Our last stop on our two-day wander around the valley, was St. Cirq Lapopie.
After we finished our lunch at Lou Bolat, Ava, Nick and I, wandered down the steep passages of St. Cirq Lapopie to head over to the church.
It was really the only thing I wanted to do there before we headed home for the day.
It's a pretty good walk over and back across steep paths and a range of different cobble-stoned walkways.
As soon as I walked in the door, there she was to my left-St. Therese of Lisieux. She had a whole display of candles with votives to be lit. I always call her my "Merci Lady," and it was a little weird to see that so much had changed since the last time I'd been to the church. Everyone (all the Saints that is) was in a different place.
What I learned later on, was that the 1st of October is St. Therese's Saint Day.
That made most of it make sense.
It felt like a meant to be for me.
I lit my candle and it was as if she waved her hand and smiled right into my eyes. I swore I could smell her flowers. She was my very first St. Therese.
Of course I was grateful just to be there. I was grateful to be there with my friends. I was grateful that it seemed like all the saints were showing off just for me that afternoon. I was grateful I'd come and the timing couldn't have been more on target.
Waking up Sunday morning with Lola snuggled in and a first morning with no one but us, I watched a little news on YouTube. I caught Ali Velshi in Fort Meyers where the devastation from Hurricane Ian was the worst.
General Honore was on and I had to watch. He really was a hurricane hero in New Orleans with his leadership during Katrina.
It became quickly clear that this had turned out even worse than had been predicted.
So many are left with nothing, and with inflation and the economy, many who were already living on the edge had no insurance of any kind.
I ran through so much in my head and heart that there's no reason to share here.
The trigger words: flooding, washed away, nothing left, debris removal, SBA, insurance, and on and on left me in tears.
But through all those tears came the real gratefulness of now.
I am here. Columbus Street is sold. I don't have to personally live through another hurricane season again from here, wondering about my property and if it is going to break me again emotionally and financially. I worry about my friends and family of course.
Again, I am here. I am grateful. I am safe and feel protected in this place in ways I never did in New Orleans.
Now, with the hurricanes coming more frequently and more strongly as Cat 4s and 5s; none of it is looking good.
Those angels on my shoulders and paying attention to the swirling universe around me, seem to have paid off.
And of course, being touched by St. Therese of Lisieux.
Happy Monday!
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