Soar-Dream-France

From Out of the Shackles to Wonder Woman

And why is this crazy woman even remotely smiling? I couldn't find a better photo to portray how I'm feeling at the moment, than this shot taken by a colleague of mine here last year. As if it isn't bad enough to be wrapping up an assignment with all the angst, travel, and potential for problems that comes at these endings...I have additional layers of complication being caused by the incompetence of others. I'm different. I live in France. I work in Europe. I do not live or work in any time zone that people in the United States understand. I have an address with NO NUMBERS in it! And, the address that I do have does not fit into any computer in the USA easily. It gives computer operators the opportunity to be creative when they are forced to choose a state-there is no option for NA or Other available apparently because I've had my important mail from important financial, government and professional organizations going all over the USA. I AM NOT HAPPY ABOUT THIS! It has been going on for a long time, but this last event is the final straw. I AM ANGRY! I am putting a plan into action for myself at a lot of levels that I will implement when I return home. Look out, you're going to see me bursting out of these shackles with fire in my eyes and doing the Wonder Woman spin to take a stand for myself and maybe for other Americans living in Europe fighting the same fight.

New Life-Poppy ParaPLUIE to Poppy ParaSOL

Poppies belong in the sunshine, don't you think? A bit ago, I mourned what felt like the death of my beautiful poppy parapluie from Michel and Andre. Enter Evelyn, who suggested it be placed in a spot of honor at the Chatette where it could be comfortable in it's now natural state-eternally open...possibly attached to a chair or a bench. (Hmmm, I'm now thinking maybe even a piece of farm equipment!) So, my poppy parapluie who served me well while getting a major work out in the daily rain and gale force winds of Holland, is returning to the Lot with me to become a parasol. I wonder, maybe that's what retirement is all about!

I leave you with a reminder of my parapluie turned parasol and a poppy shot taken last year in the Abesses Metro Stop in Paris. Today, let's celebrate new life!

Rain to Snow

Yes, it is snowing in Holland. This shot I took last year says it all. Yesterday was our first snow of the season, but last year when I was here we had lots of snow that stayed on the ground for the whole two months I was here. It was deep, fell regularly, and was quite beautiful on and off. I realized on this trip, that I prefer snow to rain. I should preface that by saying I'm mostly walking and not driving. I have always loved walking. My European lifestyle supports it, so I walk whenever I can. I enjoy walking to work and am able to get there easily in 20 minutes. It's quiet. I ponder my day. I reflect on the meaning of my work, my life and what may or may not lie ahead. It's a quicker walk in the rain-in the snow it takes about 30 minutes. But with the snow: you sometimes get sunshine, you don't have gale force winds, you don't have to carry an umbrella, and you don't show up at work with anything other than rosy cheeks. It rained almost every day since I arrived two months ago. I always felt damp. So, as I come to the end of another work assignment-I'm feeling happy and home in Holland with the snow. It's a nice way to close out my time here, with memories of incredible winter wonderlands of last year.

 

A Poppy Parapluie Casualty

Michel and Andre gifted me with this beautiful poppy umbrella on my last trip to the states. I loved it. I brought it to Holland with me, but it appears that: daily rain since my arrival; gale force winds, opening and closing it as much a 10 times a day; and having to push the top against a hard surface to get it to close; have all added to it's demise. Poor baby was truly over-worked and under-paid. All of it's opening and closing mechanism just crumbled and fell right out of the handle. It is now permanently open, and must be wrestled shut and held tightly, while you wrap the ribbon around and velcro it shut to keep it closed. Does it come home with me? Does it stay in Holland? Maybe I'll have decided by the end of the week when I'm packing to go home.

It is actually Monday morning here as I write and we have my FIRST SNOW since my arriival!

Luxuries I Live With-Gratefulness

I often say that I live a luxurious life in the Lot. It's easy in the midst of the peace, silence and gentle flow of the universe to share your gratefulness with others. I do so regularly. It isn't as easy to do when you're running like a mad person all day long, wrapping up projects so you can go home, and beginning to pack to be ready to go at the end of the work week. But I took a little extra time this weekend to pick up some flowers for one of my colleagues. She's been a tremendous support to me over the last 2 months and I don't want to let the time, the busy, and all the last minute stuff get in the way of my HUGE MERCI! They're sitting in water at the moment, just chomping at the bit to be delivered.

Happy Weekend of Gratefulness!

Yes, My Dali and Sam...

...it won't be long now. I have a last weekend here with snatches of time for me, between last minute paperwork and projects of all kinds at all levels. It doesn't stop. That means, I don't stop. So, I keep these sweet faces in sight and know that they are waiting for me along with the light at the end of this tunnel.

"BOSSing" at the FEST

Bruce Springsteen during the first weekend of the JazzFest in New Orleans...Mon Dieu! Talk about a memory mixer. My brother Tom just posted the news on Facebook, so when I saw this picture of Tom and I with the Lucky Dog Vendor taken on Decatur Street in the French Quarter I had to post it. The last time Bruce was at the Fest was 2006. Given the times, it was a heartwrenching, poignant performance for me. But, sharing it with both of my brothers was incredible. At the moment, it's difficult to think much further ahead than February 5 when I will be home at the Chatette and sleeping in my own bed with Dal and Sam. Could JazzFest 2012 be in my future?

Hearts Galore

After spending a lot of time with kids who seem to live to draw and make hearts, I went to work over the weekend to transform my remaining Christmas cards into Valentine's Day cards. It may seem early, but I'm planning ahead. By the time I get home on the 5th of February, I'll barely have enough time to get my cards in the mail to my friends and family in the states. I also know from past experience that I will be totally exhausted, et voila...mine went in the mailbox to the states yesterday! As if my weekend actvities weren't enough, I found myself back in the heart making business again at the art table... some are heart making experts while others are still learning. Drawing again myself, someone commented on how pretty my heart was. I thanked her and told her how beautiful hers was too, and added: "I've been making hearts for 50 years!" She giggled. The staff thought it was hilarious. Me, I just keep making hearts while encouraging the rest.

Jacket Art

Beautiful buttons, tailored sleeves, double-breasted, and very 'militaryish'; I had to share the new jackets with you after yesterday's post. I only hope that they will show up on this black background. I may even wear one to work. The question is-how much paint, play dough, glitter and glue can I manage to decorate them with today?

Retail Angst or Retail Therapy?

As much as I love living in the country and spending most of my time in my overalls, I have very painful moments when I'm out clothes shopping. You see, I still want the pretty stiletto boots and high heels along with the swishy, short, dancing sequined numbers. I'm the one you see standing/twirling at the mirror in Dillards wearing the tres chic, fur-lined, very high-heeled winter boots, saying to Kat: "Oh, I want these...but I'm going to buy those." Those, being the very sensible, short, black, well-made, heavy soled, slightly heeled ECCO boots, that come with a WARRANTY. If you had seen the pair of shoes I bought in Figeac that I left at Dillards after my purchase, you would understand. The sales-woman turned to Kat and said: "You let her go out of the house in those?" (Little did she know that I had traveled all the way from France in them.) We had a good laugh, but they truly were a total wreck. I'd only purchased them for a not small price (100 euros) at the beginning of August-this was early November and they were crumbling around my feet. I've had to ask myself if it's that: I'm hard on shoes; I live a life of walking on railroad tracks, country roads, rocks, farms and mountains, or, maybe the shoes I get in France are just not made very well.  Not one pair of the shoes/boots that I have purchased since I moved to France has lasted me to the following season...3-6 months at the most. (I do, however, have high hopes for the winter boots I purchased here in Holland.)

Yesterday, I returned to a shop I had first visited with colleagues. Most of the clothes were way out of my price and practicality ranges, but I did find a beautifully made gray jacket on the budget rack for 30 euros. I tried it on and imagined how pretty it would be with a fancy scarf and my overalls this winter. It was large enough to fit over my long-johns, huge black cowl-neck cable knit sweater, and my overalls. I was ready to buy it, but the saleslady and my colleagues kept telling me that it was too big and bringing me other things to try that were way more expensive and didn't fit my lifestyle. Frustration set in. I bought nothing.

My jacket was still there on yesterday's return. I tried it on again and told my story to a different saleswoman. She seemed to understand. She cared about what I had to say and listened to my customer needs, even though English is not her first language. She brought over 2 other jackets off the budget rack, now for 25 euros. One was military-style, double-breasted, and a deep blue/grey-crinkled material with silver metal buttons on the front and on the sleeves. The minute I put it on, I could see it over my overalls and could wear it to work the remainder of my time here. What a deal! Two, beautiful, finely made, formerly expensive, jackets that I can wear for work and at the Chatette, for only 25 euros a piece. Now, that's my kind of retail therapy!

Looking at these terrains of my life and knowing me, as m any of you do...how would you assess my shoe/boot dilemma?