Mom and the Lumière Brothers, pioneers of cinema who filmed some of their earliest scenes—and their own mother—here in La Ciotat. Today’s little film: Mom and me, arriving for her hospital appointment on the wrong day!
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse
I’m calling this an “extra edition,” though I’m not sure whether or not it’s a good idea to post today. One thing I am sure of is the need to write, and so use my brain! So why not begin with a fun expression—one I’ve never used before but which leads us energetically into our story…
Allez ! On y va franco !
(Honestly, at first I didn’t see what franco adds to the expression. Allez, on y va ! already means “Let’s go! Let’s get started!” But franco gives it an extra push: let’s go for it—directly, boldly, without further hesitation.)
So now let’s go boldly into today’s unexpected update, just for the thrill of drafting a story in real time!
Have a good look at the photo above, taken just this morning “August 31st” (that date will become significant in an instant). There’s Mom. And that’s me, behind the camera lens, in white shorts, a striped chemise, flip-flops, and a charismatic smile. We are just coming out of the parking garage, on our way to the medical center.
Both in good moods, we are pointing out the beauty around us (the sky! the flowers! the people!) and also marveling at the ease with which we have made it this far: to Mom’s half-day appointment at the hospital (just for some testing). I began preparing for it last week and, just last night, put together a few essentials (see the bag Mom’s holding), including a snack, a change of clothes, and, of course, all the paperwork. Mom insisted on bringing her rat-tail comb which she’s clutching like a mobile phone.
Despite any nerves, we are both feeling so grateful for how smoothly everything is going, including the one-block walk during which we hold hands and navigate the narrow sidewalk. After exchanging smiles with a few pedestrians who let us pass, we make our way into the hospital.
“You can sit over there,” I say to Mom while I wait in a line ten patients deep.
A little while later, the secretary calls, “Cent quarante-deux !”
I look down at my little piece of paper: 142… That’s us!
The secretary asks why we are here, only to inform me we have come on the wrong day.
(It turns out Mom’s appointment is September 15th!)
I make my way over to Mom and give her the good news and the bad news: we can go home—but we’ll have to come back.
“It’s two weeks from now,” I explain. “I’m not sure why I thought it was September 1st.”
And that’s when it hits me: the double confusion…la double méprise. Not only is the appointment not September 1st…but today is August 31st! Why, just this morning I had recorded the date in my daily vocal diary–all but adding, “It’s August 31st and Mom and I are on our way to our September 1st appointment.”
Mon Dieu! Is there something wrong with me? And there began a sinking feeling.
This brings me to another expression I learned just yesterday: avoir le bourdon—to feel downhearted. I was beginning to have le bourdon when Mom looked at me and said, “Don’t worry. You’ve got a lot on your mind.”
On the way back to the car, navigating the uneven sidewalk hand in hand, Mom thanked me for looking out for her…and then she paused. “And thanks to Jean-Marc for looking out for you.”
FRENCH VOCABULARY
Allez ! = Come on!; All right!
On y va ! = Let’s go!; Here we go!
y aller franco = to go for it; to proceed directly and boldly, without hesitation
la double méprise = the double confusion
avoir le bourdon = to have the blues; to feel downhearted or gloomy
cent quarante-deux = one hundred forty-two
Voilà ! = There you have it!; There you go!
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Have you read Words in a French Life?
Discover the early chapters of our family’s French adventure in this heartfelt collection. Meet the characters who shaped our story, wander through a medieval town full of charm, and pick up some of the everyday French words I fell in love with along the way.
Reader review by Ana B.
My mother gave me this book for Christmas a few years ago and right away, I fell in love with it. I love reading about an American’s experience in France, raising her children in France and all of the trials and tribulations that go along with fitting in. I became a follower of her blog and enjoy every one of her posts. I always learn something! I put this book in my classroom and some of my students were hooked from page 1, so I gave 7 of them copies as gifts to remember their favorite French teacher! While these words are not those that a traveler might need, they are functional words that are part of the everyday life that I, as an American in the US, cannot imagine having to negotiate on my own! Kristen followed her heart and embraced her new country and I enjoy hearing about all of what she experiences, because I know that I would never be able to take that leap! I am also quite partial to Provence and her descriptions of the scenery and lifestyle are dead on. I always smile when I read her work!
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Numbers and dates are all such an abstraction. I still (so far in this life) have to count the months out on my fingers for all except January and December. I did once book a hotel on the right date but the wrong month (March it turns out is month 3, not month 4 on the Julian calendar.) This out at a highway exit with an impending snowstorm, but was able to get a room across the way. My sister puts a sticky note with the date on her computer each day. It’s good that you can keep smiling and chalk it up.
At least you didn’t miss the appointment! But how frustrating to be all ready for it, and then to find out you were two weeks early.
Oh, I’ve been there and done that!
Is there a French term for handling a situation with grace and good humor? I love and appreciate your (and your mom’s) great outlook on life.
It happens… Confusion when there’s too much going on…
So relevant for those of us entering our 60’s! Thanks for writing my thoughts often. And at least you had a lovely day to be out with Mom too. Cheers et merci!
Our dear Kristi,
Today’s post absolutely reaches out and touches all of us with a subject which we’ve all been part of! Thank you for writing about it! So helps to know you’re not alone,others have experienced the same! I long ago lost track of all the doctors and dentists appointments I have mistakenly shown up for ,deadlines I have missed,special dates I either forgot or embraced several months early/late…..but ma chere, take heart, as long as no harm has been done ( except of course our own embarrassment,fear you’re loosing it, especially po’ed at oneself for being in that situation) it truly is just part of life( and perhaps an overloaded brain).
I so cherished how you and your beautiful mom held hand and shared together the beauty,sights and sounds! That’s truly a gift in itself!
Blessings always
Arms tight around you all
Love
Natalia XO
Dear Kristin
Thank you so much for your post today. It brought tears to my eyes and I am so glad you shared the experience with us all. Hope all goes well at the real rdv.
Warmest wishes
Patricia
Dear Kristi:
I have mistaken appointments several times over the years. Mom is right; you have a lot of responsibilities. You take such good care of your mom and are a very devoted
daughter, wife and mother.
And your posts lighten all our days.
Janine
As usual Kristi, thank for normalizing my day. Recently I arrived at the wrong Senior Center. It was 7 miles from the Center where my appointment was to happen. Knowing that both people I had the appointments with (In other instances) had the same name soothed my nerves!
You made my day Kristi. Many thanks.
Blessings from Marcia
You have just made me feel so much better about my (many) senior moments, thank you. And Kristi, I’ve been meaning to write about your post with the picture of your former house which nearly burned. That is so distressing, as much of the summer has been here in France, with the fires and the heat. Seeing the burned car so close to house made it feel even more real. Y’all Stay safe and cool! And Kudos to your mom, who manages to still look like a very fashionable bohemian. And always with a beautiful smile on her face. Xxoo
Kristi – I find myself making exactly the kinds of slip ups as today’s! In fact I am PRAYING and telling myself – Maria, slow down. Read what you write over before sending. Ask someone for clarification before thinking you know what they are telling you. “So what I’m hearing you say is….? ” I keep getting dates wrong, too. I think we aren’t focused on each step….I’ll pray for both of us.
Merci beaucoup, Kristi!
Your “cognitive overload” is an expression in English that I can use. I recently learned that I will be a grandmother for the first time in mid-January 2027. This has resulted in many lost moments of presence of mind while processing the news.
It was quite a shock at first because I had given up on the idea that my son and his partner would ever get around to having a child. Their birth announcement came as text with a Sonogram of the fetal heartbeat. Quelle bonne surprise! It was like a drum roll. Apparement, le bébé arrivera comme une tempête d’hiver! The next text, some weeks later, was the results of the Gender and Chromosome tests. She is a girl with high marks on her chromosomes; félicitations!
Most recently a text came with the Anatomy Scan (none of these scans and tests were available to me when I gave birth 40 years ago). So, I asked my son, “What is this? I see a belly, arms, and a head, but where are her feet? Is she a mermaid or what?” My son said, “Mom, You can tell she is MY daughter because her foot is in her mouth!” Bien sûr, cela tient de famille!
Amitiés,
Joanne
When we were in graduate school (so it wasn’t a senior moment), we had tickets to a special ballet. We got all dressed up, as best we could as poor graduate students, and went to the theater. We presented the tickets and we were very surprised to hear, “Sorry, these tickets are for tomorrow night.” At least it wasn’t the other way around and we were able to repeat our preparations the next time and we did see the ballet.
Now as a senior retiree, I find that instead of getting the dates wrong, I’m likely to double book, forgetting that something is already scheduled on that date.
Tomorrow I’m going to the clinic for a blood draw. Hmm, I better double check the date!
Kristi, I can SO relate to this, and all of your musings! Thanks for sharing and always appreciating the roses, despite the thorns. Love to your mama too.
Thank you for sharing! I’m glad this doesn’t just happen to me. Cognitive overload; I can relate. 😘
Dear Kristi: you are definitely not alone; this has happened to me more
than once. There are days when it feels as it should be another day. Your mom is correct: there is a lot on your mind & our minds can hold just so many things at once. Not to worry; this, too, shall pass! Amicalmente, Ann
I just love your sunny attitude! You inspire me not to take life’s little mess ups too seriously.
You do so much for so many …of course the brain goes on overload sometimes!
God love you for looking after you Mom.
Mary Liz
I have never heard the word “franco” used. How else can it be said, like “let’s eat franco”!! Besides that, it looks Italian! Thanks, Eleonora