This morning, I had the laptop on because I was going to be facetiming with my brother Jim who lives in California.
We always schedule.
You see, there is a 9 hour time difference.
His 9pm call in California on a Monday night is a 6am call for me on my Tuesday morning.
It works for us.
After we finished, I decided to leave the laptop on.
I knew I had some projects to do AND I've begun a "French with Fred" course.
I am doing it daily.
I can work at my own pace.
It's definitely part of everything being more France for me, and improving my French is important to me in the
NOW!
In the meantime, I was looking for some photos and stumbled on these. The before the fire shots always grab my heart. These were taken during the few months I was able to be here during 2016. Sammie cat stayed with Mike and John. I continued on, but ended up looking from that point in 2016 forward and into 2017. I stopped way before the fire, but Sammie Cat and I were here together permanently by then.
Seven years later, it sometimes seems like yesterday and other times a million years ago.
So much struck me.
First, we all looked so happy in earlier 2016. Little did we know that our whole way of life would be upended in the next election. That election continues to define all of our lives, and the world, to this day. I looked back, feeling the feelings I felt from then through the photos.
During those times: I was taking care of taking my social security early; I took my road trip through the south eastern quadrant of the US seeing people who are important to me; I returned New Orleans to be on time to serve as the foreperson for a very important trial; it was important to me to go to DC for the Women's March in January; and by May, I was ready to be full time in France.
I knew I needed to sort out my life in Cadrieu from France, as BREXIT was unfolding.
Secondly, the loss. It began with Mom, and continued on: losing Sam in the fire; stateside friends and friends from here over time; Dad the first of 2020; COVID; and then, selling Columbus Street and Mike's departure a year ago this month.
Last, but certainly not least, was the realization that I had lived life by a set of core values and beliefs that:
all people are basically good;
truth prevails; and,
in striving for justice for all.
Long before scrolling through these photos, I knew I no longer believed.
This ultimate loss took hold in 2016.
It doesn't mean I've given up. It doesn't mean I don't care. I have always been someone who walks the walk. I just don't know what to do anymore.
Where is Superman when we need him?
Or Wonder Woman as the case may be?!?
WE NEED THEM BOTH and MORE!