Soar-Dream-France

Light and Dark

 

Watching Brian Williams this morning, Jon Meacham reminded me of this quote from Harold Bell Wright's Shepherd of the Hills that I love so much.

You see, as children we never had a "real" vacation until Dad began working for McDonnell/Douglas (now Boeing). I was in the seventh grade. From that summer on, we always took a weeks vacation near Branson, MO on Tablerock Lake. The main attraction for us was Silver Dollar City. We had a family pass so we could go in and out as much as we wanted. We were fans!

The Shepherd of the Hills was another one of the attractions. We took the tour. We saw the play. I bought the book and later we watched the film with John Wayne.

We share so much as a people. I read this again all these years later, with hope in my heart and soul that WE haven't lost our ability as a people to walk toward the light with open arms.

Happy Friday!

 

Banner Mail Day

 

I love getting mail.

I especially love getting mail here in Cadrieu.

Yesterday was a big mail day for me that brought 3 birthday cards from the states and a gorgeous package from the UK, even though my birthday isn't until next week.

 

 

 

I'd guess everyone stateside is worried about everything that is going on with our post office. I am too.

 

 

After putting the cards up on the hood of the chimney, I opened my package from Joan. I knew it was coming here eventually once I returned and that it was red.

The next question was what to do with it?

It is so pretty, I wanted to have a place of honor to show it off. I looked up at my Spy Boy in his glorious red, and I knew just where I wanted it. Red on the buffet would pull the downstairs and upstairs together with the red on the buffet and the red with Spy Boy Dow in his place of honor above the staircase!

Et, Voila! It was so pretty and turned out to be exactly what I wanted it to be! 

I've struggled so after the fire with not cluttering this beautiful place up. I try to let it speak to me and it usually does.

This red worked perfectly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

When my guy slid down the desk he needed a new place.

 

 

When the card/photo holder from Evelyn fell off the wall, it needed something new too.

Some of the messages are louder than others.

 

 

I'm doing my best to begin listening to my place again, and you can bet there will be more banner mail days between now and the end of next week!

Happy Thursday!

 

From Over Here to There

 

Every arrival home is a mystery in terms of my feelings. This return, I'd teased my friends and family that I expected I would collapse into a puddle of tears upon arrival. Fortunately, that didn't happen. What did happen though, was a smack in the face concerning the seriousness of all that is happening in the states these days.

I did not have my head in the sand while I was stateside. I was very aware of the levels of incompetence and the disintegration of our democracy at every turn at the federal level of government.

 

 

 

 

Every day there was another attack on our freedoms from on high. It is heartbreaking and dizzying.

Survival stateside meant that some things must be set aside so you can go on with daily living. In doing so, the profound seriousness and depth of these infractions are buffered. Seeing more clearly sometimes requires stepping out of the situation, and looking back from the outside in.

Looking back from here to there has been horrifying. I knew I needed to try to do everything I could to get back to Cadrieu as soon as possible.

I had concerns that if I didn't leave as soon as I could, I might not be able to get back.

Watching from afar, my decision was sound and I'm grateful that I am able to be here.

 

 

I know I am home.

 

 

Happy Wednesday!

 

Charm on a Chain

 

 

Leaving Cadrieu in the midst of a transportation strike in December was very stressful. Plus, there is so much that needs to be done to be ready to be gone for an extended period of time in the winter. It isn't unusual to plan to take something and then forget it.

Last December, I left this tiny red heart on a chain that rests on this lamp. I had worn it all the time after Dad gave it to me at Christmas one year I think Kat and I both got a package of necklaces that included the heart along with one with a charm on a chain for each of the major holidays.

I had taken it off before the fire and lost it.

 

 

When the chimney sweep came last year he found it for me. I was thrilled and hung it from the switch on the lamp so I'd always know where it was. I'd planned to take it to the states with me. 

First, because I like wearing it, and second, because I wanted to have it with me to be part of a family ritual if need be. You see, when Mom passed we each took something of ourselves and put it in a cloth bag in the casket with her. I left Mom with my baby bracelet that had my name on it. I'd planned to leave my heart with Dad.

 

When Yves picked me up to go to the train station, I saw it sitting there since the lamp is near the front door. I thought I heard it say, "Don't forget to take me along!" I looked at it a moment longer and then didn't. I remember thinking, surely I won't need it.

When Jane brought me home from the train station last week, there it was again...waiting for me on the lamp near the front door. There was Dad's heart! It pulled me up for a moment. I wished I'd had it with me to put in the bag with Dad, but I had a beautiful angel bookmark he had also given me that went with him instead. 

Maybe it was meant to be this way.

I know I have Dad's heart always.

 

But, this sweet little charm on a chain reminds me of Dad every time I look at it and I know he is with me!

 

 

Missing you and loving you Dad...but feeling you here always.

 

 

 

Happy Tuesday!

 

 

I Might As Well Be In France

 

Once I finished up my last workshop at the end of March, Louisiana and New Orleans were on lockdown due to the Corona virus. I'd already booked a ticket home for April 6, but had no idea where we would be by that time.

Now, we all know. 

The facts and circumstances of Covid-19 affect each of us differently. I often said that I felt like I had "Pandemic Privilege!" I was in a place where I was comfortable. I had a regular monthly income and some savings. I had people who loved and supported me close by. All of the things that I needed to support my "essential" life-grocery stores, pharmacies, post-office and bank were all just a short bike ride away.

What I hadn't counted on as a single person who chooses to have no car and no television, was that there was person to person live contact that was not going to be possible.

As time went on, really right up until I left to return to France a little over a week ago; I often said:

 

"I might as well be in France!" 

 

 

 

Before I left, I realized that I was wrong. No matter how much I love being here in Cadrieu and how well we may or may not be connected from here; there are just some things that no matter how hard I try, I will not be able to do from France.

Those things include people who I've come to call my "Pandemic Pals!" These are the people who I was able to see regularly for some kind of distancing event.

 

 

 

 

Whether it was drinks on the porch with Eric and Louie, lunch on the swings in City Park with Pat and Jane, coffees in the yard with Ron, and of course...Steve, Barbara, Julianna, John, Gary, and Ellen. These are not things I can do from France. 

 

It meant so much to me that these friends often went out of their way to come to me and spend time together. Two told me that the only time they took their cars out was to drive over to Columbus Street. I was honored. 

So you see, I was wrong.

If I had been in France, I wouldn't have been able to enjoy this quality time with friends.

 

 

Now that I'm here, we're connected and in touch, but no...I won't be seeing them again any time soon. 

When I bought the Chatette back in 2002, people would ask me how was a person as social as I am, going to be able to survive in a little village of 135 people?

I'd say: "I can have as much or as little of people as I want!"

You see, these days, that is no longer true.

 

 

 

With Covid-19, we no longer have control over how much or how little we see the people we love and cherish. We do our best, but I believe that this fact is going to lead to long term changes for how we all live our lives.

Happy Monday!

 

 

Pandemic Risk Taking

 

During these times of pandemic, no one would argue that everyone's life has changed. It is a fact. For me, even the smallest thing like to eat or not eat a McDonald's French Fry as I'm pulling out of the Drive-Thru takes on new significance.

Before the shut down in Louisiana and New Orleans; Stew, Eric and I had a reservation for that Sunday night in March.

 

 

 

It was supposed to have been a very special "Repas de Remerciements" (Thank You Dinner) at Cafe Degas.

As you can imagine, that dinner didn't happen.

As time passed and I decided to do everything I could to return to France, we began talking about wanting to do something before I actually left New Orleans. We talked about having Cafe Degas delivered to Dupre Street.

 

Then, we began to throw the idea around of actually going to the restaurant. Eric asked: "Would you be comfortable going to the restaurant?" I hesitated. I had not been to a restaurant since the shut down. I thought about it numerous times, but it just wasn't that important to me. 

I said: "I would want to know what their precautions are and I think I would want to go as early as possible and on a day during the week when reservations were likely to be less."

 

 

We investigated and decided to go ahead and make a reservation for Wednesday, July 29, 2020.

We must have had the second reservation of the evening.

There was only one couple there when we arrived at 5:30. I was pleased to see that the servers wore masks, as did anyone who was not eating. The tables were distanced adequately and had enough chairs so that we sat at a table for 6 and there were three of us. I had my back to the windows and Stew and Eric had theirs to the restaurant.

The first hour or so was very comfortable.

We enjoyed our Sancerre with an exquisite meal and dessert!

 

 

Looking up from my vantage point, I could see that the restaurant was filling up.

 

 

By the time we got up to leave every table was taken. Stew and Eric saw the crowd that was behind them for the very first time.

Honestly, it was too many people for us.

While our strategy was a good one, we didn't stop to think that as we stayed longer to enjoy our evening, the crowd in the restaurant would get bigger.

As much as I enjoy a meal with my friends, it does not have to be in a restaurant. I'm so glad we went, but we still agreed that we would have just as much fun around the table on Dupre Street together. 

 

 

We have fun no matter where we are. 

 

 

Thanks again to Eric and Stew for all they do for me to make this life of mine work...

 

...and Happy Saturday!

 

 

From the "New" Stoop!

 

When I left Cadrieu last December, I had given a list to my wonderful neighbor who was going to be doing some work around the house while I was gone. Cedric had new light fixtures to hang and relocate, tapestries to hang, and some new stone steps for the "stoop!" It was wonderful to receive the photos of all of the completed work while I was still in New Orleans.

 

At that time, I thought I'd be back on schedule.

 

 

How quickly that changed at the end of March, when Governor Edwards shut Louisiana down and Mayor Cantrell shut down New Orleans. 

But, I'm home. I no longer have to hop up to the top on the wooden rail road tie that acted as the only step up. I have two beautiful stone steps that get me (and hopefully my soon to be post-quarantine visitors) up petit a petit and easily!

I often sit on these steps and watch the river flow by, carrying all the gratefulness and happiness that I feel in this place. After the fire, I sat on these steps with a burned out house and my burned up Monsieur Winkelmann behind me and knew...I could go on.

 

Just this view was enough.

 

 

Happy Thursday!

 

The Evolution of Return

 

I chuckled when I reread one of my last posts here about my decision to stay in New Orleans until the spring of 2021. It made perfect sense at the time, but life in the United States kept changing day to day, and not just related to the virus. It was the pestilence running rampant in our federal government that continually pushed my re-evaluation of that spring date. It is a virulent pestilence that is eating our democracy alive. I teased that I was more afraid of the government pestilence than the Corona Virus.

 

At least with the virus, there were things we all could do to protect ourselves the best we could. 

 

Once George Floyd was murdered by the police, and I saw the federal government's response, I decided to push my return up to mid-September. With the second murder of a young black man in Atlanta, I began to think August.

I really had to think about all I had hoped to accomplish in New Orleans this trip AND what was realistic for a good departure. I've learned over all these years that "leaving well" is important, even though there are very many things that are not in our control.

 

I try very hard to pay attention to my feelings. It's easy in Cadrieu, but less so in New Orleans with all the noise, people, and busy. Somehow, when it was important in New Orleans, it seeped through. Reading from the sofa one day, I had this overwhelming sense of go NOW. Go as soon as you can! You must go now. I was thinking about WWII and all the books I'd read over the years about the jews and others who were trying to decide what to do. Do we stay? Do we go? If we go, where? How will we know the time is right? What happens if we are too late? I didn't want to be "too late!"

 

 

That was when I settled on early August as the soonest I could realistically leave and leave well. I was very much afraid that if I didn't go, I might not be able to get out and home to Cadrieu.

I am most grateful for having HOME to come to...not just a place to go, but home that I love and wonderful people around me who love and support me. I began to make lists to put all the pieces in place. There were things that I needed to buy to take back to Cadrieu with me.

 

 

There were housekeeping chores on Columbus Street that I wanted to get done before I left.

I was keeping up pretty regularly with the French Consulate site in New Orleans to be sure if there were any changes in requirements for entry into France. Good Thing!

The Thursday, a week to the day of my departure, I saw that the French Government was requiring a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours and documentation of results prior to boarding flights to France. I freaked. I extended the time on my rental car and reached out to friends and connections.

 

Fortunately, my friend Harlee knew about the RAPID testing site with results in 15 minutes and documentation. I got an appointment, a negative result and was good to go, but cautiously each step of the way.

Now that I'm here and home I am so grateful. There are clearly angels on my shoulders and angel voices in my ears. I kept remembering how Dad said: "Go to France, Laury," in the midst of the insanity and sadness of New Orleans post-Katrina. I'm sure his and Mom's voices were the loudest in my ear...you must go...go now!

 

I listened.

While I would like to take credit for the configuration of my life and all that gives me freedoms that others may not have, I realize as I sit back and look at the lovely Lot, that there is an umbrella over my life that seems to protect me from tough times and disasters.

I feel that protection very strongly here. 

Happy Wednesday!

 

HOME

 

There is always so much happiness and gratefulness at being home. This return is particularly profound. When people tell me they are going to Paris and thought they'd make a "day trip" to see me, I have to tell them that while possible...it isn't a very good idea. Do you really want to spend two full days on the train or road to spend a night and then get up and leave again in the morning? Most people don't.

 

As I also say...this place is heaven, but you must really want to come to get here. 

 

 

Hmmm, maybe not unlike that religious heaven many aspire to.

Me, I have my heaven on earth.

And, I believe we do go on beyond this life and continue to live on in the places we've loved.

The trick is...you gotta love them so that they can love you back.

 

Mine do!

 

So, I am home by the hardest.

 

Imagine 31 hours of straight through travel, wearing a mask in the heat except for when you are eating or drinking, airport terminals, airplanes, taxis, train, train stations, and now home to quarantine for 14 days from arrival. This trip had a 5 hour layover at Dallas Fort Worth and  a four hour layover at the Gare d'Austerlitz.

 

 

Add in the additional requirements beyond the mask, those which were required to travel to and enter France.

 

I was fortunate to be able to receive a negative COVID-19 test that was required within the 72 hours prior to travel.

In New Orleans, AA checked the date on my test and my passport and I was good to go.

In Dallas, everyone checked-in at the gate to provide their test results and was given three more forms to complete on the plane. Fortunately for me, I had already completed two similar forms that I had received from the French Consulate in New Orleans.

 

There was a third form required for contact tracing. The French Department of Health was at our plane before the doors opened in Paris to collect those forms as we got off. Without proof of a negative COVID test within the designated time frame you were not allowed on any of the planes.

 

 

It is good to be home.

It is good to be in heaven.

 

 

Happy Tuesday!

 

 

Blogging Again

 

Where to start? Will I remember how? It really has been way too long without blogging for me, but from the states it was a choice of fighting connectivity so I could blog or just losing my mind in the process. I chose to keep my mind! At least, most of it anyway! 

As everyone knows...

...EVERYTHING is off! I am in Cadrieu by the hardest and have 14 days of self-quarantine from arrival. It is still Christmas at the Chatette meaning it is Christmas in August at the moment. I'd thought I'd take it all down and put it away, but hey...December really isn't that far away.

 

 

 

Maybe I should just leave everything up till then. I do enjoy the ritual of decorating for Christmas-we shall see. The lights are just so pretty.

AND, I was shocked to find that the remaining Christmas Cookies in one of the tins were still good! That made me happy!

As with other returns, there are things I can't find and work to be done. As hot as it is, I'm so grateful that my neighbors/friends had the yard cut to what I would call "finely manicured!" I shouldn't have to get back out in the heat for a while.

 

 

There is so much to write. So much has happened that has NOT been captured on the blog. I believe that I'll start with the voyage from New Orleans to Cadrieu. That could keep me busy for at least a week of posts.

 

 

I'm looking forward to seeing what life is going to bring again for me in Cadrieu. There's something that is feeling new and different, kind of like opening the cover of a new book.

We shall see. I'm glad you're on this journey with me.

 

Happy Monday!