Category: Kindness of strangers

Kindness of strangers, Uncategorized

La Débrouille: How a Young Postal Clerk Saved the Day

The post recounts a challenging yet humorous experience of a writer struggling with a book order surge after announcing a promotional sale. Initially underestimating stock, the writer realized just thirteen signed copies were available, leading to panic over fulfilling orders. Amidst frantic packing, they creatively considered altering a few signed copies to meet demand. Despite worries of a significant loss due to rising shipping costs, a chance encounter with a helpful postal clerk named Flora transformed the situation. Ultimately, the experience turned into a small profit, reinforcing the value of seeking assistance during tough times and fostering new connections. Continue reading La Débrouille: How a Young Postal Clerk Saved the Day

Kristin Espinasse20 Comments
Kindness of strangers, Ricci

S’Enfuir: To Flee in French: Startled or spooked, our new dog ran away in a panic

S'il vous plaît:To ensure delivery of this weekly letter from France, click here to mark your subscription as active. Thank you! Glad to have you aboard! YOU'RE IN! For those who receive my newsletter and have just clicked the verification link–you're in! Your subscription is taken into account as "active". Thank you. TODAY’S WORD: S’ENFUIR  : to flee A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by … Continue reading S’Enfuir: To Flee in French: Startled or spooked, our new dog ran away in a panic

Kristin Espinasse32 Comments
Characters, Flowers, garden, gardening, Kindness of strangers

How to say crutch or crutches in French

""The rare Frenchman who uses the crosswalk" Computer is back and so are some long-lost photos from years ago! Youpie! Yay! une béquille (beh-kee)     : crutch, stand; kickstand (bike) Audio File: listen to Jean-Marc pronounce the following expressions: Download MP3 or Wav file Elle marche avec des béquilles. She walks with crutches.mettre une moto, un vélo sur sa béquille = to put a motorbike or bike … Continue reading How to say crutch or crutches in French

Kristin Espinasse108 Comments
Kindness of strangers

26 actes de gentillesse

Thank you very much for the warm holiday greetings. Wishing everyone much joy, surrounded by the things you love this time of year: family, friends, cats, dogs, birds… or solitude. Whatever brings you peace! See you in several days for the next edition. (Photo taken at Domaine Rouge-Bleu, our home from June 2007-Sept 2012. We now live near Bandol. No snow in either city, at … Continue reading 26 actes de gentillesse

Kristin Espinasse71 Comments
Characters, Kindness of strangers, Toulon

ouvrier

What is remarkable, or kind of funny, about this sign above the window? Your guesses in the comments box. Photo taken in Toulon, where today's story takes place. ouvrier (ew-vree-ay)     : worker Example Sentence: Je ne suis qu'un simple ouvrier. I am but an ordinary working man. A Day in a French Life… by Kristin Espinasse Mom and I were in Toulon, yesterday, … Continue reading ouvrier

Kristin Espinasse46 Comments
Hospitality, Kindness of strangers

chambre d’amis

One of the photos featured in our Saturday edition "Cinéma Vérité". Find out more about it, and how to help support this free word journal, here. Thank you for your consideration 🙂 *** One meaning of "host" is "lord of strangers". How's that for mystique? As well, hosting another person is considered, by some, as mystical, even sacred! And guests, in some parts of the … Continue reading chambre d’amis

Kristin Espinasse43 Comments
Dental Issues, Encouragement, Japan, Jules, Kindness of strangers, Mexico, Stress

haut les coeurs!

Current events have us wearing our hearts on our former façades… and it's a good thing, n'est-ce pas? haut les coeurs (oh lay ker)     : lift up your spirit, take heart, be brave! have courage! Thank you, Carolyn Foote Edelmann, for today's French expression: Carolyn writes, in response to Monday's seisme post: Small thought – watching their dignity and fortitude, I think [the Japanese] may … Continue reading haut les coeurs!

41 Comments
Cancer, Jules, Kindness of strangers, Trompe-l'oeil

revivre

Picture of a "fools the eye" or "trompe-l'oeil" taken in the medieval village of Les Arcs-sur-Argens (Var, France).   revivre (reuh veevreuh)     : to live again Listen to 13-year-old Jackie pronounce these French words (Download MP3 file)  Aimer, c'est mourir en soi pour revivre en autrui. Love is to die to self so as to live again in others. –Honoré d'Urfé Newforest (whom many of you … Continue reading revivre

8 Comments
Birds, Characters, Kindness of strangers, Sicily

colombe

Along the steep zigzagging path to the sea in Sicily, we stopped to peer in to this tiny chapel. The doors were locked but we stole glances all the same..  colombe (ko lohmb) noun, feminine     : dove A Day in a French Life… by Kristin Espinasse  (Continued from the previous story: "Switch-back") On New Year's Day I was walking along a steep and slippery … Continue reading colombe

56 Comments
Characters, Food and Drink, Kindness of strangers, St. Maximin, Story Selections

s’occuper

Read about "Josey" (from our former stomping grounds of St. Maximin) in today's story… and don't miss a photo of Smokey's Ma and Pa at the end of this edition. s'occuper (so-kew-pay) verbto keep oneself busy   Italian Josephine made homemade pizza the size of a hamburger patty, only there wasn't any viande, just a bony anchovy and a meaty olive or two. When she had … Continue reading s’occuper

45 Comments