Flashback of France 1988

                               

After months of living in a cute cracker-box studio in Paris, French husband and I found a large, bourgeois-style apartment by the Bastille. Since the rent was tres cher (very expensive, and we didn't want to give up eating,) we rented out one of our rooms to Ellen, who was an American.

Having room-mates in Paris was a rare concept at that time. Can you imagine the eyebrows of the Parisians when they heard we were newlyweds with a room-mate? We were considered the oddest thing since Napoleon tucked his hand under his vest. Plus, we liked peanut-butter and jelly sandwiches, and didn't smoke.

                        

A couple of years later our paths separated. French husband and I moved to the south of France, and Ellen rode her bicycle solo across India. She was a wild woman.

                         

During the beginning of her amazing journey through India I found out I had cancer. I didn't have the heart to tell her, knowing that if I did she would ride her bicycle straight to my doorstep. My letters to her (via the American Express office) stopped.

After a year in India, Ellen flew into Paris on her return flight back to the USA. She was going home. In Paris she met up with mutual friends of ours. She mentioned to them that she hadn't heard from me. They told her why. Without a moment of hesitation, she canceled her flight to the USA, and flew to the south of France. When I opened my door, I didn't see Ellen, I saw an angel.

______________________________________________________________________

                   

Ellen and her husband, have been here visiting us these last few days. It feels like old times (except we haven't seen each other in several years and have new roommates called, children....)

Friendship doesn't change at the roots, it blooms and flowers wherever it is planted and includes you in its landscape.

Photo: 1) Doorbell that reads: "Ring twice for the second floor." 2) A facade in the south of France. 3) This is not Ellen's bike. Don't get me wrong, she has nothing against pink girlie bicycles, unless she had to ride it across India. 4) A vintage oil painting of a French landscape, leans on the wall, while sitting in a planter.

Comments

[Mary]

Corey I so enjoyed reading this post about true friendships. I must live just a few miles from your wonderful friend as I see she is in Durham, NC - I'm in Raleigh. Know she must have enjoyed visiting you again.
My brother and family live in the Minervois, in a small village about 20 mins. from Carcassonne. It's far different than their former life in London! I visited last Summer and fell in love with everything about the South of France. I hope to return soon!

[Cleopantha]

l am so glad to have stumbled across your blog. Your post was very touching..

[Vanessa V]

Oh Ellen. What a dear. You see, that is what true friendship is....True.

[Alison Whittington]

What a wonderful post, Corey.

[CathyC]

She sounds like a wonderful person. Sometimes we love our friends as much as we love our families:)
BTW, I will have a bike just like that one day, except it won't be pink. Probably blue.

[[a}]

what an awesome story!

[carolyn]

Ellen is indeed a remarkable friend. You must have noticed that it doesn't really matter how long ago you last saw your real friends because you just take up again as if it was yesterday.

[rel]

Corey,
True friendships can sit on the shelf for years, but with a simple wipe of the dust cloth appear whole and unchanged!
rel

[Marie-Noëlle]

Could you give me/us your secret, Corey:
Where do you (=angels, ie: Ellen, Shelley and yourself...) keep your wings?
Do you remove them and put them away in a bag?
Do you fold them up and hide them in a hidden pocket?
Please, tell me/us ...

[~jolenemarie]

Corey, my Mom always told me "you are known by the company you keep" -- when you opened the door and saw an angel...Ellen was looking into the eyes and heart of one as well.

[cruststation]

I love your story, and your quote, 'Friendship doesn't change at the roots, it blooms and flowers wherever it is planted and includes you in its landscape'. Isn't it great that strong friendships can hold no matter the distance, and coming together is like you only saw them yesterday?

Like plants, friendships require nurture and I can see all your friends appreciate this.

[Linda]

Thank God for telephones and computers. I talked with a long time friend just last night. So much to catch up with. I wonder what old time pioneers did when they left their friends and families and took a ship or a wagon and went across the sea or the country to a new place and knew they would never see each other again?

[angela marie]

A true friend indeed!!

Friendship doesn't change at the roots... love what you wrote!

Beautiful tribute to your friend!

[Conni Lu]

An interesting post...I love the first photo, but actually, I love them all...thanks for sharing.

[Hasmin]

I love reading your stories of friendships, life, and loves...and seeing your story captured on film. (perused the bookstore today and happen to see the new Somerset Life magazine with an article of your blog in it. Had to get me a copy!)

[Gail Sullivan]

What a beautiful story. I cried.
Gail

[Mrs.Staggs]

You've learned a valuable lesson...one that I'm still working on. Why is it, that what we are happy and honored to give to our friends, is sometimes the hardest thing to ask for ourselves at times?

[susanna]

I've been gone for a while so I need to catch up on my Corey reading... and as usual, this post and photographs are so good. Ellen really is a good friend to fly out to see you when you were ill - and you didn't even ask her to do so. That's a true friend. Hold on to her!

[Frieda]

I call that a true friendship, you both are indeed blessed.

Friendship and loyalty have patience
as the strength of their connection.

~ Rumi

[Elaine]

The photos are wonderful! Ellen sounds like a lovely friend as are you.

[Rich Buck]

Hi Corey,
Always a pleasure reading up on your life.

[tinker]

You have the loveliest photos on your blog - and your friend Ellen sounds like the best kind of friend.

[lauren Mumford]

I'm so happy that you are having a reunion with someone who is so special to you! Enjoy your time, I know you will create lots of new memories during her visit. It was a great reading of this one.

hugs

[Amber]

How wonderful! Enjoy your time together. I love your last lines... ;)

:)

[tommiea]

there isn't much better in life than good friends

[pascaloune]

elles sont belles ces photos! Quelles belles images de la France!

[katie]

You are so lucky to have such a nice friend. They are all treasures.

[MyMelange]

True friendship is such a wonderful gift! Enjoy your company...how nice they are visiting again after all these years!

[Britt-Arnhild]

Friends and flowers in your garden, and your garden must be very beautiful Corey.

I wake up every morning wondering; What's Corey up to today? I eat my breakfast, I post my daily blog entry and then I start to check out TongueInCheek. When will Corey's post appear? What will she post about today?

And I am never, never disappointed. You are an Artist with words and with images, with stories, with people....... You take me to the moon and back again almost every day.

I will never stop being thankful for finding your blog a year ago. And I will never stop being thankful for our conversation on the phone some time ago

Like Lidy I also have a huge bouquet of Virtual Roses today. You were a main inspiration to the creation of Caring Bloggers Rose Day.

[FrenchGardenHouse]

"Friendship doesn't change at the roots, it blooms and flowers wherever it is planted and includes you in its landscape."

Your post brought me to tears. I am so glad that you have those kinds of friends. (No surprise there) I always so enjoy my visits to you, thank you for sharing so much of your life.

Sending you a huge "Virtual Bouquet" of Roses today!

Lidy
Frenchgardenhouse

[Paris Parfait]

A lovely example of how true friendships survive time and distance and everything else!

[Chantal]

What a beautiful tribute to your friendship. Enjoy your precious time with Ellen :-) And yes, you're right. True friendship continues to grow in strength and beauty regardless of where Life takes us. Loin des yeux peut-etre.. mais jamais loin du coeur.

[Star]

What a special bond the two of you have. I'm so glad you are able to spend a few days of quality time together, and that your friendship has flourished rather than fallen by the wayside.

PB&J rocks! :D

Love to you, Corey.

Star

[beachy]

Lovely friends you have, Corey - I couldn't imagine it any other way. You do attract angels, and you send angels with each inspiring word you write!

[AnnieElf]

What a touching story of friendship Corey. I know you are enjoying your visit. Your shared history makes it so.

[j vorwaller]

oh corey, maybe it's the rainy weather, but your writing today has my eyes filling with tears...

may we all have angels at our doorstep like you have.

(ps, oh that bike. oh that lamppost. & that stunning painting! :)

[The Decorated House]

It's been a while since I've been by here. I'm a bit sad that I didn't know you were going to Lourdes. Funny, I've been talking it about for the last month or so. Maybe your vibes were rippling way over here, and I got a ripple anyway without knowing it was you sending them through the universe. Thank you!

Actually I stopped by to tell you how beautiful the article is in the new Somerset Life magazine by you. Simply a fabulous job with it.
Donna

[shabbyinthecity]

Ellen? I'm thinking you'd make a great blogger! *hint* *hint* laptops travel well by bike, don't they?

[Kit]

Lovely story - you paint such a vivid picture with your photos and your words.

We also started our married life with various extra people in our menage. There were four of us living together in a photographic studio,(think mezzanine floors up ladders) when I went into labour with our first child. We all stayed up late playing rummy, until I couldn't keep track of the cards any more and moved into the bath. We've kept their friendship even now we're continents apart these days. There's something to be said for newly weds sharing their space it seems!

[Pat Spiller]

Delightfully moving story. And heart-filled. As always you bring love to the start of my day.

[darla]

An old saying my Great Grandmother taught me comes to mind. "To have a friend you must be a friend"

Lovely that you found one another.

Darla

[constance]

Hi Corey,
This segment got me thinking about the things that brought you and Ellen together in the first place. The three of you obviously march to your own drummer. You had the confidence not to be concerned by what others think or said about your living situation. Also, Isn't it inerestiing that it was the seeming lack of money that joined a friendship? It is so great that you all could be together again with your children.

[patpaulk]

Each day we learn more about you. Hope the cancer is gone and never returns. Old friends are like a favorite old coat, always good to be reunited, especially if it's cold.

[Beverly]

I love your stories. They go very well with my morning coffee!

Thank you.

[Penny]

What a beautiful story about a beautiful friendship! Once again you've started my day with lovely words and images.

[meredith]

Ellen sounds like a wonderful friend. We have american guests, too, my husband's old roomate from Hawaii. Being roomates is a great way to start a lifelong friendship.

[Shannon]

Boy, am I crying right now. You have such funny, moving, touching stories and incredible friends too!

Ha! I really did think that pink bike rode Ellen across India. I thought it was such a romantic image, LOL.

My mom shares a teeny apartment in Manhattan with a married couple. They have their own bedrooms of course!! (more like walk in closets though). So I immediately thought of them when I read this.

[tut-tut]

You are able to relate a lot in a few words. and such wonderful photos!

[Pauline Clarke]

You have such a way of telling a story that I am drawn in and, like wandering in a house with unexpected nooks, I am always saying, "aha!"

[Kristy]

I love the bucket and basket storage solutions on the bike!
You must be a very good friend to have such great friends yourself Corey. xxx