Soar-Dream-France

A St. Louis/France Connection...Mom's Hollyhocks!

Yesterday morning was very special for me.  I was on the phone with Jean when I looked out my side window and screamed: "I have my first hollyhock!" (I am very easily entertained.) As soon as I got off the phone, I began my photo extravaganza to share with Mom.  These hollyhocks came from seeds she sent last year!  To be honest, I wasn't really sure what they were going to be.  I showed them to Jean when they were first coming up and asked if they were "Sweet Williams"?  She set me straight. By yesterday afternoon, I had three fully blooming hollyhocks.

I love the color. The stalks are now taller than me, even with my arms extended straight over my head.  I had checked in with Mom on the phone yesterday to tell her about them.  She was almost as excited as I was.  She remarked about the depth of the the color and added that hers have never been that tall.  It's nice to know that I have happy hollyhocks here!  I love garden surprises!  I receive garden surprises regularly, because I don't do a very good job of keeping up with where I plant bulbs or have even just thrown seeds in frustration from time to time!  It seems my frustrated, throw it out there kind of planting yields some nice surprises and works better than the step by step following instructions!  It sure is easier.

In addition to sharing my hollyhock happening with Mom, I also wanted to check in because I knew that she had attended her 60 year reunion from Cleveland High School in St. Louis on Sunday afternoon.  She still has friends from high school that she is in touch with, so her friend Joyce Iman and her husband Roy came and got Mom and they all went together.  An added bonus for Mom, was that her brother "Bud" and his wife Fran came over to see her at the reunion. I was pleased that my brother Tom is up for his annual extended visit from New Orleans, so he could stay with Dad.  We're all happy to see Mom get out from time to time and have some fun!  So, Happy Hollyhocks Mom!  Wish you could be here to share them with me!  We could sit on my former porch-swing turned corner bench under the yellow umbrella and have a cup of coffee and an apricot pastry together! You might have to share a taste with Dali!

Babar Bon Voyage to Kate, Chloe and Clare!

Although I promised a picture of Babar doing St. Louis from this last trip, neither of us made it down to the arch.  We did, however, spend the night in Covington, La. with our friend Kate Gundersen-Fontenelle and her girls Chloe and Clare.  Babar remembered this morning that Kate and the girls will be leaving Covington this week for Tennessee. 

This isn't the first trip that Kate and the girls have made to Tennessee to see Grandma and Grandpa Gundersen during the summers, but it is a big trip because this time they are going to be staying. Grandpa has his workshop all set up for them as the perfect "efficiency" until their house in Covington is sold, and Kate and the girls can build their new home. This August will be a year, since Kate and the girls lost their wonderful Wayne.  Babar and I have been to see them twice since then, but it wasn't until this trip that we discovered that Wayne had been a Babar fan too!  Wayne would be happy to know that Babar, and the rest of the world who love his Kate, Chloe and Clare are wishing them safe journey and a powerful beginning to carry them to their new life in Tennessee!  Bon Voyage Kate, Chloe and Clare! Love-Babar, Laury, Dali and Sammie Cat too!

Presidential Red Wine Fridays

When I lived in New Orleans and I was working a traditional job that was always 40+ and sometimes approaching 60 hours per week, I found that my routines gave form and fun to my life and my friendships.  Over the years, there was Friday morning coffees at the Monteleone Hotel, Friday nights at the Napoleon House; Friday nights at the Steak Pit on Bourbon Street, and Sunday mornings at various spots, but usually at Croissant D'Or on Ursulines. I used to tease that if someone wanted to bump me off, it wouldn't be difficult to find me!

I liked: being known as a regular; calling the staff and owners by their first names; having "my" table; getting to know the other patrons; and setting aside time to be with people who were important to me.  The closest thing that I've had to a routine here has been walking up to Jean's to have a coffee and then walk our dogs together.  I've recently started stopping in at the President from time to time when I go into Cajarc for errands.  

This past Friday, I sipped my red wine under their arbor as I wrote in my journal.  I found myself reminiscing about past Friday routines in my life that are no more, and went on to wonder if I might enjoy an every Friday afternoon at the President. There I'd sit: with a red wine and my journal under the arbor; listening to conversations around me so I can practice my French comprehension; people watching; and soaking up the sunshiny afternoon. 

I remembered that I hadn't been to see my "Merci Lady" since I'd been back, and marveled at how all the problems in the states can soak up all my time and energy to the point that I let go of the natural pieces to my life here that I love so much.  I put my pen down and began taking photos from my seat.  As I was playing around, a huge yellow construction truck pulled into my view.  The driver tried very hard to get my attention-so I thought I'd see if I could get a shot.  He began moving, the wind was blowing, I wasn't sure if I'd be able to capture him or not, but as you can see: I couldn't have done better if he had stopped and posed right in front of me! What a smile!

I paid my bill and got back on my bike to head over to see my Merci Lady.  I lit my 2€ candle and went to one of the back wooden pews to sit in the soft dark quiet and just be grateful...grateful for this place, this life, all of the wonderful places, people and things that have come my way on this journey to the Lot.  And especially for smiling truck drivers who pass the President on a sunshiny Friday afternoon and beg to have their picture taken. He made my day!

So, if you're ever in Cajarc on a sunshiny Friday afternoon, I hope you'll stop by and share a red wine (or drink of your choice) with me.  You'll know I'm there if you see my silver and black Gitane bike parked across the street from the President.  I'll be the one with her journal and camera on the table who is waving at all the passing truck drivers. I'll have an empty chair and a red wine waiting just for you! Happy Sunday!

Bon Anniversaire Keith-We Will Always Have Dancing!

It's hard to believe that I get to have two very special days in the same week, but today is my friend Keith Landry's birthday.  Since my French neighbors and I went to visit Keith and David in Lafayette last year, he has become Monsieur Ecrivisse...my friend who always has a table laid full of crawfish in the stories of our trip that are shared (rather frequently) around our village gatherings with friends.  Keith is actually Mr. Crawfish to me for another reason: 

I fell in love with the home he used to have in Breaux Bridge Louisiana that was actually a crawfish farm. Keith and I became friends in New Orleans back in the early '80's, when we were both working at the District Attorney's Office. Our friendship evolved as many do. He moved back and forth between New Orleans and Lafayette over the years for various reasons: a return to Law School at Loyola, employment opportunities both places, and the evolution of love relationships. Through it all we stayed friends, stayed in touch and had some incredible times together!  Keith and I traveled well together over the years and shared families and important events in our lives.  During one of the periods when Keith was working and living in New Orleans, we would meet every Friday morning at the Monteleone Hotel and have coffee together-with our favorite waitress Lucille.  Our little routine often held our sanity together at the end of a crazy work week-where we could sigh and say "Thank God it's Friday" together every Friday morning.  Keith then took a job and moved to Lafayette, but if he was in New Orleans on a Friday for a deposition or training we would head to the Monteleone together and see Lucille.  Keith is also one of my very best dancing partners. 

Frankly, I love a man who knows how to lead and isn't afraid to do so.  When I dance with Keith, there's not a doubt in my mind exactly what I'm suppose to be doing and where I'm suppose to be going!  I was honored to be one of the people to stand up with Keith, when he and David held their commitment ceremony at Hemingbaugh Plantation.  He spoke of my "wisdom" which made me chuckle, as I remembered all those Friday morning conversations at the Monteleone together. Their ceremony was one of the most beautiful, genuine, and touching unions I've ever observed!  It seemed only right that I should make a toast at the reception.  I wish I could remember it all at this moment, but if any of you have seen scene between Julia Roberts and Rupert Everet at the end of My Best Friend's Wedding you'll have the jest of my toast to Keith and David! 

So Happy Happy Birthday Keith! I hope you make it to Cadrieu this summer so Monsieur Ecrivisse and I can dance with wreckless abandon under a star-filled lotoise sky.  Of course...we will always have dancing! Hope to see you here and Bon Anniversaire-Love, Laury

La Galerie dans la Cave-Vernissage

Last August, I hosted the first Vernissage at our Galerie dans la Cave here at the Chatette. It was a big deal for me. I had wanted to do it ever since the Chatette and I became a "we".  It became a wonderful project, in that so many people participated and helped.  It began with the incredible lighting and tableaux installation created by my friend Patrick Larribe, with the help of Jean-Pierre Martenot.  Although I spotlighted my photography, village artists, other friends, and a collage class I sponsored, contributed pieces that included: water color, mosaic, cross-stitch, oil, acrylics, collage and chairs in iron and metal.  Throw in amazing finger sandwiches, wine, pastis, piano serenades, can-cans, and sing-a-longs, with the windows and doors of the Chatette thrown open to the Lot and a star-lit, moon-beaming sky; and you can only imagine the celebration!

This year's opening is scheduled for Saturday, September 12, 2009, from 8pm until.  I've invited artists from last year's show to do a special piece for the evening and those pieces will be spotlighted.  I will have another wall for photography and another wall for any new artists who might want to participate this year.  I'm looking forward to our September adventure, and will keep you posted as our event unfolds!  I'm always surprised at new directions and opportunities that present themselves!

A Most Needed Surprise!

At the close of yesterday's post, I commented on how surprises sometimes come along just when we need them most!  I received such a surprise this week from Christopher Laney of www.lessonsfromthecockpit.com.  It's called a "Love-Ya" award and is very special in the tradition of passing on the positive...maybe even passionately passing on the positive-hence the "Love-Ya"!  Chris received his "Love-Ya" from his friend Delicate Flower at her site "Delicacies".  Once you receive the award, you must passionately (my word here) pass it on with the accompanying text:

These blogs are "exceedingly charming.  These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends.  They are not interested in self-aggrandizement.  Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated.  Please give more attention to these writers.  Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must then choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award."

As a baby blogger, I was very honored to receive Chris's "Love-Ya"!  I first heard from Chris when I blogged about my friend Bennie Windstein and his poem about bells. Since then: we've traded e-mails from time to time; I've shared a favorite book list with him; we've chatted about those huge anonymous e-mails to the world we all get; and, I have a feeling he'd be over here running through that field of sunflowers with Joan and I, if he could!  One of the things I enjoyed most as I read his descriptions of his award recipients, was that I came to know him better by being able to see what he valued most in others. 

I now have big shoes (even bigger soaring wings) to fill and am taking my charge from Chris seriously.  In addition to being the baby blogger that I am; I must also confess to not being a huge reader of the blogs of others.  Add in the criteria for the award; I could only come up with a couple of deserving blogs!  I thought about asking my sister Kat for recommendations, and have, but I believe that to passionately pass on this award it must come from me in a mindful, genuine, passionate kind of way.  It must be mine! So, I will be exploring blogs as I ponder my "Love-Ya" recipients and will be back to passionately pass on my "Love-Ya" award with a special little twist of my own.

I often tease that our night skies are a cross between Vincent Van Gogh and Walt Disney!  Add in Chris's love for fields of sunflowers and I hope that this is the perfect, passionate, thank you to someone who landed in my life and then surprised me with his admiration at a time when my own wings were feeling broken and battered.  We're on the mend and I expect to be soaring again soon! See you up there Chris, and thanks again!

 

Dawnings and the Power We Cannot See

I've always considered myself a sensitive person.  I try to pay attention to others.  I try to listen and I try to remember what is important to them.  I believe that being here with the Chatette has magnified those traits. I've learned so much from my garden, the stone, and excavating metaphors that carry me to clarity in my own relationships and life in general. 

On one of my shorter visits to the Chatette, I went crazy planting bulbs.  I know that some of them were gladiolas, but the rest are still a mystery to me.  I had hoped for some beautiful flowers, but nothing appeared the whole time I was here.  I arrived a few months later for a second visit that year to find everything overgrown and not a flower in sight.  I was bummed.  I'd spent all this time digging and planting and still nothing.  It seemed like such a waste of time. 

But, I went to work weeding anyway.  I was shocked to discover tiny green sprouts of gladiola leaves pushing up through the soil, little rose bushes and columbines under all the weeds and over grown mint.  I became much more careful in my weeding, wondering what other surprise discoveries could be waiting for me! Going from bummed and feelings of "nothing" in my garden, to excitement and feelings of "everything" in my garden made me think of some of the times of struggle in my life. 

These days, when I'm feeling the "bummed" and "nothing", I remind myself that there is a power at work in the world that we cannot see. It's impossible to know what else is perking out there and what surprises the universe might have in store! Sometimes those surprises are better than anything we could have planned for ourselves and they appear just when we need them the most!

What Does Your Refrigerator Say About You?

Sitting at Mom and Dad's kitchen table on Elizabeth Avenue this last visit, got me to thinking about refrigerators in a big way for the second time in my life. 

One of the things that I was very grateful for after the storm in New Orleans, was that I actually had TWO NON-STINKY refrigerators! I have my Ms. Williams of More to thank for that, since she had already emptied them out after Hurricane Dennis earlier that season.  You didn't find any taped up stinky refrigerator of mine out in the triangle in front of my house and when we got back we didn't have to go out with the rest of the city and try to buy a new one.  We were set and very grateful!  It also meant that my art gallery of magnets was left in tact, at least for the moment!   

Crazy person that I am, I took shots of my parent's refrigerator, Kat and Tom's refrigerator, and Mike and Drew's refrigerator while I was in St. Louis.  When I got back here, I decided that it was only fair to share my refrigerator with you first before I go on to exposing others!  So, what does my refrigerator say about me?

First, that time is important to me since I have one of my own artsy calendars prominently displayed.  I love art, Paris, geodes and Clydesdales.  It's important to me that my Mom spent a lot of time cleaning, repairing, and doing the hair of all of my dolls that I brought back to St. Louis from New Orleans with me, and (even at pushing 55) I'm still very proud that I was a pom-pom girl at Ferguson Jr. High.  You might also notice that I'm still trying to learn (ha-ha) the metric system here in France and that all of my coupons are very out of date!

By the time you get to the bottom of the refrigerator: you'll notice that the Paris and art themes continue; I love the Christmas photo of Mike, Drew and I; and also the photo of my brother Jim, Jesse and Pinky that I was given to me on this last graduation trip.  Butterflies and favorite flowers pop out, along with a button magnet made by Kathleen, a photo magnet of the head in front of St. Eustache in Paris made by my brother Tom, and a card announcing my friend Sister Ann's Art Show at the Louisiana Pizza Kitchen in New Orleans last year!  Two things that I don't want to lose are:  my voter registration card for New Orleans/USA and some Spanish stamps that I want to give to some friends who may be visiting soon. 

Even though we are a little cluttered, somewhat out of date, maybe a little forgetful and just a little dirty: my refrigerator says that we are passionate about art, people, events and family;  history and commitment are valued; and, we are always open and trying to learn new things.  My newest addition to my refrigerator in France was waiting for me on the table in Mom's kitchen when I arrived in St. Louis. You will see it leaning sideways under the picture of Mike and Drew and beside the sunflower.  I'd like to close with what it says:

Give of yourself as the angels do and wonderful things will come to you!

Bon Anniversaire et Beaucoup de Remerciements!

Today is a special day at the Chatette for all three of us, because our good friend (and a first line of defense when times are tough) Kelly Kerr is having a birthday.  Dali loves Kelly for his incredible ass scratches-he ruined her for anyone else.  Sammmie cat loves Kelly for going with Gaynell, Mort and Gail to rescue her from the LSU Vet School after the storm and letting her stay there with them until I could get back and take her home.  I can't give you the reasons I love Kelly in one sentence-it would be impossible!

Kelly and I met in the early 90's through our friend Doug Hosler, who sang in the New Orleans Gay Men's Chorus with Kelly and volunteered in the NO/AIDS Task Force Buddy Program with me.  When we lost Doug in '93, Kelly and I stayed in touch and soon became best "girlfriends"!  Kelly loves France as much as I do (maybe more) and since we have both been self-employed over many of the last years, we regularly supported each other over the phone between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, and now between Cadrieu and Baton Rouge. When huge life changes strike, you find that some people can come along and others can't.  Kelly has hung with me on this journey from day one.  When Hurricane Gustav hit Baton Rouge last year, I told Kelly I owed him my ear forever after all he had done for me.  And, I meant it! We'd  talk on the cell phone, we'd go dancing regularly, we'd go listen to a friend of mine play music on Bourbon Street and usually have dinner together at Pere Antoine's on Royal Street! 

How can you ever repay someone who stands with you in the battered, broken, moldy heart of your house-the living room, while you cry and scream and just holds you and tells you to "Close your eyes and think about what you would do in here if you could do anything you wanted to do!" That was the first time that I was able to visualize the heart of my home as something other than damaged and broken.  Kelly has given me many gifts!  I try to let him know regularly just how much I love him, how grateful I am for all of his love and support over the years, and that he is still a huge part of my life even from France. 

So Happy Birthday to my friend Kelly!  After this afternoon's language class, I'll make sure that Dal, Sam and I raise a toast to you from the terrace...and who knows-You may even get a Happy Birthday telephone call!  Happy Birthday Kel-Love Always-Laury

Mailing Taxes...Plumes and Stylos!

When I first bought the Chatette back in 2002 and I wasn't here getting regular mail; my mailbox was a wooden, hinged-lidded box, that forced the mailman to get out of his car and walk down an incline to deposit my mail.  I was very proud of myself when I purchased this "real" mailbox and then very butchly dug a hole for the stump and attached it myself!  Now, my mailman can pull up to the side of the road and just stick my mail in the slot from his open car window!  He will also take mail for you if he is stopping, and if you are waiting for him when he stops.  Having done that a few times, I've now chosen to walk up to the Mairie in the mornings, where we have regular pick ups on Monday through Friday. 

With June 15 looming as my next estimated tax date for the states, I got myself together for both my Fed and Louisiana estimated tax payments and walked the two envelopes up the hill to the Mairie this past Friday.  One I addressed, but the other had it's pre-addressed envelope. As I walked up the hill I noticed that the pre-addressed one didn't have USA on it anywhere.  I had visions of my fed payment floating around France without that USA and contemplated taking it back home.  Fortunately, one of the village Mom's was in her van with her little girl waiting for the school bus that picks up our village children.  In the past, I would have just taken my un-USA-ed letter back home and got it off another time.  But today, I went over to the window of the van and asked: "Avez-vous une plume?" To which Mom replied: "Oh, un stylo!"  She did have a stylo, and I had a chance to write "USA" on my envelope while I visited with her in French about taxes in the US, taxes in France, all that paper and that pretty soon there won't be any room for me at the Chatette because I have so much paper.  On the way  home I was sorting my word "plume" through my mind and realized that I had asked her for a "feather" or so I thought till I got home.  I looked it up, and "Plume" wasn't totally off, since it also a "Quilled Pen" which makes perfect sense since quilled pens were made from feathers in the past!  I was proud that I didn't avoid an opportunity to speak French and pleased that I learned something new in the process!