Soar-Dream-France

Celebrating Brother (s) and Others-Happy Birthday Jim

Today is my brother Jim's birthday.  I've written about Jim before...Jesse's graduation, horning in on my short-lived "only childness", and how much I value the one on one time that he and I are able to share these days!  So today Jim is 53.  (I can keep up with him since we are just about two years apart and my math can handle that.  It gets more difficult with the rest of them.)

I chose this favorite picture of Jim and I together with our Papa in his favorite chair to share with you today.  Grandpa always smiling, me with my mouth open, and Jim wondering what in the world is going on.  Throughout our lives, there have been times when we have been closer than others.  I'm grateful that this is one of those times-the closeness grows as we get older. Because of our closeness in age, Jim and I share a similar history in the times of growing up that we don't have with our brother Tom and sister Kat. There are lots of stories I could share with you about Jim, and about Jim and I, but it's a story of the moment that shows the sensitivity, strength and depth of character that I admire in my brother.  He might look confused in that picture, but trust me-this is a man who knows who he is, where he stands and what is important to him. 

Papa was really special to all of us.  I've written about Papa and his favorite chair before.  We lost Papa when I was 16, Jim 14, Tom around 9 or 10 and Kat 3 or 4.  We each suffered his loss differently. I'm not sure the chronology of this, but Jim ended up being the keeper of Grandpa's Chair. He describes how sitting in it gave him strength and got him through some rough times...divining the spirit of Papa no doubt. From time to time, our brother Tom would mention how much he would have liked to have had Grandpa's Chair.   When I spoke to Jim this past Sunday, he mentioned to me that he had discovered that Grandpa's Chair would fit in their car.  He and Joan were going to St. Louis this past weekend and would bring the chair for Tom, if he and Adrianne would want to take it back to New Orleans in their car when they come up for Tom's high school reunion. Tom said "yes".  Grandpa's Chair is back in St. Louis for the moment and will be on its way to New Orleans in August. 

I told Jim that he was a much better person than I am.  I'm not sure I could have done the same. Those tangible ties to the people I have loved the most in my past are the ones that are the most difficult for me to let go of!  But as I write I see, Jim's gift to Tom is the ultimate in divining the spirit of Grandpa!  It is the most Papa-like thing that Jim could ever do! Happy Birthday Jim-Love, Laury, Dali and Sam

More Merci-s and a Special Story

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas around here.  When I checked the mailbox on a whim over the weekend, I found a slip for a colis that could be picked up at the Post Office in Cajarc this morning after 9.  I decided to ride in on my bike and bring one of the big shopping bags in my back-pack just in case it was bigger than the back-pack could hold.  Of course, I arrived to a long line but had the opportunity to practice my French while I waited.  And, as I told my neighbor behind me...je ne suis pas pressé (I am not in a hurry) !  The box came out and I could clearly see that it was from the US-and then I saw Covington, so I figured it must be yet another gift from Jan.  It was light-so for a moment I feared I was going to have an Elvis mask of my very own, but no.  I broke into it the moment I got home, to find two pounds of New Orleans coffee from PJ's...one Colombian Supremo and the other French Vanilla.  So many treats these days, that I'm not going to know what to do with myself.  I'm sure Jan didn't know, but PJ's is especially meaningful for me.  I entered a short story competition that they sponsored ages ago, and won second place!  I'd like to share it here with Jan and you.  Most of it is true-it is about me and my friend Denny who died from AIDS in 1989.  We all have our traditions.  Each year after Denny's death, the lamb ornament he gave me became the first ornament that went on my tree.  But, in 2003 my lamb came with me to France and hung from the top of the back terrace door by an opaque white ribbon etched in gold.  There have been three trees in New Orleans without my lamb...2004, 2005 and 2006, but since 2007 the tradition lives on and every Christmas in France he is my first ornament on our tree!  I hope you enjoy our story-and Merci Encore to Jan!

The Christmas Lamb-With the holiday season upon her, all Jill can think about is living through it.  Nineteen ninety-five had been a year of losses.  She saw the end of a six-year relationship, the death of her dog and companion since graduate school and the death of one of her dearest friends.

Jill's mind races as she strings the lights on her tree.  Jack was married, Prince was old, but Michael was too young to die.  Although she always had a love affair with New Orleans, she went home to St. Louis for Christmas where holiday visits with Michael were a special gift. 

"Like clock-work on Christmas Eve, Michael showed up at my parent's door in his black and white tuxedo, with the red-satin bow tie." Tears well-up in Jill's eyes as she remembers, "Michael brought me a red-rose corsage.  He pinned it on my dress.  He always made sure that I didn't slip on the ice."

Through years of friendship, holidays and other's broken promises; Michael made many trips to New Orleans.  "God", thinks Jill, "we used to talk about how one day when we were both old and grey and all the men had disappeared from our lives; we'd be perched on our green plastic chairs in front of PJ's on Frenchmen Street, wiping cappuccino mustaches and reminiscing about the exciting lives we had."

When Michael found out he was sick, he and Jill talked about "final arrangements".  Jill was surprised to discover shortly after Michael's death, that his family had followed his wishes.  They disbursed his ashes in the Mississippi River just north of St. Louis, with a can of beer, and the pressed corsage that his mother had worn on her wedding day.  Michael wanted to come to New Orleans.

Jill gets up from the couch and pads into the kitchen to pour herself a glass of wine.  The Chablis glistens in her glass, reflecting the lights she just strung on the tree.  Searching for ornaments, she leans over the decorative shopping bag holding ornaments from her Mom, souvenirs from her "first Christmas" with Jack, and plaster ornaments she had made as a child.  Nestled in the top corner of the bag, Jill feels something furry and soft that jingles when she moves the boxes.  Tears fill her eyes when she sees the lamb Michael gave her.  She holds him up to the light.  His black face and blue eyes peek out from under a mound of curly white yarn.  The bell around his neck is attached to a red-satin bow.  There is holly where she would have worn her own red-rose corsage.

Tears meander down her cheeks as she hangs him on the tree.  She is mesmerized by the solitary lamb.  He is commanding the lights to dance on the ceiling.  An aroma of cappuccino  wafts through the house, carrying Jill to her shoes and coat.  Michael is there.  She feels him. She strolls to PJ's.  The green plastic chairs are waiting, but empty.  She orders two cappuccinos to go and walks over to the Moonwalk to share them with Michael.

Although there is a coffee shop on Frenchmen Street in New Orleans these days, it isn't a PJ's.  You'll be pleased to know that Denny, along with a host of others, have found the ease with which they can visit me in this timeless, boundaryless, magical place!  Everyone stops by regularly!

Buddy Lee Welcomes You-International Overalls Day-Photo Album

 

Being that girl child of dolls and football and a woman of pearls and overalls; you can imagine that I might have a doll or two who sports overalls of their very own.  I can't lay claim to Buddy Lee as a doll of my childhood.  He was one of Mom's collectibles that I was able to talk her out of.  He lived in New Orleans with me and he now guards an ancient stone "evier" (sink) in the piano room, right under the collage I've made of Kelly's story about our friendship and many overalls photos! 

What better fella to bring into the International Overalls festivities, and announce that I've set up a special photo album here in the sidebar on the right titled: "International Overalls Day-November 20, '09-Photos"! Just click on Buddy's smiling face and you'll be able to enter that album if it's of any interest to you. I've started with shots of Buddy and some of me, but will be adding in shots of friends, family, and overalls on their own doing their thing!  Overalls are so much a part of my life, that I never in a million years thought that they would bring so many new friendships and fun my way!

Parcel Laury-Colis Laureee!

I had already received a phone call from Nicole Carretier, so I knew to be on the look out for a special package in the mail. Nicole has an incredible shop in St. Cirq Lapopie that Jan and I visited together when she was here.  We drooled over everything in Nicole's shop, but our favorites were the handmade quilts, with matching pillow shams and curtains!  We looked at every style and design and had hoped to come back, but we had hiked to Bouziers and instead caught the bus home from there. 

I heard the Poste car pull up outside yesterday morning, so I stuck my head out the window.  Francine Durand, from our village, was filling in for our regular "facteur" Jean-Claude.  I saw her open the mailbox and shove something inside, but she had shut the door and was on her way off toward Josie and Patrick's screaming: "Colis Laureee!" before I could get out and catch her.

Between Jan and Nicole, I now have a perfect, beautiful quilt for the Chatette.  We couldn't have asked for a more thoughtful and meaningful thank you from Jan.  Every time I look at it, I will remember how the two of us touched just about everything in Nicole's shop and had lengthy discussions over our lunch at Lou Bolat's about which design we liked best, how Jan could get them to the states, how many, and where to put them.  So, a huge MERCI BEAUCOUP to Jan.  Now, a bit of a dilemma that you might be able to help me with...where to put my beautiful "cadeau"?  I've put three photos on the right for you to pick from.  Let me know which spot and arrangement you like best! 

Jean came for burgers last night and she suggested that I might want to hang it on the wall above the staircase.  I would love to use it in the Mélange-ing Magic room, but that means I would have to get three more quilts, curtains, and pillow shams-so that it is going to have to wait till the house rents in New Orleans or some other windfall occurs! You can see more about Nicole and some of her work at: www.conseilsdeco.com

Carousel Magic-Manège Magique

If you happen to be walking down the Rue Gambetta in Cahors and spy the statue of Gambetta high in the sky above a huge fountain, look to the right in front of the tourist office and you will see our friends on their carousel home on the right.

I love carousels.  I cried the day the carousel in City Park in New Orleans opened again for the first time since the levees broke and I have two favorites in Paris: one in the Tuileries and the other in Les Halles.  Once I got this shot on the left of my Happy Horses in Les Halles, I was a goner.  Smiling straight at me...they're saying: "Hey Laury, hop up here with us and take a ride.  It doesn't matter if you're over 50.  Come have some fun!" I go so far as to imagine my big kid self in there with all the other little ones, but I haven't been brave enough to jump up there just yet.  I haven't gone so far as to borrow someone else's child to hop up there with me.  I'm mostly content to sit and watch the tiny ones have my fun for me!  One winter day in the Tuileries, I was watching these bundled up, beautiful French children whirl past me on their smiling circling steeds.  I thought to myself: "Watching these beautiful, well-behaved children, almost makes you want to have some of your own."  It wasn't in the cards, but I still chase smiling carousel horses and dream big little girl dreams!

On Our Own Again!

On Sunday, Andy took Ron and I to Saujac and then on to the Belgian Cross before we had dinner with Jean.  I am always amazed that no one trip is the same, as is no one photo.  I discovered only one of my "old friends" from a former visit above.  We were there a little later in the day so there was more shadow and less sun.  There was very little grass and barely snippets of color in the shot I took on the left! And that shot from the other side of the Lot was not doing its absolutely best reflecting job, but it's a pretty one no matter what.  It's always nice to see old friends...even if it's just an old friend on its own.  My old friend and I have a lot in common these days! 

Wood if it Could!

A while back I wrote about "coveting" things here that I never thought I would covet...mostly wood and stone.  When I got back from my trip to the states at the end of May, Rob announced to me that a tree had fallen from the causse behind the Chatette while I was gone.  My first vision was a tree laying in the middle of the terrace, but he calmed my fears when he told me it was further up the tracks toward Cajarc and actually on the tracks. I went  exploring after Rob left, and discovered a trunk in two pieces that had some of the most beautiful textures that I had ever seen.

My imagination went into over-drive and pretty soon I had most of the pieces of trunk (Ron just got the last one over for me!) moved and pushed over the wall into my yard. I thought about using them as a kind of a sculpture garden in the yard, but as I thought about the upcoming vernissage I decided to have a contest for the children who come.  I'll have a sculpture garden of wooden objects for them on one of the terraces with one or two pieces that they can touch, turn, feel, have fun with, and then tell me what the piece of wood looks like to them!  I've gotten a start by varnishing the two pieces in my terrace window, and tried the idea out with the piece on the right with the adults at my Elvis Party...the range of vision was huge and fun!  I better be careful what I ask for or even say outloud...billions of butterflies, trunks of trees falling from the sky, stone structures appearing from under the soil around the Chatette...maybe some of this divining I've been doing has been working step by step.  Could the barn be next?

I know you can't touch it, feel it, turn it, or have fun with it, but...what do you see in this piece of wood?

SOARING on Quatorze Juillet!

Happy Bastille Day...Happy Quatorze Juillet...today is Independence Day in France and I have to confess that this is my first French Independence Day where I'm not celebrating with friends or fireworks in Cajarc.  Some of the regulars aren't here this summer, and Jean and I both had guests that headed to airports and train stations today, so I've decided to take it easy at home and have a quiet afternoon and evening.  I thought it might be fun to share the SOARERS and some of the SOARING with you today that goes on around here! Although I'm missing my friend Ron who has been here the past few days; I'm soaring on the natural flow I just discovered on the wings of our friendship!

A Friendship that Transcends!

I'll be going back into Cahors on the bus tomorrow morning to make sure Ron makes his train back to Barcelona and then on to Ireland to meet his sisters.  It's funny, this friendship thing.  Ron and I have been friends for over 20 years. Our friendship began on some committee for the United Way of New Orleans, grew as we volunteered/worked in HIV/AIDS together and solidified when we began to share more personal time and became friends with each other's friends too.  Ron talks a lot about traveling with his "sisters".  I had always thought that he had 2 sisters that he traveled with, but found out on this trip that there are six sisters and that he is one of nine children.  He will be meeting his sisters Ruth and Deb in Ireland for a week once he leaves Barcelona.  This has been an easy visit.  Ron has just blended into my life.  We: watched French movies; walked Dal together in the mornings;  took the bus to Figeac;  enjoyed nice meals, wine, cheese; enjoyed my friends; relaxed and found flexibility and bridges to our friendship in New Orleans.  We were all set for St. Cirq Lapopie today, but when Jean said that she and her friend Andy were going to Conques we were off to Conques with them.  One of the treats in my New Orleans friendship with Ron, was meeting him at Croissant D'Or on Sunday morning for coffee and pastry and then wandering around in the French Quarter.  It wasn't a routine.  It wasn't every Sunday.  But, it was fun and something that was "ours" one on one!  Yesterday, we were walking along the river with Dal.  It was Sunday morning in France.  I turned to Ron and said:  "It's not the French Quarter, but it's the having you here with me to share my Sunday morning in France that makes this even more special." We went out later in the afternoon to share some rosé wine and cheese on a favorite tiny bridge of mine.  We dropped french bread in the water and watched the fish.  We chatted. We sweated.  We have a friendship that transcends time and place! And, how wonderful is that? 

Hanging Around in Cahors-The Pont Valentré

I had a little more time in Cahors on Friday than usual, so while I waited for Ron's train to arrive from Barcelona I did a little shopping and ran around and got lots of great shots.  I have many more to share with you over time, but this one of the Pont Valentré through the roses was special.  The "Pont" is usually out of my way, when I'm running up to the market between 10:30 and the next bus home at 12:50 so my four hours on Friday were REALLY special.  The Pont Valentré is the symbol of Cahors, and spans the Lot River downstream from the city.  Construction of the bridge began in 1308, and when completed, did an excellent job of fortifying the city...even against Henry of Navarre during the Hundred Years War. I have photographed the Pont regularly: in the rain, through the morning mist, blue days, purple days, but Friday's through the roses was a first.  It was fun to sit among the roses, take my photos, and eat my ice cream in my short, pink gauzy dress that had roses of its own.  Those of you who know me, and know me well, can probably imagine where the ice cream ended up!  Happy Sunday!