Soar-Dream-France

40 Years HOME-Columbus Street

 

 

With so much going on in the world at the moment,I have to work very hard to hang on to some of the things that are important to me so that they don't get lost in the shuffle of this pandemic. I missed the 18-year anniversary of the Chatette back in February-2/22/2002.

Joan was here and we were in the throws of Mardi Gras. You'd have thought having her here and our friendship from there during those times, would have made me remember again. No, I didn't remember until way after the fact.

 

 

Interestingly, the night I returned from France in December both hit me while I was here in bed. May 2020 would be the 40 year anniversary of me living on Columbus Street and February 2020 would be 18 years for me and the Chatette.

 

 

I bought Columbus Street during May of 1980 and am still amazed to realize that it has been that long.

That year, my Nannie lent me $15,000 so that I could assume the mortgage on this house. Nannie passed away during September of that year, so the loan became a gift since it would have been my inheritance.

That Nannie and Papa-my piano...Columbus Street...and, indirectly, the Chatette too, all came to me because of them.

Until Hurricane Katrina, Columbus Street always felt like a good thing in my life.

 

 

 

It was because Columbus Street was almost paid off in 2001, that I was able to pay it off and then take out a new mortgage that would be in dollars to buy our Cadrieu Chatette.

I tease, but it's true. Everything in France is mine free and clear, but Columbus Street still has the mortgage on it.

Any way you slice it, Columbus Street has always been a good idea and really has given me so much, even though there have been times when I couldn't see it.

 

 

 

"Free to a Good Home!"

 

That's what made it all so hard after the storm. I couldn't be here. The heart of the house had flooded and everything was sad, horrendous and overwhelming. The house has never been the same for a lot of reasons that I won't go into now. I can honestly say, that being here during the pandemic has made me feel like I am finally recapturing this home and this place that has always meant so much to me. Too often, I hurt just to be here. Now, it feels good and I see myself thinking about things here and there in whole new ways.

 

 

It's a strange life. It seems that my lives are coming closer together. I'm learning to take it all as it comes and pay attention to all my feeling in the moment. I have no idea where this will all end up, but I'm grateful that I still have Columbus Street. I have a place I know and love and am finally comfortable in again.

 

Our Gaynell Williams-Waving! With us in spirit!

 

40 years! Wow! A HUGE MERCI to Columbus Street-Happy 40th Anniversary-Love, Laury

 

A Hoped for Spring 2021 Return

 

Ever since this COVID-19 Pandemic began,I've been trying to figure out how it is going to impact my ability to get home to Cadrieu. Now, I know.

As usual, I did not have a return ticket yet since I'm often running around like a chicken with my head cut off at the end, trying to squeeze in visits to friends and family up and down I-55 before I go. I rarely feel at loose ends about these arrangements. They just happen-not this time. There is an irony to the pieces of this story. I'm putting it here for posterity and for so many of you who have missed the blog and have asked!

I left Cadrieu on December 17 in the middle of a transportation strike that crippled most of France. On that day, my friend Yves Jolly actually drove me to Brive so I could catch my train to Paris. It was a very special train. It was the only train running in all of France that day. It came down from Paris, let their passengers off turned around so it was heading back north again, and was ready for the rest of us. I was lucky-I'd already had two trains canceled., I'd reserved taxis in Paris from the Gare d'Austerlitz to the Hotel Tiquetonne and from the Hotel to CDG Airport. The stories along the way were many. Let's just say that I made it to New Orleans on schedule the night of the 18th!

This was the first year in a while that I was going to be stateside for Christmas. During October, I was just really feeling that it was important that I find a way to spend Christmas with Dad this year. Weather is usually hell driving between New Orleans and St. Louis, so I decided that I would rent one of the family cottages on the grounds of the Senior Facility where Dad was in assisted living and give myself enough time that if there were weather problems I'd have the care for more than enough time. I also figured that if the weather got bad after I arrived, I'd already be there and could just walk to Dad. I thought I was set.

I already knew as I was driving north to St. Louis on Christmas Eve that Dad was in the hospital. My sister kept me up along the way, and I decided to go there before I went to the cottage. The Dr. had told Kat that if any of us were out of town that we needed to come...could be tomorrow-could be 6 months. I've said over and over that it was not the Christmas I'd hoped for, but the Christmas that was meant to be. Both of my brothers came and we shared he cottage and my rental car chauffeur service while I was there. I am so grateful I was stateside and that Dad and I had quality time together one on one. I had to get back to NOLA on Sunday. I told Dad once I did everything I needed to do back there; I would return. As it turned out, we lost Dad on New Year's Day...3 days after my departure.

Losing Dad was devastating and still is. There were so many feeling and so much to face. We did.

So much had changed for me. Dad and I talked every morning at 7am his time no matter where I was in the world.There were times when it wasn't possible, but those were few and far between. I returned to the states each year for around 3 months so that I could make at least 2 trips between New Orleans and St. Louis to see Dad. Now, the landscape of my life had changed. I saw myself no longer returning for months at a time, but for much shorter trips. I'm happiest in Cadrieu. I was thinking that now, Maybe I could finally get a pet again since I'd no longer be gone months at a time.

I returned to New Orleans after Dad's services. First, my friend Wendy came the following week for a visit. Then, my friend Joan came for Mardi Gras. Once Joan got off, my next two weeks had 2 days each of workshops. The last weekend of my last workshop, our Louisiana Governor closed the schools due to the virus. Soon, we were living under stay at home orders with very specific guidelines to be followed. The Pandemic was evolving and growing quickly all over the world.

Travel has been hugely impacted. I'd decided in March to go ahead and book a ticket from NOLA to Paris so I'd have it and would be in line in case anything changed. My April 6 flight came and went and I canceled it. I next considered May or June, but everything kept changing on a daily basis.

I'd hoped to get back before the end of June so I could get in my 4th consecutive year of 6 plus months to meet the 5 consecutive year requirement so I can apply for residency. As time went on, I knew I was not excited about getting on a Trans-Atlantic flight any time soon. First, flying at all was an issue. Second, I wasn't even sure I could get home to Cadrieu once I got to Paris. Third, I needed to be back in the states in February 2021 to make sure I did my taxes and paperwork correctly for the inheritance. The more I thought about everything, I decided that I would much rather make one trip and not two and would just hang tight until Spring 2021. That way, I can take care of my business here and then when I return to Cadrieu I can stay put. It may not make the best sense residency-wise, but it certainly makes the most sense stress and health-wise.

I'm not thrilled, but I'm resigned that this is the best thing for me under the circumstances. My family and friends here and in France agree.

This certainly is the roller coaster that is my life. I've gone from getting back to France this spring of 2020, being there as usual, getting a 4-legged child, and making it back after the first of the year for the shorter visit.

Now, I'm here in New Orleans until spring of next year and won't be able to get back until then. At least I think I should be able to get back by Spring of 2021, but to be honest-no one really knows for sure.

At least it gives me time to: see how all of this unfolds; make new travel plans; give the airlines time to put their plans in place; hope for a vaccine or medication for the virus; be here in case something comes up that I may need to be here for.

I do know how fortunate I am, even in the midst of all of this. I have my home in New Orleans where I am safe and comfortable. I have friends and family around me who are there for me and supportive. Everything I would need-groceries, pharmacy, bank post-office-is all closer to me here by bike than it would be in France.

Although I would feel safer in France, I know that if I were there I would be worried about my friends and family here. I learned that lesson when I was in Cadrieu when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005.

So, I'm shooting for Cadrieu again in the Spring of 2021. Of course, that all could change even then. But for now, I'm taking it all moment to moment and trying to make the most of this difficult situation.

I hope you are too!

We shall overcome!

 

Silence

For someone who blogged religiously almost every day from France, being stateside has been a challenge to my blogging. My connectivity is much more limited. I've done some things to improve that situation, but every day is still not in the cards from here. While some things seem to suffer, other special moments and ahas have come my way.

I am regularly searching for silence when I am stateside. Most of the locales on these forays do not lend themselves to that.

 

 

I love the silence in Cadrieu, and have bemoaned its absence here.

Amazingly, my life during the Corona Virus in New Orleans is beginning to come closer to my life in Cadrieu. I woke up early the other morning and just surrendered. I came downstairs and laid under the quilt on the sofa. Fading in and out of sleep, I woke to a strange and bizarre feeling...silence. It took me a minute to realize what it was.

 

There was no outside noise at all. No inside noise either. I wrote it down in my journal later that day.

 

 

Today, I found the silence again. I laid on the sofa soaking up the silence. Silence gives me strength, power, and a nurturing grace that leads me to a power we cannot see.

Wishing you the discovery of nurturing silence

Happy Thursday!

 

Here or There?

 

I love this photo that Eric took of me on their front porch on Dupre Street. Louie kept us company as we sat more than the required 6 feet apart and continued coffee-ing ourselves to death. I told someone that I'm going to bleed coffee and look like an oreo cookie when this is all over-whenever that is!

This voyage or sojourn as it has become, began with the loss of Dad. Then I swung into having two house guests. Then in early March, it was workshop time on Columbus Street. So much for my plans to return to Cadrieu. I did have a ticket for yesterday that I canceled. 

 

I am here for the duration.

 

I am often asked by friends and neighborhood merchants who have become friends, where would you rather be? It's been an interesting question for me. I am grateful that I am in a place that is comfortable, surrounded by friends, and can do everything I need to do for myself easily because everything I need is close and reachable on my bike...groceries, drug store, bank and post office. 

As much as I would prefer to be at the Chatette in Cadrieu, I realize that it is probably best for me to be here now with this pandemic.

First, I believe that it is easier for me here. Second, I know that if I were in Cadrieu, I would be very worried about my friends and family here in the states.

 

With the absolutely tardy and bizarre response of our federal government to this pandemic, I've said before and I'll say it again: I am very grateful to our Mayor and our Governor who were weeks out in front of almost all others.

 

So, I am here, mostly at home on Columbus Street. I ride my bike. I read books. I play my childhood piano that is dead from Hurricane Katrina. I am doing some writing. I am studying my French. I check in with friends by phone and vice versa. I can see those friends here that I love so much at the requisite distance outside of the house. Y'all know me-I'm a kisser and a hugger...no more, or at least not for now.

 

 

I'm just taking it all a day at a time. I'm grateful for this place, wonderful friends and family, circumstances that make this less stressful than it might be otherwise, and my ability to turn lemons into lemonade. And, especially that Louie Boy!

Love to All!

 

Happy Tuesday!

 

To Blog or Not to Blog?

 

Here I am, writing for the first time again from New Orleans...NOT Cadrieu. The last time I wrote here I was heading back to the states for my routine end of the year trip with a planned return in the spring. Well, everyone knows what happened to that. With connectivity a challenge here, I haven't been blogging because of the time it takes and would be expensive since I'm "Tethering" to my phone from home. For 3 months out of the year, it seemed to work.

Now, I may have to rethink my options.

 

I wanted to drop by here today to let everyone know that I am fine. I have heard from readers who were concerned. I plan to be here in New Orleans until something major changes and it is safe enough to travel again. To be honest, it is probably best that I am here under the current circumstances. It is easier here for me to do what I need to do for myself AND, if I were in France I know I would be worried and stressed out about what is happening here in the states and the "hot-spot" status of New Orleans.

 

 

I've said before, I am so proud of our Governor and our Mayor. 

We shall overcome.

I will be back when I can. I blog because it brings me joy and expect to find my way back to those easy, uncomplicated blogging days again.

 

Happy Monday!

 

The Path of Creeping Water

 

It's been raining so much that I haven't really been outside, except to get wood and mail! Yesterday, Yves came to "consult" on exchanging train tickets and other life lessons! I always go out to make sure there isn't any traffic coming when my friends are backing out! 

 

 

Waiting in the road to get Yves out, I looked over the wall to the river and this is what I saw. I was shocked. I haven't seen the river this high and fast in a long time. We are definitely at the "inundation" (flooding) stage. I even had moments of the Muddy Mississippi flowing through my mind! 

One of the interesting things about all of this is the path the water takes.

 

 

It starts up in the hills, comes down through the reservoir to the lavoir, flows from the lavoir under the property between myself and my neighbors, to the channel you see that flows it to the river.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everything is overflowing at the moment. I can now even hear the lavoir rushing through my double-glazed windows!

It makes me some sad, because I can see that some more of our riverside trees are going to be swept away. They seem to be dropping like flies!

 

 

Happy Sunday!

 

Big Kids and Cookies

 

Yesterday Jane and I headed to Figeac to celebrate Christmas together before I head back to the states on Tuesday. We had our favorite breakfast buffet at the Pont D'Or Best Western and then headed to the Carrefour for a few necessities and on to the Recyclerie where Jane had a return.

 

 

 

 

 

 

My gift to Jane was breakfast buffet and cookies, but when I got over to the book section Malcolm Gladwell's the Tipping Point screamed Jane's name. I'd read it and learned so much that I thought Jane should have it.

I didn't really need anything, but I figured tins for next year might be good. Then, I saw him at the door. He certainly stood out in the "clown" collection and he had to be mine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turns out he wasn't the only one who made my day. Jane had been telling me about a "Paris" doll she had as a child that she loved. Yesterday, she gave her to me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This girl is so much fun...even though she is particularly special, she has found a home and is happy to be out and having fun with everyone else.

It's hard to believe it's Friday and I leave on Tuesday morning to catch the bus to Cahors for the train. Jane is going to come for coffee and run me to the bus stop...one last a bientot for us on Tuesday!

 

 

 

 

Happy Friday!

 

 

New Ways-Adaptability

 

 

I am continuing to be wowed by the various stages of light, dark, clouds, moon and river that happen right in front of the Chatette on a regular basis. It seems to just keep coming, I realized this morning that these new double-glazed windows that I have left curtain-less,offer more moon on my own Moon River than I've ever seen before. I am in moon heaven! I am left wondering if my "moon" Mom may have something to do with this!

Although I'm on my way very early this morning to celebrate Christmas with Jane over our favorite breakfast buffet at the Pont D'or Best Western in Figeac, I had to share these shots with you before we go.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This may actually be a better routine for me in the mornings. I've had the habit of MSNBCing myself in the morning and then blogging. I think I like blogging first better!

 

Happy Thursday!

 

 

Last Batches?

 

 

Yesterday was peanut butter cookie day here at the Chatette. I made two batches: traditional with the fork criss-cross and then the  thumb prints with chocolate and strawberry jam. I had to improvise on the Hershey Kisses. It was a little sloppier looking, but just as good.

 

 

Pretty plates on the buffet at the end of the day. Tins today, before I start pulling cookie presents together for delivery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the moment, Jackie Kennedy is in hog heaven sitting on the cookbooks and surrounded by the wafts of peanut butter!

I shall return.

Happy Wednesday!

 

Dancing Diamonds of the Moon

 

Taking a break from watching the Impeachment Inquiry in the House Judiciary Committee, I wandered into the kitchen to make a pot of coffee. I needed the coffee less than the "Irish" I was going to put in it and the whipped cream topper. It wasn't quite dark, but getting there. When I passed the middle window, I stopped in my tracks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I often write about my sunshine dancing diamonds and and my Moon River Moons, but this was different.

 

 

 

The moon in the light blue sky reflected a swath of swaying silver that exploded into dancing diamonds right in front of the Chatette.

It was so special that I got my coffee going and grabbed my camera.

Just when I think there is no more left to love and discover in my place of "enoughs," something like this happens.

 

 

Happy Tuesday!