Tongue in Cheek

Looking Back over 2009

Looking back over the last year on the last day of the year.

January 2009:

Last year started with the long awaited pleasure of breaking up our functional bathroom to create an older looking bathroom. Call my ideas not practical go ahead I can take it

We remodeled our bathroom: Grey, brown..Taupe that is the color word I am looking for... Paint galore, stains still remain on my hands, no cabinets, old clawfoot tub in front of the window (I never thought that an apartment building ((with a straight shot view into our bath tub)) would go up over our neighbor's garage!)

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February 2009:

I broke my rib cleaning (the mentioned above) claw foot bathtub, and posted a can opener on my blog: Relating odd objects and moments together I found highly symbolic.

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March 2009:

Nearly a year after my father's death I had a dream about him.

It was a beautiful dream. One I think of often.

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April 2009:

While on a train to Paris a young man tried to take advantage of me. Talk about a wild ride, talk about an adventure!

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June 2009

I learned the advantages of a microwave...

popcorn

melted butter

baked potatoes

warm chocolate chip cookies...

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JULY 2009

Photo Source Stelvio Pass

The Motorcycle Ride with French Husband.

3000 km plus: Stelvio Pass, Lieselotte, Deter, and much much more... Oh 3000 pounds more.

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August 2009

Brocanting with my dear friend Nathalie and learning how to cuss in French.

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September 2009

South Carolina to Texas with Lynn.

The Antique Road Trip, Steven who fell asleep, the cowboy, Mari, Linda....

Marburger

Visiting my dear friend Ellen and Frank.

Meeting so very many wonderful people!

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October 2009:

--- the highlight of my year.

To be able to go to home and celebrate my mother's birthday.

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November 2009

Watching Sacha master the parallel jump on his BMX!

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December 2009

Love, happiness and a joy.

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Thank you for following along, for being here, for your friendship.

What were some of the highlights of 2009 for you?

The View Finder

Regarding yesterday's post many of you asked about French Husband's grandmother.

No, I never received anything from her velvet box of jewels.
and no she wasn't upset about French Husband marrying an American woman.

I believe a few things were fogging her view when I came into the scene.... Her age, her history distorted by illness, and family matters. I was not the problem.

She loved French Husband. I do believe she would have loved me if her view had not been out of focused. Time was not on our side.
More importantly my French language skills were next to none. Communication is hard enough with words-- let alone without them.

Time renders a different view. Forgiveness is in understanding. And at the end of the day a velvet box is not what matters. But that doesn't mean I would not have liked one of her beauties... or for that matter anything in her house! Oh what a house.

The funny thing is... the memories I hold strongly of sitting by her bedside that day are: The bell on her night stand, the blue satin ribbon she played with, her pressed monogram bed linens, the porcelain cup that held her chocolate, and Yann telling her he was going to marry me.... Yes those details shine brighter in my memory.... I am luckier for that.

Photos taken by my daughter Chelsea in St. Malo where we spent Christmas with French Husband's family.

P.S. The children in the photo are my French grand niece and nephew.

 

He kissed the ring before placing it on my finger....

I never wanted a diamond ring when French Husband and I married.
or maybe it was because we did not have money to spend on a wedding ring.

It is true that French Husband's Grandmother gave out diamonds from her velvet box of jewels when her grandchildren were to marry. When French Husband told me that a diamond was waiting for him inside his Grandmother's velvet box.... well the idea of it seemed like a scene out of a movie. French Husband was her favorite, or at least that is what he told me...
I remember going to her big old house, filled from the floor to the ceiling with antiques. It did not matter that I did not speak or understand a word of French-- her home was a wonderland of beautiful things, leading me to distraction, most of the time I was to busy dreaming to listen.
Though I do remember the day French Husband told her that we were going to be married. Dressed in her white cotton, fine lace nightgown, she sat in her bed drinking hot chocolate in one hand and in the other twirled the satin ribbon of her bed jacket. She did not bat an eye. French Husband repeated what he said hoping she would bring out her velvet box. But when she put her cup down and rang the little bedside bell for her maid of twenty some years to fetch her some more whipped cream. French Husband was surprised, he leaned over to me, "I don't think she understood what I said."
She sipped her hot chocolate slowly. French Husband waited.
"I never wanted a diamond," I whispered in his ear.

Until the 24th of December 2009. While strolling along in the heart of Paris a velvet box appeared in an antique shop's window. An eighteen century wedding band with old European cut diamonds. I put my finger to the window...

 French Husband whispered in my ear, "At last."

The Christmas Gift

As Chelsea and Sacha ran towards the metro to go to the Louvre I sent off a quick prayer, more like a demand, it is the way I pray now... "Keep them safe, surround them with your light, Amen." Then as they vanished with energetic freedom I turned towards French Husband. "Alone... you and I in Paris! What do you want to do?"

He grinned a silly grin which caused me to wonder if he meant something naughty, "In the car?" I assumed out loud.
"No, let's go buy you a Christmas gift. Do you have any shop in mind?" A tad bit disappointed that my assumption did not even get a rise. I repeated what I have hinted at a million times before: The gift of a handyman.

You see I have told him that the best gift would be to have a handyman twice a month.
But that man of mine rolls his eyes as if I am asking for the Crown jewels, or like I am thinking something other than tools in a box. It is disheartening. Though I keep hinting "Handy man Services", yet it never seems to be what Santa wants to bring me.

We walked around the Left Bank in Paris while I pretended to look for a Christmas gift. I peeked into windows aware that French Husband was hoping something caught my eye. "Do you like that? What about that? Oh that is pretty don't you think?" I was aware that I was disappointing him by my shrugs. I told him I was happy, that it was the best gift to be doing what we are doing, together. He nodded, but I could see he wasn't buying it as my Christmas gift.

.... and then something really, truly caught my eye. I stopped in my tracks. French Husband bumped into me, and at the same time saw what I saw and whispered in my ear, "At last."

to be continued tomorrow...

(Photos by my daughter Chelsea.)

 

A View from the Eiffel Tower

 

A view from on top of the Eiffel Tower: Champs de Mars, on a very foggy day.

The Eiffel Tower looking straight up.

Under the Eiffel Tower heading towards the south side, to hike up the stairs.

You still gotta pay.

The last time I hiked up (The stairs go to the second landing. To go to the top you need to take the elevator.) I was with my brother Marty and his daughter, my oldest niece Patti. The first time my brothers Mathew and Zane came to France they hiked up without me since I was seven months pregnant. Instead I took a nap in the Champs de Mars, under a tree.

Another view from the top of the Eiffel Tower: Invalides.

 

Intense ironwork and a million rivets... (Rivets right?)

 

A view from the top of the Eiffel Tower: The river Seine running through the heart of Paris.

Champs de Mars during winter.

 

Looking through the Eiffel Tower.

 

 

 

 

The view finder.

 

 

A view from the top of the Eiffel Tower.

All the Photos are by my daughter Chelsea.

 
 

French Food and the American Pig in a Blanket

France and food go hand in hand. France could be called Feast, it is a fitting name. The French love the ritual of dining, feasting and food. The entire French culture is surrounded by food. Those of us living here live our lives by the French food clock. Breakfast Lunch and Dinner...and everything food related in between. The scripture reading: "There is a time and purpose for everything under heaven..." really meant to say: There is a time and table for every food under the Eiffel Tower.

This is to say that if I see another thing to eat between now and lets say the next two hundred years I am going to burst. 

...and as I type my 80 year old mother in law (who wears three inch high heels and lipstick,) is getting ready to go to the fresh food market!!!!!!!

Help me Rhonda....

The Twelve Days of Christmas have started... and the feasting is no way over. Oh my... French and food go hand in hand, and French food and Corey go hand to mouth. I have got to learn to say no.... or maybe this means I have become French?

On this Christmas Day

On this Christmas Day,
Joy!
On this Christmas Day,
Hope!
On this Christmas Day,
Love!
We are the gift! May we have the courage to give it lovingly to one another.

Thank you for your heart felt comments yesterday. We are not alone. We are one and the same... Thank you for sharing your tender thoughts and hopeful feelings about Christmas with me and with the other readers of Tongue in Cheek. If I could I would reach through this computer screen and hug each and everyone of you!
May this Christmas bless us with Joy, Hope and Love!

Christmas Blue

How I wish I could sit by your side,

Hold you hand,

Smile into your eyes, and to

Have your breath moisten life into the emptiness.

How I wish I could.

Climb upon your lap, wrapping your steadfast goodness about me,

and have your laughter reassure me, "Corey, you sound like you are right here!"

Again and again, you often said when I would call home.

Though far from you I stand, your spirit laps against me from a distant sea.

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As we leave Paris, with a million memories stirred from the time when we first lived here, and head towards Rennes to celebrate Christmas with French Husband's family... I realize why I did not set up a Christmas tree at home. Why I have been in denial. Why I have not felt 'Christmas' for the first time in my life... why I am having a hard time pushing this feeling that wants to engulfs me....

Delayed grief. 

Now I know why Christmas can be a sad day. I miss my Dad, I miss my Mom, I miss my four brothers, my Sister in Laws, my nieces and nephews... I miss my family in the States, the popcorn balls, the family party with my million cousins at the hall, the aroma of my Mother's cooking love, the Christmas carols in English, Jingle Bells, My Aunts desserts, the whole enchilada and it is a fact I cannot deny this Christmas after 22 years. I will be okay... just a few tears here and there... I am thankful for I have and what I have been given, and I am tearful and that is just what it is...Life abroad, Christmas time and the whole enchilada without meat.

Have you ever felt blue at Christmas time?

Five Red Beret Winners

 





What is on top of your Christmas Tree?

 A snake skin, intertwined lovebirds, an elf, a gold tin star, a gaudy pink star, an angel, a bow, a top hat, a Radko Santa tree topper with two sunburst reflectors, a stained glass star, A dove wearing a crown, A tarnished tin angel, A star made of capiz shell, peace on earth banner, an owl, a mishape felt Santa's hat, an Eiffel tower, a naked baby..... The list was varied...and like me some of you did not put one up for one reason or another. Whatever is on top or not on your tree may this Christmas crown your heart with peace and joy!

The 5 random Winners are: (Well the first winner wasn't random... the poem was two clever to let slide by.)

 

1) A poem

(Hummed to the Twelve Days of Christmas)
Twelve Gifts to Buy
Eleven Cards to Write
Ten Cakes to Bake
Nine Wreaths to Make
Eight Bows to Tie
Seven Gifts to Ship
Six Cookie Trays
Five Extra Pounds
Four Christmas Teas
Three Office Parties
Two Holiday Dinners
and One REDDD BERET

Laurie





2) A red winged black bird's nest

I had a red beret when I was 5. I'd love to have another...

The top of my tree has a red winged black bird's nest perched on it. In fact my whole tree has real bird's nests camped all over it. Most were given to me by my good friend Janet, from Artois, who was always coming upon nests at her family farm.

Nan Tofanelli

3) A gold star

A gold star sits atop my 2ft tree, I too was not up to putting up a tree but gave in and bought the smallest fresh tree I could find, it makes me smile just like the idea of wearing a red beret for Christmas. 

Pearl

4) ...the feeling of missing someone,

Alas my day began with a call from my son saying he was snowed in in Europe and would not be coming home for Christmas....... the star atop my tree is not beaming as brightly now. Next year I'm going to leave the tree in the forest and watch the star twinkle in the sunlight!

bj the canuck

5) RED BERET

At the top of my Christmas tree is a Angel tree topper that was my Nana's. It used to light up, but it hasn't worked in a very long time. Every time I think of it, I think of her. I remember it was on her little, beautifully decorated to the nines tree that sat upon a table in her tiny apartment every Christmas season. She made a lot of her own ornaments. One of my favorite things was a faux metal skating rink with little metal figurines. She made the rink by covering a thin plate with tinfoil. I have so many memories of playing with her Christmas display and looking up at that shining bright tree with the Angel on top. So much love.

Kelly

(Please send my your addresses by email so I can send you your Red Beret!)

Photos: Chelsea and Sacha in Paris yesterday.

Thanks for sharing your Christmas Decor with me!

 

The Champs Elysees last night as we drove down to the crazy roundabout...

Red Beret at Christmas

We are on our way to Paris for a few days, and then French Husband's family in Rennes for Christmas.

Hence our Christmas tree is still under the stairwell... I told our friends who are staying at our home for Christmas, "If you want a Christmas Tree ours is hiding under the stairs." They thought I was teasing. Then I added, "The red wine polka dots stains on the chimney are leftovers from Santa last year." They looked at each other than at me, "Corey are you okay?"

"I have never felt better. I survived not putting up a Christmas tree, and left the red wine stains without guilt. God it feels good to be free to be myself even when it isn't often perfect," then I added, "Anyway, the tree is under the stairs in case you want it, and if you want to clean the wine stains read my yesterday's comments on my blog.... there is good advice about stain removal."

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Anyway I am giving five red berets away because Christmas time is coming, we are in Paris, and because YOU are so very generous to read and respond to my blog after all these years! Thank you for your amazing friendship!

If you would like a chance at a red beret add your name to the comment section and let me know what is on top of your Christmas tree. (Maybe next year it will be a red beret!)