Je ne dois pas tarder, Jean-Marc said while we finished up our coffee in bed. It was a gentle reminder he needed to get going. He had grapes to press! But his words also assured me he had a moment for our morning meditation–the 5-minute reading for couples we’ve been doing for years.
But this morning, for those few precious moments, I had another idea…
Do you want to listen to one of her songs?
Moments earlier, my husband had asked me to turn down the volume on my IPad. He didn’t realize I was watching a tear-jerking tribute on Dolly Parton.
But you can’t turn down Dolly! I might’ve said. Instead, I shared the news, “Dolly Parton has passed away. Do you know who she is?“
When Jean-Marc shook his head, I sat back before the enormity of the task: introducing Dolly!
But I could barely name one of her songs and had only recently become a BIG fan–enjoying every interview I saw of her. Dolly’s wit, her charm, her faith were so genuine and pure…the rest, I struggle to put to words.
Well, I began, she’s an American icon! The Queen of country music. While to some she is known for her big blond hair, her tiny waist, her rhinestones and her monde au balcon (in French you are big-chested when you have “the world standing on your ‘balcony'”): she was a talented, brilliant, and caring woman.
But no matter what I said about Dolly, it could not translate the magnitude of who she wis (who she was and still is!), so I summed her up as best I could in French:
Dolly…elle état clinquant mille fois Johnny–she was 50 thousand times Johnny*!
I sat back and waited for any signs of offense, but Jean-Marc–a fan of Johnny Hallyday a.k.a “the French Elvis”–showed none.
Encouraged, I remembered her most famous song, the one Elvis himself was scheduled to sing until his team contacted Dolly and explained he would also need rights to the song.
Dolly kindly declined. Those three words say all we will ever need to know about Dolly’s business sense. When decades later Whitney Houston sang the song, millions of dollars rolled into Dolly’s account. But if Dolly is known for anything, it’s for giving her money away to good causes! And that, is a whole ‘nother story. Onward, as our angel might’ve said…
Back in bed, I set aside “The Five Love Languages Workbook,” and opened YouTube for an alternative “daily love lesson.”
As we watched a young Dolly sing I will always love you, I put my hand on Jean-Marc’s shoulder, emphasizing every word as she sang it. Still, I sensed my husband’s agitation. His beloved grapes were calling…
“Chéri,” I said softly, “We can’t rush Dolly.“
Closing my IPad, I suggested we could watch another time, when fully present. Speaking of present, what a gift Dolly was and will always be.
Dolly, we will always love you!
Thank you for reading today’s special edition. We’ll be back next week with more vocabulary, photos, and insights into French life. Take good care and if, like Jean-Marc, you haven’t yet met Dolly, look up one of Dolly’s interviews and listen to her sing I will always love you.
Discover more from French Word-A-Day
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
It would be much more preferable, if instead of English, the material were in French, in which case I would never unsubscribe. But now, I am not interested in English texts about French…
Hello Ara, I am truly sorry to see you go. Today’s post is an extra edition. I was planning to take the week off but decided to write this story instead. I did take a break, though, from a lot of over-fussing about grammar, sentence structure, and spelling (you’ll find a few mistakes). The idea was to fly on the wings of inspiration.
Such a huge loss for the world. Her Imagination Library is such a wonderful gift to children O-5 years old and their families. Please give if possible to the memorial to her For this life’s work to be able to continue.
Kristin, merci beaucoup pour votre message au sujet de Dolly. Elle était effectivement une force!
I am in France now and cannot stop talking about Dolly. It’s wonderful to share her story with people who are unfamiliar. I tell them it is one of the only things that unites Americans now. Pierre & I saw Dolly at the Hollywood Bowl in 2015. What a joyous event.
I have a personal reason to loving Dolly, my grandfather grew up in the foothills of the Smokey Mountains not too far from where she did, in the depths of poverty, but with much much love. Besides Dolly’s music, her book program and her influence around the world, I especially loved her Southern spirit. I went to college in the South and experienced knowing many people very similar to her. Her ability to lay her head back and laugh and enjoy life but also to tell a tale with a hint of wisdom. She will be sorely missed but thanks to technology, she’ll always be with us.
What a lovely post. Dolly was such an amazing woman and talented artist. Ahead of her time, she was an incredible businesswoman and philanthropist. So charitable and so down to earth it seems.
A real treasure and icon. Her incredible legacy lives on through her music and her foundation. 💕 🕊
Dolly has made enormous contributions to children’s literature what a lovely human being. Mazzie
Lovely tribute. Thank you. 💗
Beautifully said Kristi. I wish this world would have many more
Dolly Partons, a woman of integrity, she raised to the top just by being her true self, sharing her beautiful music, love and kindness.
Thank you for your lovely comments of Dolly. She was one of our American treasures and we all are grieving her loss.
What a great tribute to Dolly. Her death is truly a loss to the world. The two paragraphs below come from another blog I read this morning.
When children age out of Dolly’s Imagination Library, they receive a final letter from her hoping they would “have a great time” in school and urging them to keep reading.
The letter ends: “You and all of your friends are very special. There is no limit to what you can do or how far you can go. Just remember the lessons my family taught me—dream big dreams; learn everything you can learn; and care for all those who care for you. You do all of these things and you can be anyone you want to be.
A remarkable woman indeed. Merci, Kristi.
Ophelia
I look forward each week to your writing, and the window into French life. Thank you for sharing in English and French to expand my understanding. Dolly was truly an icon, brilliant businesswomen, and example to us all. Thank you for sharing your view with the world through a French window.
Our dear Kristi, your beautiful words once again wrap themselves around our hearts and unite us ( as you have done so many times before!) with a common denominator so meaningful to each of us! Such a gift in our lives! I am certain Dolly was aware of how treasured she is/was/will remain,but seeing these words in actual print vividly brings home the profound loss we are all feeling.
Thank you for expressing these thoughts with such eloquence and love.
Blessings always
Arms around you tight.
Love
Natalia. Xo
Dear Kristi,
How lovely that you and your husband have a morning meditation, and do a five minute reading for couples.
Thank you for sharing your lovely thoughts today, instead of taking the week off. It’s always a joy to see you in my inbox ❤️
She wanted it all, had it all, got it all, and kept giving it all away. A big life lived so well, and exactly as she wanted it. ❤️
Thank you for your tribute to Dolly. She was and is an inspiration to us – to be kind, strong, gentle, and giving. She was the best.
I was so impressed with the interview Dolly gave when she spoke about hearing Whitney Houston’s version of “I Will Always Love You” for the first time. She was driving when it came on the radio and she had to pull over and listen in awe.
Sorry that he could not be touched by her voice. I read recently that she wrote it for her first ‘manager’ who she was leaving for more opportunity. Very warm relationship outlived her life. I was never a Country Western fan but there was something about Dollie that soared far above all of our little preferences. I never expected to miss her so much.
So beautiful and in the moment. xoxo
Thank you, Kristi. Dolly’s giant light will shine on forever. She made the world a better place in so many ways! Her effortless talent and genuinely sweet ways underneath all the high-gloss glitz and glamour, her good-hearted frankness, humility, and humanity will always stand out as a remarkable role model. We’re all so incredibly blessed by this vast Love. 🙏
Loved this tribute! (And I learned a new expression, monde au balcon. Never too old to learn something new.
Kristi – thank you for your tribute and you did well to introduce Chief Grape to who Dolly is…for her persona will continue. Since you ask for typos, here is one – Dolly…elle état clinquant mille fois Johnny– should be était. Hugs