TODAY’S WORD: se soutenir : to support each other
PRONUNCIATION: [suh soo-TEH-neer]
Nous nous soutenons, même quand il est loin.
We support each other, even when he’s far away.
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse
When the fire alarm suddenly sounded in our house, my husband was not here to silence it. Its piercing scream sent a slew of gros mots flying out of my mouth as I rushed for the nearest chair. Dragging it to the stairwell landing, I grabbed a pen along the way and scrambled up onto the seat to reach the silence button in the center of the apparatus.
Mince! The pen was too short. So was the hairbrush. The pasta tongs were no help either. If only my words—sharper than a double-edged sword—could reach that stubborn button.
Teetering on the chair, pasta tongs flailing, I whacked the side of the détecteur de fumée. It crashed against the wall, bounced down the stairs, and landed with its innards spilled over the last step. What a morning! What a month–and it’s not over yet! I flopped onto the bed. Ricci followed and plopped beside me. A few deep breaths and peace returned. I lay there wondering how Mom managed to sleep through it all—my entire meltdown with the screeching smoke detector. She’s surely graduated to the point where nothing, but nothing, fazes her. I am far from that enlightened state.
I can’t believe it’s been three weeks since my husband left for South Africa. Apart from a cold snap that sucked the heat right out of our house, a faulty alarm, and a run-in with a bucket of rain-soaked dog doo (I went to empty it, slipped, and splashed eau de crotte all over myself), we Chéritas—as Jean-Marc calls us in his daily check-ins—are doing just fine.
While down at the beach, gigantic waves have attracted dozens of surfers, and even more spectators, it’s quiet here at home. Milder temperatures have returned, and Mom, Ricci, and I have settled into a cozy routine: a visit from the nurse each morning for Mom, two meals a day at the dining table—beyond which the antics of our garden doves, Mama and Papa, provide our liveliest entertainment—walks for Ricci and me, edits, and writing, with a hike with Jenny on Saturday and church on Sunday. C’est du pareil au même chaque jour. (Apart from a daily treat from the boulangerie to spice things up. The most recent: a “Browkie”. The half-cookie-half-brownie is a complete foreigner beside the chocolate éclairs, raspberry tarts, and the popular galette des rois.)
Recently, a mother-son lunch at Le Mule here in La Ciotat was a nice change of pace. Max and I enjoyed caille on a bed of pain d’épice and foie gras, wrapped in pâte brisée. I’ve learned to order whatever Max orders, as he always knows best. Wine and dining are his métier, which reminds me why we are here: he’s leaving soon for the Montpellier wine fair, then the Loire, and Paris. I won’t see him again until February.
“Let’s come back here with Ana,” I say, as the waitress delivers crème brûlée (it’s the first time we’ve been served one with actual flames!). “Ana’s busy at work,” Max reminds me. After their trip to the States, she is making up for lost hours at the hospital, as a physical therapist for children.
That leaves Mom, Ricci, and me—the Three Chéritas. We’re busy too. Maybe that’s why we’re so forgetful. This morning I left my phone at the supermarket checkout and, only yesterday, I returned from a long walk to find the kitchen sink running—scorching hot water trickling out. I hurried to shut off the faucet when that sinking feeling returned. This wasn’t the first time I’d left the tap running. And just last week I forgot to turn off the stove after reheating some egg rolls. Hours later, after my nap, I discovered l‘oublie.
When I told Mom about the running faucet, we retraced our steps and realized she was the culprit this time. Now she felt bad. “Don’t worry Mom. It was me the last time! We’re looking out for each other now.”
On my nightly call to Heidi, mon aînée assured me it happens to all of us. “No worries. You’re not losing your mind.”
“Thanks. But I think I need someone watching both Mom and me,” I laughed.
“Wouldn’t it be great if we all lived together,” Heidi said, once again, adding “…and we had a butler watching out for us?”
Un majordome? Quelle bonne idée!
But we do have someone watching out for us. I call our endearing (and sometimes enervating…) butler, “Chérito.” If he were here and not in South Africa, he would have been happy to empty that abominable pail of slushy merde. That’s love. The willingness to do for another what they cannot or do not wish to do themselves. I do this for Mom, my husband does this for me…et ainsi de suite.
Good morning Chéritas from windy Cape Town
Back on the bike today
Hope you are all doing well
Miss and Love you all 💕
FRENCH VOCABULARY
se soutenir = to support each other
gros mots = swear words
le détecteur de fumée = smoke detector
les Chéritas = “the darlings”
C’est du pareil au même chaque jour = it’s the same thing every day
la boulangerie = bakery
les éclairs = éclairs
la galette des rois = Epiphany cake
la caille = quail
le pain d’épice = spiced bread, gingerbread
le foie gras = duck or goose liver pâté
la pâte brisée = shortcrust pastry
le métier = profession, trade
les crottes = droppings, poop
l’oublie = the forgotten thing
mon aînée = my older sister
le majordome = butler
Quelle bonne idée = what a good idea
le Chérito = my nickname for my husband
la merde = $#@*
et ainsi de suite = and so on
REMERCIEMENTS
Thank you to the following readers for your donation this past week to this journal!
Karen L.
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Do not feel alone when you leave the stove on or the tap running. And if you put your purse in the fridge, well, it may be time to start doing crosswords…don’t worry, at about this age, things get misplaced, then found exacly where you put them and car keys are usually in pockets or in another purse or…I think a honey in SA could contribute to a couple of bloopers…you need your hugs back. Hugs give endorphins and dopamine!!! Hug your mama and doggy a lot….
Hi Kristi,
It has been a long time since I have replied.
I am doing the same things. I have left the burner going after taking the pot off the stove. Then trying to find where I put my glasses or my phone happens often enough.
When you get frustrated, take a few deep breaths, to calm yourself down. Sit with Ricci for a while.
Just think, things could be worse and they aren’t that bad.
Peace, Kathleen
Good morning fellow human traveler on this earth – purchased a tea kettle with the loudest whistle i could find because forgot one and it fused with the electric coil. That was in my fifties. Now that I am retired have realized that multitasking is no longer necessary – so have slowed down a little and make lists. Plus finally got a smart watch and it worked – second week I tripped on uneven sidewalk and it asked me if I needed an ambulance!!! Now I use it the most for finding my phone. My doctor says I am not losing my mind – not yet. Laughing a lot more these days. Hope you can find the humor in all of it – being human that is.
Bonjour Kristi, I will be in Nice this September. How long is the drive from Nice to Ciotat?
Henry Lambert
Our dear Kristi,
What a beautiful post today( as always!) and one which,once again,makes me so appreciative for Thursdays and your many beautiful,meaningful,and inspiring words to help us all along this life’s path which we are graced to share together.
It is all too easy to become distracted when we are responsible for too many duties which our loving hubbies normally carry for us.My Rod was an airline captain for 37 years , ( Needless to say) having to be gone a great deal of time, and sometimes doing it all by yourself becomes more than a little challenging.
Bravo for you ma chere, you are awesome and handling things wonderfully!! SI FIERE DE TOI!!!
Arms tight around you.
Blessings for you and your beautiful family.
Love
Natalia xo
mon amie, Kristi: thanks so much for today’s entry. So many things happen when your partner isn’t there to help. But, you covered yourself well. As for forgetting & misplacing things, it’s all part of life’s plan to make sure we pay attention! Love all the photos; congratulations to Jean Marc in South Africa!!! WOW! Take good care; amicalmente, Ann
Thos smoke alarms can rattle your nerves when they go off without warning for no reason! Maybe your local firefighters can come and help you reinstall it and figure out what went wrong. They do that in the US.
You 3 are doing great! Everyone does those forgetful things, especially if our routine is not the usual.
So wonderful to read this week’s writing about your life. Thank you!
Although I’m late, this was an absolutely wonderful post that I read more than once. Don’t sweat the small stuff!! Hope Jean-Marc is home soon and safely.
Kristin, this was such a heartwarming post. But don’t be concerned about losing your mind. My mom was youngish when she couldn’t find the bread for her lunch. (She had had toast for breakfast, so she knew she had some.) Much later in the day, she found the bread on her bed!! We all do silly, forgetful things. Best to laugh about it.