briller
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
My mother-in-law and Jackie. Photo taken at the time this story was written, in 2006
briller
bree ay
to shine
My mother-in-law and I are lounging on the back porch, sipping le coca and eating pistachios. We chat about tout et rien, while admiring so many wildflowers that have sprung up across the lawn.
Michèle-France has borrowed her son's T-shirt; the words on the front read "Señor Frog's." Under the title, there are four caricatures—all grenouilles. Two of the frogs have on sunglasses, the other two, sun hats. All four frogs are wearing striped swim trunks. My belle-mère's pearl necklace is peeking out of the T-shirt; the combination of frog-T-shirt-with-pearl-accent makes an amusing, if unintended, fashion statement.
"Il fait chaud ici," my belle-mère says, pinching her wool pants. "I don't know what to wear this time of year."
Sitting beside her, wearing a tank top and corduroys, I can relate. "Moi non plus!"
"En avril, ne te découvre pas d'un fil ..." my mother-in-law begins to recite a popular dicton.
I beat her to the finish: "En mai fais ce qu'il te plaît!"
As we laugh I catch a closer glimpse of my belle-mère. Michèle-France's fingernails are painted a glossy red. They are not too long, not too short: simply elegant. The string of gold beads around her wrist adds a delicate touch. My own nails are chipped and rugged. I would rather take a nap than paint them.
"Mothers don't always have time for les petits soins," my belle-mère sympathizes. Her words assure me she's no judge. She knows I am not lazy. Her eyes lock on the wildflowers as her thoughts take her back to early days, to rearing three turbulent children. "Only one year apart in age! First Jean-Marc, then Cécile, then little Jacques." She shakes her head, tapping it comically for effect. Her exaggerated gestures are humorous but, like a clown's tears, they distract us from the suffering heart within. I know she didn't cope as well as she would have liked to. When will she forgive herself?
"Nice shoes..." she offers. Our thoughts drift back to the present.
"These old things?" I tease my mother-in-law, who laughs.
"Well I've had THESE for eons!" Michèle-France retorts.
I look down at her patent-leather loafers, as if seeing them for the first time. Suddenly, they represent so much to me: a lifetime or two (my son's and daughter's), the duration of our belle-mère/belle-fille friendship, and the number of years that I've known my husband. The dainty loafers with the chic square buckle have appeared at marriages and baptisms, as well as funerals and hospital stays. I've seen them buffed, I've seen them battered. But today, oh happy day, how they shine!
.
Your Edits here please. Thanks for pointing out any grammar, punctuation, or story-construction problems here in the comments box. On the other hand, if it's a smooth read, thanks for letting me know that, too!
French Vocabulary (under construction... anything missing?)
la grenouille = frog
la belle-mère = mother-in-law
tout et rien = everything and nothing
un dicton = a saying
en avril, ne te découvre pas d'un fil, En mai fais ce qu'il te plaît = literally "in April, don't remove a string (of fabric); in May do as you please"; Note: this saying hints at spring weather. A warm day in April can fool people into wearing less clothing (and catching a cold when cooler weather sneaks in!) May temperatures are more stable and one can "do as one pleases".
les petits soins = fussings (little self-care treats)
la belle-fille (f) = daughter-in-law
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It's perfect. I wouldn't change a word, comma or a sentence. Any mother can look into her heart and wonder the exact same thing. XO
Posted by: Luci | Friday, April 27, 2012 at 01:58 PM
Hi Kristin, I caught one typo. The rest are suggestions.
"the combination frog T-shirt-with-pearl-accent"
Should there be an "of" after combination?
"thoughts take her back to early days"
"her" early days makes it clearer, I think. Otherwise it could mean both yours and her early days.
"like clown's tears". like "a" clown's tears, perhaps.
"I'd seen then buffed, I'd seen them battered" Change "then" to "them". Do you think "I've" would sound better than "I'd"?
Amicalement,
Divya
Posted by: Divya | Friday, April 27, 2012 at 02:13 PM
In paragraph 2, the final sentence reads: “the combination frog T-shirt-with-pearl-accent makes an amusing, if unintended, fashion statement.” You might want it to read “the combination OF the frog T-shirt…” - Ray
Posted by: Ray Stoddard | Friday, April 27, 2012 at 02:59 PM
Should there be a tilde in señor frog?
Posted by: leslie | Friday, April 27, 2012 at 03:04 PM
In paragraph 5: Did you mean chipped and ragged (instead of rugged)?
Posted by: Kathryn S. Winslow | Friday, April 27, 2012 at 03:13 PM
Hi Kristin,
Yet another great (and smooth) read. I'd love to see that T-shirt.
Regarding the sentence 'I know she didn't cope as well as she would have liked to': this doesn't sound as though it refers exclusively to the past. Would 'I know she hadn't coped...' be closer to what you mean?
Regards.
Posted by: Sushil | Friday, April 27, 2012 at 03:20 PM
Bonjour Kristin. I have just read your "frog" post (I've been on deadline aussi) and while I understand some of the corrections offered, they seem much too formal and I like the chatty way you tell the story of sitting and visiting with your belle-mere. I would not change a thing!
Priscilla
New Orleans, Louisiana
Posted by: Priscilla Fleming Vayda | Friday, April 27, 2012 at 03:27 PM
Hi Honey,
Should be 'them buffed' - not then buffed.
XOXO
MOM
Posted by: JULES GREER - PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO | Friday, April 27, 2012 at 03:30 PM
Bonjour Kristin,
I love the story --- it is "folksy" and I would leave it alone. It is sort of sad & bittersweet. What Grand mere hasn't had these moments of reflection? We all have those coulda, shoulda & woulda moments.
Yeah! No rain on the Oregon coast!
Stay well.
Posted by: Faye Stampe, Gleneden Beach, OR | Friday, April 27, 2012 at 04:02 PM
Kristin: On the other hand, if it's a smooth read, thanks for letting me know that, too!
Julie: Your writing is as smooth as the creamy peanut butter on my morning toast. Oops!...how'd tears get on my peanutty toast?
Posted by: julie camp | Friday, April 27, 2012 at 04:36 PM
Thank you all for these edits. I am working on them now (how are things looking?)
Kathryn, I did mean rugged (as in not smooth or flat due to a bumpy surface).
Divya and Ray, thanks for the needed word (of).
Leslie, glad for the tilde!
Priscilla, so happy your feel this way. I did put in a few needed fixes, though!
Sushil, I think you are right about that. I am going to have another look after dinner.... (low blood suger = foggy mind!)
Luci, Julie and Faye, I appreciate your warm feedback and the this one is good to go message. So helpful!
Mom, Yeah! an edit from Mom!
P.S. Is this story still looking good to go? Hopefully no new typos have been introduced in the editing stage. Yikes!
Blossoming in Provence:
http://www.amazon.com/o/asin/1467929794/mdj-20
French Word-A-Day http://french-word-a-day.com
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Friday, April 27, 2012 at 05:54 PM
I might say "two of the frogs wear sunglasses" rather than "have on sunglasses." Nice story!
Posted by: Mary G | Friday, April 27, 2012 at 05:59 PM
Beautiful story, Kristin; I'm so glad you chose to include it! It is apparent that you and your mother-in-law have a special relationship. I have been nurturing my relationship with my young daughter-in-law in hopes that a bond will grow and strengthen over the years; one that she will come to cherish as much as I do. Your story gives me hope!
My only edit: I was a little confused at first, until I re-read the ending, who's shoes you were referring to, yours or your mother-in-laws. Perhaps stating 'her patent leather loafers' would clear up any confusion for others.
Posted by: Vicki, San Francisco Bay area | Friday, April 27, 2012 at 06:12 PM
Vicky, thanks, I had wondered if her shoes my be confused with my own. I have taken out *the familiar shoes* and added *her shoes*. Re *familiar* - I want it to be clear that the shoes have been around for some time.
Mary, I, too, stumbled on those words during the re-write. I think I was trying to avoid using the word *wear* too many times. I think I will leave as is--unless someone else highly recommends the change!
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Friday, April 27, 2012 at 06:56 PM
Wonderful story and one that brings out your and your belle-mère's personalities so beautifully. I am not a bit of help with editing except that did see the tiny correction your mother made and I,too, was confused for an instant about the shoes at the very end. I'm excited about this new book. Bon courage et bises, Cynthia
Posted by: Cynthia Lewis in Salisbury, Eastern Shore of Maryland | Friday, April 27, 2012 at 07:26 PM
Thanks, Cynthia, for this latest read-through. So helpful. I am wondering if the last paragraph is still confusing (as to who owns the patent-leather shoes).
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Friday, April 27, 2012 at 07:34 PM
Hi dear Kristin,
This is so touching and such a loving tribute to the relationship between your belle mere and her belle fille that I was completely taken away.Didn't notice anything except the wonderful emotion your words created!
Just excellent!
Love, Natalia XO
Posted by: Natalia | Friday, April 27, 2012 at 09:06 PM
Chere Kristin,
You have opened Pandora's box asking for edits. Frankly, I think you should leave it as is because it was very easy to understand and had a lovely tone to it. To have a relationship like that with one's belle mere is formidable. Continue to treasure it and forget the edits on this one. Feeling and emotion are so much more important.
Posted by: Diane Young | Friday, April 27, 2012 at 09:30 PM
perfect.
The more you say in stories about your belle-mere, the more I grow to love her.
Posted by: Sarah LaBelle near Chicago | Friday, April 27, 2012 at 09:51 PM
Beautiful story. I like it as is too! xoxo
Posted by: Karen from Phoenix | Friday, April 27, 2012 at 11:31 PM
Kristin, I think t-shirts have "necks," not collars, but The story is so poignant. Having had a belle-mere like yours, and trying to be one such to my beautiful, gracious belle-fille (did I get that right?), I love, love this story.
Posted by: Cyndy | Friday, April 27, 2012 at 11:51 PM
Je ne vois pas les grenouilles sur la chemise de ta belle-mère, cachées sous le corps de ta belle Jackie?
I love this story, about the beautiful relationship between your belle-mère and you, chère Kristin. My old-fashioned MIL had treated me like a child to be reprimanded :-( Now, it is fun and laughters when I get together with my two beautiful belles-filles. We can change the tradition.
I was also confused, thinking your belle-mère was complimenting on your shoes. Perhaps, IMHO, if you had added something about her eyes looking down her legs, when she said "Nice shoes..."
Kristin, your literal translation of the dicton "En Avril, ne te découvre pas d'un fil et en Mai, fais ce qu'il te plaît" does not help people understand its meaning. I've learned that the dicton is based on the weather in April and May. With the unpredictable weather in April, one should still dress warmly to avoid catching a cold. But in May with more stable climate, one can do as he/she pleases.
Bon weekend à toute ta famille.
Posted by: Millie | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 02:18 AM
Hi Kristin-- The corrections/ comments provided by everyone before me cover all that needs attention. It's agreat piece. So here's what I'm wondering---I've been to Puerto Vallarta many times, and there's a Senor Frog's located about every 50 yards along the water/boardwalk place that they have just recently finished revamping. That walk along the shore is lovely. Anyway, did your mom bring that tee shirt to Jean-Marc from PV? (I've never seen a Senor Frog's in France!) It just struck me as a neat little connection between your mom and your husband's mom.
(from Davis, CA, on a spectacular spring day)
Posted by: Mary | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 02:49 AM
I agree. Comments are appropriate. It is a story that will pull at heart strings of young and old daughters and mothers. Marriage is a lovely family affair.
Posted by: Shanne | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 03:59 AM
I know I'm late to the party, but this is a lovely story and, as edited, is perfect. As usual, tugs at the heart, but with a smile.
A partir de ce moment, ne change rien.
Posted by: Jeri | Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 11:41 PM
Hello there!
This story made me mist up. Well done. Only one mistake to be found after the deluge of edits. Señor Frog's should have an apostrophe, as it is possessive, as in Chez Monsieur Frog. I even checked the Señor Frog's website, linked below, to confirm.
Hugs, R
[Michèle-France has borrowed her son's T-shirt; the words on the front read "Señor Frogs."]
http://www.senorfrogs.com/
Posted by: Rebecca Q T | Sunday, April 29, 2012 at 01:31 AM
What a lovely story on the nuance of Mother/daughter-in-law, relationship.
Was wondering if the French diction should also have Avril and Mai, the A and M in capitals?
Posted by: Rina Rao. | Monday, April 30, 2012 at 09:59 AM
Rina, good question. I double checked, to make sure months are not capitalized. Here is more info chez Laura Lawless:
http://french.about.com/od/vocabulary/a/calendar.htm
Rebecca, thanks so much for that needed apostrophe!
Mary, The T-shirt was a gift from my sister, for Jean-Marc. I loved the connection you made between my Mom and my mother-in-law, via the T-shirt!
Millie, I did not get a picture of my belle-mère in the frog shirt (missed opportunity, that was!). Thanks for your note about the saying. I do need to put in the clearer translation. You do wonderful job of clarifying the meaning. Does my rewrite read clearly?
Cyndy, you are right about that (I had been looking for the right word. That said, I kind of like collar--now that I have read it this way so many times.
Natalia, Diane, Sarah, Karen, Shanne and Jeri -- thanks for your feedback!
Blossoming in Provence:
http://www.amazon.com/o/asin/1467929794/mdj-20
French Word-A-Day http://french-word-a-day.com
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Monday, April 30, 2012 at 01:42 PM
It's looking GREAT Kristi. Yes, the aforementioned "of" and "then" caught my eye.
Posted by: Candice | Friday, May 04, 2012 at 04:10 PM