fur-free before Mom stepped into the house.
Keeping Grandma, Dad, two birds, and one dog fed for two weeks—j’étais épuisée! So as soon as Mom walked in the door, I was ready to go back to my normal life… and said so:
“Here, Mom—I’m handing the reins back to you!”
I know I’ll help again, but for now, I need a rest.
FRENCH VOCABULARY
se relayer = to take turns, to relieve one another
la poubelle = trash can, bin
la graine de tournesol = sunflower seed
la tourterelle = dove
le petit ami = boyfriend
la chipolata = thin sausage
ratatouille (rat-a-too-ee) = traditional Provençal vegetable stew
le panier = basket
et voilà = and there you have it / all done
terminé = finished
le Mont Ventoux = a mountain in Provence popular with cyclists
la sciatique = sciatica
le Tour de France = the Tour de France (annual cycling race)
j’étais épuisée = I was exhausted
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Jackie,
Your story was wonderful, and your lunches look terrific too! I thoroughly enjoyed reading. More stories would be appreciated!
Jackie, you have definitely inherited some talent from your mom, and you have a sweet style of your own. Bravo! I enjoyed your post.
👍
Great job on Jackie’s story! She’s very talented…just like her Mom!
🥰
Charming! Painting word pictures runs in the family! Loved this post. The photos are so beautifully composed, the writing, superb. Thoroughly enjoyable!! A triumph on all fronts, including the gourmet baskets!
Félicitations Jackie. Quelle belle histoire. J’attends la prochaine.
Thanks for your story Jackie!
Happy Summer!
bonjour, Jackie & Kristi: Merci beaucoup for your lovely article. I believe that Jackie will fully run with the family stories; how well you put your feelings into it; I felt your tiredness; yet, I also felt the love you were sharing! I look forward to receiving more stories from both of you. Amicalmente, Ann
♥️
Thank you for your wonderful posts. I enjoy your wonderful way of writing and it is much appreciated as a way to happily start my day!
Many happy days over the years since your posts began and I thank you so very much!
I have enjoyed your A Day in a French Life ever since you started. Your personality shines in your expressive manner of posting and it brings so much joy to me now in my later years. Thank you.
Dear Jackie,
Good job! You have a creative flair for storytelling and you had me from the beginning. So many of your talents came shining through this. Your mom’s trust was well placed. So kind and thoughtful you are, as is she…
Loved this post! Jackie, you’re a wonderful writer and your photos of the delicious lunch are fantastic. A star is born!
Jackie, it was wonderful to read your writing this morning. It’s the perfect trifecta of subjects for me: French language, Food, Family with their non-human companions.
Jackie, your story was wonderful! I think you learned some of your mom’s transparency. No bragging, no complaining, just telling us what you were thinking before your mom’s return. And the relief she felt when she could skip just one blog. Ouf! It’s like when I come home and my husband has done the laundry. Looking forward to hearing about the visit of your “petit ami.”
What a thoughtful and creative daughter and granddaughter you are, Jacqueline (I appreciate your full pen name). It has been delightful to read about you over the years as you’ve grown from a little girl to now a fully adult woman, and now a treat to read your take on life.
Best of luck going forward. I’d love to read more of your adventures, especially since I have a son who lives in Brooklyn!
Our dears Kristi and Jackie,
One word:BRAVO!!And !felicitations to you both! What a pleasure to read this!
Jackie is most definitely her mother’s( and grandmother’s!)beautiful (and now grown up!)precious girl! Your story is wonderful ,and your talent clearly (and happily!) shared from your gifted mom!
What a family of chefs you are! Those meals are gorgeous!
Prayers to be feeling better soon!
Blessings always
Arms tight around you all
Love
Natalia. XO
Well, it’s clear you have a budding chef in the kitchen and thank heaven….the house chef needs a break every now and then for sure! And that tart of Jean Marc looks so beautifully crisp and lovely. LOVE the breakfast ‘basket’ for Jules….brilliant.
Jackie— bien fait!!
You’ve inspired us! We’re going to enjoy delicious panier lunches from now on! I think you’ve started a trend:)
I really enjoyed having the pleasure of reading mom and daughter’s writing back to back!!
I have been with this since the beginning in Les Arc… Though we were neighbors we never met … I often stay in nearby Taradeau and for years bought my meat products from Mr. Christian as no doubt you did as well. What is happing. I am concerned. At times like this one thinks the worst. I am a cancer survivor and if cancer is your challenge I certainly want you to join my club.
Chuck
Hello Chuck, All is well here. I’m not sure what I wrote that may have led to the misunderstanding, but I am well and healthy. Sorry we never met up back in Les Arcs-sur-Argens/Tarradeau. I am touched you are still reading my blog. Thank you and I hope all is well with you. Take care.
Hello, Jackie! I enjoyed reading your blog today – I’ve been following your family’s adventures for many years, and now enjoy reading your point of view. Please let us all know about your activities often now…..maybe Max will join in, too. Amities, Mary A.
Years ago I discovered your blog and have looked forward to reading it ever since. Jackie has done a fabulous job filling in and I hope she will make special appearances from time to time.
Now for a question. In the vocabulary section, I found this:
ratatouille (rat-a-too-lee) = traditional Provençal vegetable stew
In my almost 70 years of learning and speaking French through classes, movies and travels, I have never encountered this pronunciation. Shouldn’t it be “rat-a-too-ee”, without the “l”? I hope you can clear this up for me!
Sending big hugs to all, Gabrielle
Hi Gabrielle, Thanks for your kind words. And you are correct about rat-atop-we (I need to fix that 🙂
Jackie’s story was great! Also enjoy your beautiful photos chaque semaine. Merci!
Hi Kristin and Jackie! You are raising a wonderful young woman who is creative like you in both cuisine and writing! I enjoyed her story and I hope you two can share some of the responsibilites! At almost 88, I ‘get it’! You need life made easier and she needs more fun to create! I sent just a token today, but I think of you often. Hugs, your Arizona friend
Jackie,
You and your maman would make a great writing team!
Jackie, fantastic story. You have a talent for writing just like your maman.
Salut Jackie : j’espère que ce sera un blog régulier de votre part.
Though I seldom write I have been reading your mom’s blog for years. It’s something I always look forward to. Does Vincent speak French? If not I’m sure you will be a great teacher. Sciatica can be quiet painful, so please give your dad my hope for a speedy recovery. à larochaine
Jackie, I loved your story! Well done!
Great work, Jackie! Be careful, Mom might give you ALL of her jobs!
Bravo Jackie! You have writing talent too. As a published author myself I recognize good writing. Keep it up. Your story flows beautifully. We met a few years ago at the Cheese Emporium in Longmont, CO.
Je vais a la piscine tout la matin.
What a great post! I really enjoyed the mom and daughter stories. Just loved hearing about your wonderful family! Please keep writing, both of you.
Bravo, mère et fille. C’était un plaisir de vous lire!
My friend,
I am happy for you that you had an opportunity to spend time with your father and sisters, and that you came home safely.
The memories you have stored in your soul will keep you going “for ever”.
As for your daughter, taking “le baton”, she has done well, the text is clear and interesting.
A French philosopher had said “ce qui se conçoit bien s’exprime clairement et les mots pour le dire arrivent aisément »
Loosely translated, when one has a clear “view” of what needs to be said, the words “pop up” easily”
I am sure that your husband Jean Marc will know the saying and he may remember the name of the philosopher.
If he does, please send me the name.
Thank you.
I smiled when your daughter said that she was exhauster after two weeks to manage the household, now she may understand your position, having done that for years.
Welcome back to La Ciotat and to your household routine.
But may be now, you will have some help from your daughter.
Bises.
Jean.
Dear Kristi and Jackie! This was such a delightful read! How wonderful to look out for, and assist each other, to ease the daily chores which at times can seem like a burden. I sense so much love in this hungry household! Rest and take in the final month of summer’s comfort!