Today’s French Word: le répit (luh ray-PEE)

Definition: respite; a welcome pause from the demands of everyday life.

Example sentence: Cette promenade au bord de la mer nous a offert un précieux répit. This walk by the sea offered us a precious respite.

A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse

Ever since that first cruise with my dad and sisters two years ago, I’ve been dreaming of sailing on a small cruise ship again. Delicious meals, housekeeping, and a new port each day (with no need to pack and unpack bags) all added up to my idea of an ideal getaway. New thoughts and dreams bubbled up when I let all obligations disappear into the wake as our ship sailed toward the horizon with its dazzling sunset.

So when I discovered another itinerary very near home, I texted my sisters. Dad and Heidi couldn’t make it, but Kelley was immediately onboard. And so were our husbands…if not at first. Jean-Marc was lukewarm about cruising, hinting it was for another generation. (I didn’t want to break it to him we were, by some counts, senior citizens.) 

For once I took the initiative and went ahead and reserved The Voyager: 11-Night Best of the Mediterranean Cruise: Portofino, Florence & Kotor. (Actually, Kelley did that, allowing us to benefit from her friends and family airline discount which extends even to cruises!). As a result, Jean-Marc got a break from travel planning and began to look forward to our floating vacation.

For most people, packing a suitcase is the beginning of a vacation. For me, it was the beginning of weeks of planning. 

Who would look after Mom? And what about Ricci? Even Jean-Marc’s tomatoes would need a little TLC.

Every answer seemed to uncover another question. Fiona, our fée du logis, could stay the first four nights. My sister-in-law, Cécile, would take over the last week. Max would bridge the gap in between. The nurses would be there each morning, comme toujours. I alerted the neighbors on either side and they assured me they’d be there à toutes fins utiles.

On paper, everything fit together perfectly. Still, I couldn’t stop imagining what might go wrong. Would Mom feel abandoned? Would she trust that her next meal was coming? What if someone suddenly had to cancel?

I checked the pantry for snacks, made sure Mom’s favorite ice cream was stocked, and went to the pharmacy to refill her medications. I purchased extra dog food and pre-wrapped each serving to be sure we wouldn’t run out. Oh–and the birds! They counted on us too. More food!

And then there were the things no list could solve. What if a storm came in and the electricity went out? Would anyone know where the breaker was? What if the rain leaked through the roof causing a puddle and–mon Dieu–a fall! I prepared Mom’s medical folder, carefully placing her insurance card on top.

The day before we were due to sail, I was so stressed by the idea of leaving Mom that when she asked, for the énième time, “How long will you be gone?” Something inside me snapped.

I put down the laundry basket I was holding. “It just isn’t worth it! I’ll never leave again!” 

I immediately felt guilty for the outburst. Mom looked at me gently. “You are going to have a wonderful time.” 

A few days later, swimming in a hidden cove in Portofino, all my cares disappeared. With Mom’s blessing, I’d finally let go. The cool Ligurian water washed away weeks of worry, and somewhere between that first swim and the ship waiting peacefully in the bay, I realized the cruise wasn’t simply a vacation. It was un répit. 

It was also a celebration. Jean-Marc and I marked our 32nd wedding anniversary while at sea, and I even had the chance to wear my robe de mariage once more for the ship’s “White Night” party. 

“You should do this again!” Mom said, delighted by the photo souvenir we brought her. Even better, let’s bring Mom next time! 

French Vocabulary

le répit = respite; a welcome pause from the demands of everyday life

la fée du logis = “the fairy of the house”; someone who keeps a home tidy

mon Dieu ! = my goodness!; my God!

énième = umpteenth; the nth time

la robe de mariage = wedding dress

un souvenir = a keepsake; a souvenir; a memento

comme toujours = as usual 

à toutes fins utiles = just in case 

POSTCARDS FROM THE MEDITERRANEAN 
Strolling through centuries-old ports was enough to take my breath away, but it was these little moments that stayed with me the longest.

— Watching an Italian woman cool her little dog in the fountain at Civitavecchia.

— In Florence, meeting up with my cousin, Eric, after years apart—and finally meeting his lovely wife, Gina.

— Enjoying a five-star dinner aboard ship, compliments of my sister after this text arrived:

“Hi guys! We made the big mistake of having a huge lunch on Capri and forgot we have a reservation at the Italian restaurant… Any chance you can take our place?”

— The young Venetian taxi driver who drove all the way back to our hotel after we’d accidentally taken another passenger’s bag. Thanks to a baggage tracker—and to his extraordinary kindness—the bag was soon reunited with its grateful owner.

— Finding, at the very end of a row of souvenir shops in Sorrento, the perfect gift for Mom: a little wooden box with two doves, just like the ones in our garden. When I asked who the birds represented, she surprised me with her answer: “You and Jean-Marc.”

REMERCIEMENTS
Thank you to the following readers for your donation this past week to this journal!

Ed D.

Jed M. 

Judy F.

Diane H.

Marcia H.

Elaine M.

Patricia L.

Love, care, and reader support—that’s what has sustained this journal for nearly 25 years. Week after week, and now with the help of my daughter Jackie, we continue sharing French words, culture, and everyday life with readers around the world. If you look forward to these letters and would like to help keep French Word-A-Day going, please consider making a contribution.

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Une coquille is just a little typo—if you spot one, don’t hesitate to point it out. Merci beaucoup for helping me keep things polished!

Monte Carlo (JM and I took a train from La Ciotat / Toulon / Nice, France)
Portofino (This and the following, in Italy)
Florence
Civitavecchia
Sorrento
Dubrovnik (Croatia)
Kotor (Montenegro)
Split (Croatia)
Koper (Slovenia)
Venice (Fusina), Italy)

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