This event happened this past July. Life has been hectic, particularly with my French classes, so I’ve not had the chance to tell this story. Not that I haven’t wanted to, because it is a good one.
On occasion I’m asked where I’d like to travel. My first response is “Nowhere. I’m where I want to be.” And that is true.
I was fortunate over the years to have many opportunities to travel. With a global career and various responsibilities in the pharmaceutical industry (and three years of work following my undergraduate degree in the incentive travel industry), seeing the world became possible. Then, with personal time, I went to the places often yet unexplored. As much as I have enjoyed all these places – especially Australia, New Zealand and Japan – my most favorite country consistently remained France. It’s hard to describe why, but probably due to cultural issues with a French-Canadian mother and ancestry, France is comfortable and any visit was always a pleasurable experience. So I’m happy to be right here and honestly, I have no wanderlust or strong desire to be anywhere else.
So my travel is now limited to visiting family in the US. I’ve decided that barring pandemic blockades, I will make a trip home once a year. My mother is now 96 and as long as she is alive, I will make this a priority. The only issue for me traveling is leaving my cat.
I have found that she gets lonely when I am away. When I return from a trip no matter how long, I am met with crying, her way of letting me know that I was missed. At first I had people come in to feed her, but obviously this wasn’t enough. So, when possible, I have tried to recruit individuals to stay in my home and keep her company. This has mixed impact because she is a rescue and for the first six months of her life, lived in the wild. The result is that it takes her a long time to trust and she is easily intimidated. Still, having someone here gives me comfort knowing at least she has company and the potential for a new friend.
I met Zandra about 20 years ago. We had similar jobs but with different companies and would often meet at industry meetings. We also sat on two boards together. When I first met her, I discovered she too is a francophile and this created a bond that has led to a lovely friendship.
Zandra has been very aggressive in her study of the French language continuing to this day with a private tutor, book clubs, etc. She leaves no stone unturned and loves to explore the country.
Excited by my move, Zandra first visited me a few months after I arrived in France in the Spring of 2019. She returned in March 2020 just as the pandemic was kicking in. Getting home was a nightmare for her and her visit was cut short, but that is another story.
With pandemic restrictions easing up earlier this year, I proposed she come stay while I went back to the US. Fortunately she was game and arrived two days before I departed. Because she has nerve damage affecting her leg eliminating her ability to safely drive, I knew I was going to have to orchestrate her social life while here and decided to throw a party to introduce her to the people I know. It’s a good thing I did.
The evening prior to my departure, I invited all my neighbors and friends I had come to know largely through my French classes. My invitation not only asked them to come, but with a request to look after Zandra while I was away and schedule outings so that she wouldn’t be isolated and alone. The party was a great success with 24 people attending. Obviously they were game.
I departed at 3:30 AM the next morning as my flight was out of Toulouse at 7 AM.
That same morning, Zandra got up, had her breakfast then decided to take a walk to the boulangerie. Returning home, she found the key didn’t work and she couldn’t get in. Thank God I had introduced to her to my neighbors the evening prior because when she knocked on the door of my neighbor, Martine, she had a friend who knew who she was and went into action.
Behind my house is a passage to the studio below my terrasse. Martine went to the passage, climbed the wall into the yard of my neighbor Annemarie, then using a ladder climbed up to the terrasse. Fortunately the back door was open and Martine made her way into the house to get to the front door. As hard as she tried, she still couldn’t get it open.
With Zandra standing out front, it soon attracted the attention of other neighbors and before you know it, there was a cluster of women trying to discern what to do next. One of the windows in my kitchen opens to the street, so rumor has it some of them were climbing into the kitchen to make their own assessments. I wish there were pictures of that!
Long story short, a locksmith soon arrived from Carcassonne and discovered the lock broken. He replaced it and all was well until it came time for payment. His wireless payment system didn’t like Zandra’s American credit cards so ultimately Martine made the payment and Zandra reimbursed her with cash. Zandra soon discovered that while it appeared her cards didn’t work, in fact they did. Hence there were THREE payments – not one. So the locksmith business owner decided to refund them all causing more hassles that took a couple of months to resolve.
Zandra wrote me an email and her opening words were: “Don’t worry. Everything is ok.” Obviously I panicked a bit until I read on and then I was laughing. It was a true comedy of errors. Of all days for the lock to break! She sent the pictures posted here of the women congregating and further events. I’m glad it became a laughing matter. I’m told the story quickly got all over the village.
Fortunately Zandra’s visit had no more incidents and I am delighted to say my friends and neighbors came through beautifully. From lunches, dinners, coffee, a visit to the Mirepoix market, and my friend’s Ed & Karen’s son William’s 18th birthday party, Zandra was well looked after. She said this was one of the best trips ever for her to France. Having these personal interactions made the trip and now she has many friends in Montréal and Carcassonne who are anxious for her return. She’s already looking ahead to 2022. Hopefully we can make it work so I can make my annual visit to the US as well as the possibility of a tour in the Fall to Burgundy that was planned for friends in the Fall of 2020 but had to be postponed due to the pandemic. Stay tuned.
I am blessed to have great friends. While I’ve reported that my neighbors have been great and very welcoming, this event solidified our friendship.
Love the story. I am a friend of Zandra and she bought one of my paintings. I frequent france often and exhibit in Paris the last two years. Will love to continue reading yor blog:)
To know her is to love her. We are lucky people! Welcome to my blog, Lisa!
Beautiful story, and friendships. thanks Tomme du Berry 🙂
Merci! 😏
Thanks for sharing Tom – good story and good friends indeed!
Thanks, Daniel!
Hi Tom!
Thanks for the heartfelt story. I’m so happy for you. It seems you have found that place often referred to as “home sweet home.” My wife Barbara and I moved to Black Mountain, North Carolina in 2018. Living in the mountains of western Carolina we now have what we call “the high ridge view” of life. We really enjoy reading your blog.
Happy Holidays!
Your High School Classmate
Michael Smith
Thanks, Mike. Maybe you can make it over for our reunion in 2024! And if not then, just let me know. It would be great to catch up. Enjoy NC!
Great sign of humanity. Hope.
As always, reading your blog leaves me feeling taller, thinner and happier! Keep telling your stories.
Thank you! I am glad it does. Stay tuned. I am writing two more this week – catching up on recent events.
Fun story. Envious….
Zandra and I are good friends through French classes. She had me laughing Shari g this story by email and during a Zoom call while in Montreal. I’ve heard so much about you and really enjoyed this blog!
Thank you,Theresa. No wonder the story circulated throughout the village! But better a happy story than a sad one…. And, as reported, it brings people together which it has done. I am now on a first-name basis with most of my neighbors. It’s only took three years… ☺️
We so loved meeting Zandra, and look forward to her next visit!
You write so well, Tom 😘😘
Thank you, Karen. And thank you and Ed for taking good care of my friend while I was away. She loved the time spent with you all.
What a lovely story!
I’ve not seen Zandra for some while but would love to visit with you both again, always a great time!
Thanks, Dave! Yes, it has been a long time since we were all together. We’ll have to orchestrate something one day.
Tom, great story!!
May you, family and friends have a blessed Christmas!
Thanks, Greg! And to you and family. Safe moving!
Such a comedy of errors. Tom, you have set such a good example making images of your new home that your friends follow your example. We are all your acolytes, honoring your keen eye and warm insights. Hope I get to
meet Zandra some day. Kristin
❤️
Hey, from The Upstate of South Carolina – Greenville to my 1969 Catholic Central High School Alumni ” Languedoc ” Tom……………
Wow Tom, another great short story of your continuing life in France. Your story was a positive refreshing break from our American Political divide horror story here in our United States.
Donna and I cannot wait to see if our 1969 Class Reunion in 2024 with you and your friends / neighbors in Languedoc will come to be. We plan on attending. Blessed Merry Christmas and a safe New Year 2022 already ************Mark J. Livernois ’69
Thanks, Mark! Happy holidays to you and family. And yes, I hope to see you in 2024. Regardless of the number, we will make it happen.
Tom, I will ask my Livernois Family Historian Cousin about our French connections area in France for my Livernois Relatives.
Years ago he published a French History Geneology of Stephen Livernois Family in France…………….
******Keep up your very interesting / informative blog stories*****
Happy New Year 2022 too!
In French it is ???
Mark
I have been able to find information regarding my mother’s ancestral line and they trace to Touraine, Burgundy and Champagne. My father’s side isn’t quite clear, but there is a Berry region (a former province, now part of Burgundy).
Regarding translations, stay tuned. I am catching up and have two more stories to tell – hopefully today and tomorrow. The topic is covered.
Just.❤.this.story, Tom. What a wonderful community and great friends you have in France! The photos and descriptions make me smile. We want to visit you sooo much. Your Kitty is a beauty too. Xxoo, Marilyn
Thank you, Marilyn! I look forward to the day.
Lovely story!
How delightful! You related the “event”so very well. I too have the privilege of calling Zandra a friend and heard this particular story from her. I first met her close to 20 yrs. ago at the B&N French group.
I would love to follow your blog, especially since I am also of French Canadian descent with roots originally in Provence, specifically Avignon. So, you have gone full circle by returning — you “landed well” with genuine people. Bravo!
Thank you, Margot! If you haven’t already, just sign up at the bottom of any post page providing your email address and you will be advised of any future posts.
Yes, I have come full circle so to speak, and it makes me proud to think I actually share blood with this beautiful country and cultural legacy though distant by a few centuries. Yet the French culture remains strong in Canada having evolved in its own, unique ways.
Growing up in the Detroit area, just across the river from Canada, we had television and radio in both French & English, and of course I had a mother and grandparents (on both sides) even more closely connected to the French roots played out in language (with my maternal grandmother and paternal great grandmother – on whose birthday I was in fact born), but also in terms of food and recipes handed down. So here I sit today assimilating to the extent possible the language and customs. It is making for a great retirement.