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

 

Last One Standing

 

For those of us who are aging and are still fortunate enough to have one or both of our parents still with us, I find that a close relationship can get even closer. Although Mom passed in 2016, Dad is still with us.

I may be in France, but my daily morning conversations (his morning my afternoon) with my Dad in St. Louis have brought us even closer than we were when I was growing up.

We talk about health. We talk about loss. We talk about how much we love each other. We talk about times when Mom visits.

We've also talked about what it feels like to be "the last one standing!"

 

Of course, Dad has experienced it more than I have. 

 

 

Earlier this year when my friend Gaynell passed away, I was walking up the steps thinking about our time together. We became even closer during Hurricane Katrina.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All of Gaynell's dogs were gone.

 

 

 

Sammie Cat and Dali were gone. Vann was gone, and now so was Gaynell. I realized that I was the only one left of these loved ones who gave me so much. I actually said outloud:

 

It's just me.

 

 

It was a strange feeling to feel for the first time. It is something that each and every one of us face as we age. I miss my gang now, but I wouldn't trade a moment that we shared. I'm glad I could talk about it with Dad. It is still a:

 

Happy Friday!

 

Taking Breaks

 

Just as I was going out on Saturday morning to continue clearing ivy and unearthing the fosse-septique, Jane called to see if I wanted to join her and Yves for lunch. We settled on noon so that gave me a little morning working time, and then Yves would pick me up. I was very pleased with myself...look at the results!

 

I brought a bottle of wine and some crackers and dip to add to lunch.

It was fun to nibble on cheese, olives, cucumber, pate de campagne and a duck pate from my favorite boucherie in Cajarc. True confessions...I'd served Jane Danois salami so much at the Chatette that she actually had Yves buy some for us at Monsieur Escrozaille's! (I had never noticed that he carried it!)

Add two favorite pastries from Roux's and we were on a roll!

 

 

 

At two, we were getting ready to move to the movie room, but first I headed outside to give Dad his 7am stateside call.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My friend Gyp joined me. He had other things beside calling on his mind. Dad had a little wine trivia for us...a new wine has an aroma. What does an old wine have?

 

I got it and so did Jane and Yves...a bouquet! Dad said I should give them a bottle of wine if they guessed it. Trivia fun across the mile...and, how appropriately WINE trivia!

 

 

 

 

We watched a movie with a minor wine theme called Sideways and then had to listen to a little Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young which took us to Neil Young as a soloist. Mon Dieu, trips down memory lane for all of us.

Love the One You're With brought memories of a walk down the Santa Rosa Island National Seashore beach with a friend back in 1974, and you can imagine what Neil Young's Like a Hurricane evoked for me.

 

 

Gyp was beside me the whole time. I love that boy. I know I let him get away with jumping, nuzzling and kissing more than I should be the Jolly's humor me. They know how much I miss my Dal and Sam.

What a great Saturday together! HUGE MERCI, to Jane and Yves, and of course Gyp!

 

Happy Monday!

 

Just One Ruby Red Slipper

 

When I first came to Cadrieu with Dali and Sam to be full time French Girls, I had a watch with two tiny ruby red slippers tied to it. It was 2006, and my whole concept of home had been upended in New Orleans. I struggled then, and still do to a certain extent today.

When I returned to the states in 2012, one of the ruby red slippers had fallen off my watch. One sat on a stone on my desk upstairs and the other remained on my watch that I wore back.

One day, I jokingly asked Dad:

 

What happens when you only have one ruby red slipper?

He said: I guess you can't get back to Kansas!

 

 

He made me chuckle, even if his answer gave me even more food for thought. I still ponder it from time to time.

How might you answer that question?

Happy Wednesday!

 

Re-Building a Bookshelf

 

 

I love bookshelves. There is nothing better than sitting in a room that has bookshelves covering every inch of every wall. I knew one in my lifetime, It was in Paris. The bookshelf in the photo above is my favorite. You'll find it with my guys on Dupre Street in New Orleans. I chuckle because I've probably read almost every book on their shelves. Eric and his Mom kept me in books while I was in New Orleans. I used to tease that they were my "source!"

 

 

Of course, I'd brought all my favorite books from New Orleans to the Chatette after the storm. They were sitting on the beams on the second story. Most did NOT survive the fire. As I rebuilt our life here at the Chatette, I found that incredible bookshelf at the Deco Troc. I am in the process of re-building the bookshelf...not with wood and nails, but books.

 

 

 

 

 

I began ordering new books on Amazon.fr and was in hog heaven. I still am. Right, is my political section!

 

Last week's trip to the Recyclerie  in Figeac with Jane gave me a whole new source.

Back in the corner on the left as you walk in, there was a whole corner and table full of books in English. Paperbacks were 50 centimes and hardbacks were a euro! It was also a treat to chat with Mary and Karen-two Brits who work the books. You can buy the books anytime, but if you want to chat they are there Wednesdays between 10am and noon.

Mary also makes these amazing book bags for 4 euros.

 

The Recyclerie is another community response to supporting refugees in the area with training and other services. Great prices...Great cause!

Jane and I decided this will be another regular stop on our travels. I made a haul and could have gotten more, but I tried to control myself.

 

 

It is the beginning of a special stash.

 

 

Happy Saturday!

 

 

 

That Unforgettable Smile

 

My friend Gaynell had one of the most amazing smiles. It took up the whole lower half of her face and glowed. Gaynell had a shinging smile...shining and singing. With her passing on the 5th of May in New Orleans, I like to think of her and remember her in just that way.

This shot above was taken during the summer of 2004 when I was out in the yard on Columbus Street painting lattice work.

Just one year later, all my hard work had floated away and we were living upstairs there together so we could both return after Katrina.

 

 

 

It was me and Gaynell and our four-legged children: my Dali and Sam; and, her Stone, Trixie and Bernard.

 

We worked hard to hold our sanity together and keep moving forward. Sometimes it was day to day...bologna sandwich to bologna sandwich!

By Christmas she had returned to live in one side of her family home on Orchid Street and I began living in my back apartment on Columbus Street.

 

 

 

We got together everyday.

Even though City Park was ravaged too, going there on our bikes made us happy and got us out of the daily devastation.

Fortunately, I captured that 2005 holiday ride together in City Park on film with Gaynell's help.

 

Missing you, my dear friend.

And yes...I love you more!

 

 

Morning Gold and...

 

...and the yellow rose of friendship strike me today.

These are times of love and loss and carrying on. It's about the crossing overs.

It's about the so many hurts of losses so deep in avalanches of pain and sadness, but knowing that you'll suffer all those hurts gladly because you wouldn't have given up knowing any and all for a million dollars.

 

 

I am rich.

 

They join the tapestry of our inner lives and always find a way to let us know they are still a part of our life and never very far away.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Really always with us!

 

So today, I celebrate a new day and all of the wonderful people in my life who are here and there...never very far and always near.

I love you more!

 

 

Happy Saturday!

 

Melange-ing France-New Orleans Magic

 

 

These sweet flowering vines grow easily around the Chatette in the spring.

 

 

 

 

 

 

They are so pretty and remind me of a favorite New Orleans wild flower that signaled hope for me after Hurricane Katrina.

 

Pretty in purples partout!

 

 

 

Happy Saturday!

 

 

 

 

YES! There is Life After...

 

...hurricanes, floods and fires!

This shot above was my front porch during Christmas of 2006 when I was shutting down Columbus Street so work could begin and decisions could continue to be made post-Katrina.

You'll notice the sign says: Free to a Good Home!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Almost everyone found a new home, except that little Christmas Bear with the Santa Hat on the end.Last season, you got to see him and his friend the Santa Coca-Cola Polar Bear in their bleach spa as they came back to life after the fire at the Chatette. This year...

 

 

...well, see for yourself.

 

 

Happy Wednesday!

 

Katrina and Overalls

 

 

During the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and the tumbling of the levees, my overalls were essential! I did seem to live in them during those times.

The shot above was taken in Armstrong Park, shortly before Dali and Sammie Cat and I were going to be heading out to France. Wynton Marsalis was playing and a friend and I decided to take a break from working around our places and head down to hear him. Armstrong Park is always a fun focal point for events and music, even though it is a location that had a horrid history of slave sales and uprisings within.

 

 

I often had conversations with friends post Katrina about how we survived. We could point to the support of friends and family, neighbors, and that sometimes getting away from the devastation helped.

We often needed to know that there were other places in the world that were still "normal"...or at least the normal we used to know. I got tired of hearing about the "new normal," and even more tired trying to live it 24 hours of every day. 

During a particularly bad spell for me, I went off for a weekend or so with my friends Keith Landry and David Zielinski. Keith had this fabulous place that I'd fallen in love with in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana.

 

 

 

Going there was always a treat. 

After being wrapped in the nurturing arms of my friends in Cajun country, I'd return to Columbus Street in a better place to continue to attack problems or new crisises.

The aura didn't last long.

In no time, I was back and moving and trying to fight the good fight.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And, it was a fight.

 

Through life's celebrations and challenges, my overalls have been with me every step of the way.

 

 

Happy International Overalls Weekend.

Happy Sunday!