FRENCH WORD-A-DAY

Bonjour

You may enjoy France magazine. It is a wonderful source of information and stories about France. I read a few pages every morning "avec cafe au lait" to dream of places I'd like to visit or revisit those I love all before starting my day.

mois ausi, j'adore le caviar d'aubergines. C'est aussi connu en Roumanie.

Only yesterday I had the experience of trying to help someone, believing that what I was doing was right way to go, only to later discover that all my good intentions were to no avail. Dropping off stuff for my son, still asleep after a late-night work shift, I happened upon his roomate's parents, in from N.Y. out of concern for their child's health. They were trying to find a doctor or medical center and were having no luck, not being familiar with the city. I offered to call my doctor. After a couple of calls and finally speaking with the office manager of the clinic, I was able to get an appointment for their son, within the hour. The father had said "never mind" when the first attempt did not work. I, caught up in my helpful mode, pursued and got the appointment. Giving directions I left, after being told they did not need me to show them where it was. I even went to the medical center waiting for them, to make sure they got in ok...they never came. Later my son told me they decided to go somewhere else. (He "hemmed and hawed," "uh-ing," and not sure what they did, but finally told me they did not make the appointment.)

At first I was dumbfounded but after a little thought, realized, they didn't really want my help. The indicators had been there, but I had not seen them. In my zeal to help out I kept pushing until I was able to get their child an appoitnment w/a doctor. Why didn't they go? I think I know, but more than that, it was a good lesson in realizing that even our best intentions are sometimes not what people either want or need.

We can only try. Later, you may hear, as you did Kristin, how much your efforts meant to your mother-in-law. She knew how much your heart was open to her and your caring was the comfort, whether she believed as you did or not.

I hope that I will be more conscious of what people are saying and not too overly involved in trying to "help" when it is not wanted. Sometimes it is difficult to know the difference!

I am really not sure that one can actually bring someone else out of a dark period, but I know that when you, yourself are experiencing those seemingly hopeless days, it's essential to keep listening to messages of hope from those who love you. Words of encouragement stay with you forever. You've acquired this trait from your mother and you use it well.

I've often wondered how the oldest generation of French citizens manage to hold on to their faith, given the horrors that they witnessed with the occupation.

I love the autumnal colors in your photo today. And the video was interesting to me in that she made it seem so easy - using rudimentary utensils (I thought she would cut her hand while pounding the garlic so close to the knife - yikes) and then pulling out that Williams Sonoma type electric hand mixer in the end. I will try that recipe but I doubt the children will eat it unless I blindfold them.

Karen
Maryland, USA (following your Dad's comment)

Chère Pat: thanks for an excellent illustration on how helping, no matter how innocent our intent, is sometime just not what the other wants (or, in some cases, needs).

Karen: loved your description of the video -- yes "rudimentary" is the word I was looking for!

Diane: still giggling from your darkness-chasing remedy: go out an pulverize a garlic clove, as Violet does in today's video!

Jina: thanks for your translation!

Jeanne: caviar d'aubergine has a mild and lovely taste. Try it! Some people, it seems, add "fromage frais" to the mixture. There must be several delicious variations. My mother-in-law served quail's eggs alongside, and little toasts.

Oh my, and we LOVE YOU, Jules!

I have been in a little bit of a blue myself this morning. The words from all of you have lifted me right out of it.

Jules you are so understanding of evryone and everything around you and I consider myself so lucky to know you through this blog of your dear daughter.

Kristin has been inspirational to me too. I am struggling with learning the French language, your almost daily injection of new words and descriptions helps me tremendously. Thank you.

Kristin, the colours and textures in your picture of the day are tremendous and I recommend all your readers to have a long good look at it, they won't be disappointed.

Best wishes to you all.

A super delightful post chere Kristin, yes, we all have hearts regardless of our beliefs. So very extra special of your mother-in-law to thank you.
I am going to study the aubergine recipe extra carefully as just last week I bought some from the farmer's market. As veggies go, eggplants are the worst, healthwise that is, however, boy do they ever taste good. I think after the eggplant one must quickly try your velvet leek soup (which I also tried last Saturday...yummm...merci) to cleanse the body from eggplant.

Love as always to you and your family.

xoxo

Reading about Eggplant Caviar took me back many years. My used to make it and as a child, thought it was awful tasting. As an adult, I wished that I had her recipe. I'm going to post one that is very similar to what I remember. It'll be on one of my blogs: mim4art.vox.com Thanks for sharing, Kristi, and you, too, Jules.

Oh Kristin, your post brought tears today. How fully I have had to learn this lesson myself, especially in my younger years of great zeal but less wisdom. I saw someone's comment that 'G-d must love them.' That made me smile. I know what she (sister?) means, and that she's indicating that we can't take ourselves too seriously. In exactly the same way, though, we ought to remember that G-d doesn't take US too seriously when we're babes, and still learning. He is always just, and I believe that He holds us accountable for only the amount of wisdom that we have had time to amass. You learned and responded in the most Christlike manner possible, empathizing with the hurts of someone He loves, being 'Christ' to her in an immediate basis and not just asked her to "go, be warmed and filled" (be satisfied with lipservice advice and comfort only).

I so relate to the experience of 'searching in my bag of tricks and finding it empty' (except for prayer, always available and always effective). I *love* the analogy of putting STICKS in your heart to make it bleed for the person to whom you were trying to minister and bring comfort and resolution. Would you mind my using that?

Like the others, the more I know about you, the more I appreciate who you are and G-d's calling in your life. :)

I realize this is off topic, and I apologize, but feel I must say something. Now that you have had one litter of Braise's puppies to sell (I am assuming they were sold, but not my point is still relevant even if not), please consider having Braise spayed so that the overall pet population does not continue to explode. I am sure France is no different than the US in having too many perfectly wonderful animals (MANY of the purebreeds, believe me) needlessly euthanized because there aren't enough people willing to adopt out of shelters, rescue groups, etc. Please think about saving some innocent lives, it is easily in your power. Merci beaucoup, Rebecca

Remi, I work in a school (as a librarian) and I love your quote, which applies perfectly to all who teach as well as those who counsel!

"Aussi de" can be translated as "as much of" so "buy as much of eggplants as of zucchini"

I really love this post for its honesty and compassion. I (like many others) can relate to the blue (and far darker on the colour spectrum) periods, especially this past year. Thanks for writing freely about these episodes (and also the helplessness felt when trying to assist others during down times - but people do seem to remember the small kindnesses). When you hear others talk about such experiences, it's easier to admit to and talk about your own dark times, which are so tempting to conceal from others given Northern American's obsession with happiness. It would seem the French are not as inhibited or as afraid of experiencing all their emotions, 'good', 'bad', or otherwise, alone or in public [and perhaps sometimes to the chagrin of their audience :) ]. Very refreshing, and a key perhaps to leading an authentic life. The caviar d'aubergines sounds delicious.