effrayeur
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
effrayer (eh fray yay)
: to scare, to frighten
.
A Day in a French Life... by Kristin Espinasse
The Night Shift
When wine sales took Jean-Marc out of town for a few nights this week, Jackie came to bunk with me. Monday night we lie there, one of us sniffing, the other, legs reeling. We were a tortured duo, with, between us, a stuffed nose and RLS, or "le syndrome des jambes sans repos".
"Let's try and fall asleep fast!" I suggested to my daughter. And, luckily, we did.
When next I woke the room was very quiet and I noticed my daughter was breathing easy. What, then, had awakened me? I recalled a vague thudding -- a kind of sky-wide soufflement. I could just hear the tail end of it. I listened in... only, the more I strained, the further it fell, off leaving but an echo in my mind.
What had it been? Had it indeed been? I got up to go to the bathroom and think about things. I remembered my dream: I had been admiring the hollyhocks, especially this year's prize: a black beauty! I could see her now, twirling... twirling in the wind! Was it le vent, after all, that had roused me, catching with it the tail end of my dream - was that the sound: a swirling, then?
Because "swirling" brought to mind more than saucer-shaped hollyhocks... I hurried back to bed and disappeared under la couette.
"Qu'est-ce que c'était?" Jackie mumbled. So she, too, had heard it? Then it wasn't a dream!
"It was nothing!", I snapped. Then, softer, "Go back to sleep, Chou." I wished Jean-Marc were here to say the same to me.
Very quietly, I turned to spy out the window, not sure of wanting to discover the source of this drôle de bruit. It didn't seem human. It wasn't a car of thieves creeping up the lone driveway, here in the middle of vine-land. And I had not just heard the propellers (that swirling soufflement!) of a mere helicopter - though the noise did sound propellers-like... it was a thudding sound. Yes! A great thudding!
My eyes quickly scanned the countryside. A luminous, quiet field where even the insects and the crapauds were asleep beneath the moon's beam.
I cowered there, beneath the covers, too afraid to even pray. What if, after all, it was God who had come to visit? What use would prayer be... in the direct presence of divinity?!
As if by response the sound picked up, whirring lightly in the distance. Was it coming back? I turned toward my daughter, my back now to the window. I listened for its approach. "It" or -- that sound -- was a haunting entity in itself! No creature in film, no ghost in a novel could compete with the frayeurs "It" was causing me!
Le bruit began to move across the sky like a strobe light. Would it find me? It sounded like a great, motorized street-washer vehicle, gliding by - taking with it the unwanted, the rejected, the broken. I imagined some sort of heavy craft. Not a watercraft... and that left only one possibility!
Just as I began to consider flying saucers (and hadn't those been saucer-flowers in my dream?) the noise enlivened just outside my window and I braced myself for Its approach.
I suddenly remembered the military that I had seen last week! While out watering the reddening pommes d'amour, I spied a tank rolling down the country road. I could just make it out, amid the green leafy vine rows! I saw men dressed in camouflage, helmets on their heads and guns in their arms. Machine guns? What for?! I had seen them in town earlier this week, but dismissed any threat as "military training".
Could there, now, be a connection between the roving tanks and this strange and eerie sound? The sky-thuttering was getting closer and closer....
In one last hopeful quest, I looked out the window to the great leafy mulberry. Surely it was the wind - it was the great Mistral that was messing with me! Only, not one leaf on the tree was moving! And the field below was entirely still.
My heart beat softly, too afraid that any loud thumping might give it away. Listening to the approach of something otherworldly, I understood my human insignificance. Had my husband been there with his great arms around me, even then we would be nothing against the thuttering sky and its vaste sea... There was nothing to do but to feel the terror wash over me.
When the risk of paralyzing fear became greater than whatever was lurking out there, I jumped up, threw open the windows and searched for "the unknown".
And there, in the vine field below, I saw it. A revolving light! The huge branches of the oak tree camouflaged most of the craft, but there it was, unmistakable! Not a watercraft, not a spacecraft, it was, there before my eyes, an oh-so-familiar tractor craft.
I shook my head in sincere appreciation (and relief!). Bravo! Bravo! I clapped softly, giddily. Little did he know, the nocturnal grapes farmer, that he had just created the most brilliant horror show. With that, I closed the windows and the proverbial curtains went down.
Click to enlarge image.
***
Post note: What I feared was a "close encounter" had been no more than the whirling, thudding sound of a sulfateur - a tractor-extension the blows out a blueish coppery mist over the vine rows, treating them against disease. Though the sound is a familiar one to me, I did not recognize it at 1:52 a.m.! I guess, like a familiar face out of place, a sound "out of time" has the same effect: we forget our connection to it.
On a further note, it just goes to show that a farmer's work is never done! And, given the canicular, or "dog days" weather, it sure makes sense to work in the cool of night.
Have you ever scared yourself stiff? What were the circumstances? Tell us about your fears and effrayeurs here in the comments box. Other uses for the comments box: ask questions, respond to other bits of info within today's letter or beyond it (the news, etc).You might also announce a local French meet-up... Thank you for making this community corner an educational, a helpful, and an interesting one. Click here to read or to participate.
French Vocabulary
le syndrome des jambes sans repos = restless leg syndrome (RLS)
un soufflement = a blowing
le vent = wind
la couette = quilt or down comforter
Qu'est-ce que c'était? = What was it?
chou (chouchou) = sweetie
un drôle de bruit = an odd noise
le crapaud = toad
la frayeur = fright
la pomme d'amour = "love apple" (synonym for "tomato")
"Les Anges". Angels. I love this photo of Mom (right) and one of our wine 'importatrice's, Phyllis! Have time for another French word or story or photo? Why not check out the French Word-A-Day archives, here.
The classic Bescherelle, the complete guide to French verb conjugation. Read the five-star reviews, and order, here.
A French standby. Strong, durable, all Emile Henry cookware can be taken directly from the freezer to the hot oven, can go under a broiler and in the microwave; freezer and dishwasher safe. The natural clay is unsurpassed for conducting and retaining heat. Color choices: blue or red. Order here.
L'Occitane Hand Cream Honey, almond and coconut oil are blended with Shea Butter to create this unique and extremely effective moisturizer.Read the reviews.
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Hi Kristin. I think you mean frayeur:
frayeur [fʀɛjœʀ] n. f.
ÉTYM. 1460; freor, v. 1160; freiur, v. 1138; par attraction de effrayer; du lat. fragor « bruit », puis « peur ».
all best,
Julia
Posted by: julia Frey | Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 11:08 AM
Julia, Thanks for your help. I should have used the verb effrayer but wanted to avoid verbs today! (Because then I feel guilty for not including all of the conjugations!) I did use frayeur in the story... now to figure out how to fix the word-of-the-day (Sheesh! why did my mistake have to be in the featured word! Not the first time, either....)
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 11:19 AM
I have no idea what I was looking for or how I stumbled upon French Word A Day but I did and signed up. I didn't even have the notion to learn French but what a delight to receive my word today! I so enjoyed your story as well.
Thank you,
Kathleen
Posted by: Kathleen Hill | Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 11:47 AM
I scare myself all the time by reading late into the night when all the creaky sounds seem amplified.
My husband had such bad rls that he wasn't sleeping anymore and he consulted a neurologist who prescribed a light dose of what people with Parkinson's disease take (siflor) and it has been our miracle. He now sleeps, therefor, I now sleep :)
Posted by: meredith | Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 11:49 AM
Hi Kristin,
I guess you cannot change the word featured in the title, but it would be fine if you changed the word in the text before the story -> into:
---> not "effrayeur" but "UNE FRAYEUR" (du verbe effrayer)
Syn: "une peur bleue"
- avoir une peur bleue (de quelque chose) = to be scared stiff
- j'ai eu une peur bleue = I had a bad scare.
very familiar / informal expressions:
- avoir "une sacrée peur" = to be incredibly scared
- avoir la trouille = to be scared
- donner la trouille à quelqu'un (very informal: "flanquer" / "foutre" la trouille à quelqu'un)
= to give somebody a fright.
ex: (ce bruit mystérieux) m'a donné (m'a flanqué / m'a foutu) la trouille.
= (this mysterious noise) gave me a fright.
"le trouillomètre" being an imaginary tool measuring your fright, suppose you are 'frozen' with fear / scared stiff), then, you have "le trouillomètre à zéro"
- avoir le trouillomètre à zéro = to be scared stiff.
love your "roses trémières" and the stunning black one you showed us last week
Bye for now
I'm not at home and must return this borrowed laptop.
Posted by: Newforest | Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 12:04 PM
Isn't it amazing that noises can be so unsettling if they occur at unusual times? Thank you for this insightful and funny mail! I had a strobe-light scare once - the grand opening of a disco about 30 miles away filled the nightly sky with flickering and quickly travelling beams of light and before I figured out what it was my neighbor came by (two in the morning) to alert me of a visit from outer space. Took a while and the local information leaflet to convince her that all was safe and her chickens would not be abducted...
Posted by: Laura | Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 12:07 PM
The only scare I've had lately was when our outside light which is activated by motion came on in the middle of the night. Thinking that someone was "out there" I grabbed my flashlight and prowled around the house looking out the windows. The light went off so I gave up and headed back to bed when the light went on again. It was then that I heard the howl and, sure enough, there was one of our (housebound) cat's feral friends walking through the yard, big enough to turn the light on but apparently not moving enough to keep the light on. Mystery solved - back to bed.
Posted by: Bill in St. Paul | Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 12:56 PM
Why was it going in the middle of the night?
As I was reading I was reading faster and faster. At least you are not like the main character who rushes out into the night to check it out.
What a story!
Posted by: anne | Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 02:03 PM
Kristin -
An excellent entry today! I was on the edge of my seat, breathing shallowly from the suspense. And the dénoument was completely unanticlimactic (as I'm sure one in my life would have been). After all, who would expect a crop sprayer at that hour?
Thank you for a great start to the day.
Posted by: Bruce T. Paddock | Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 02:06 PM
Jules is magnificent!! And I'm glad to know that spacecraft become tractors. Have a wonderful summer day. (Hurry home Jean-Marc.)
Posted by: mary | Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 02:08 PM
Hi Kristin,
Do you have any idea how tomatoes came to be called "apples of love" in French? There has to be a good story behind this.
Best regards,
Paul Heffron
Posted by: Paul Heffron | Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 02:08 PM
My post has nothing to do with fear. I just wanted to share this delightful story with you Kristin.
Yesterday, while shopping at my local Walmart, I ran into an old acquaintance. I hesitate to use the word friend since he and I are not fully familiar.
After we exchanged our usual polite "How are you and the family" questions, we got down to the real important matters of life. Since learning french is one of my top five loves in my life, I just had to bring that up.
Coincidentally, he had studied french....and what a beautiful accent he has. Je suis jalouse. This coming thursday just happens to be my first get-together of my french speaking pals. So it was without question that I invited him to the event.
Now here is the part of the story reserved for you Kristin. He excitedly wanted to share this amazing site on the internet......
French word-a-day.......hahaha. Hey Ron if you are reading this....what is that expression? "Great minds think alike".
We both agreed that this is truly a delightful way to start the day.
Thank you Kristin for all your efforts.
ps I will be sharing this site with my other pals too.
Deborah Auclair
Posted by: Deborah Auclair | Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 02:16 PM
Hi Kristin,
My husband recently retired from the US Army and he was an Armor officer and I remember so well the sound of M1A1 tanks. I wonder why the farmer was out at 1:52 a.m. Do you think he was having trouble sleeping too and figured while he was up he would spray the vines? Love the photo of Jules and Phyllis.
Posted by: Eileen deCamp | Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 02:56 PM
KRISTI - YOU ARE THE GREATEST,
Your stories are priceless. I am reminded today of my 'Darling Kristi' when you were in the 8 to 10 year old days of your life. You were always as close as a puppy-dog, under my feet at all times, sharing every thought that passed through your mind. Looking up with your big blue eyes and sprinkle of freckles across your nose I was privileged to receive your daily accounts of all that was touching you in your beautiful world.
Oh - how could I have been so blessed throughout all those difficult years...I can at this very moment conjure up the sights and sounds and smells of that long ago life.
Our moments shared are more valuable than all the gold and silver of the world. You are in my heart forever.
I am the luckiest Mom in the world - to be able to tune into my daughters life three times a week (not to mention the phone calls). How did this all happen, let me tell all of your friends 'It was a lot of work...mostly because we are both stubborn and bull-headed. You have taught me so much, I always remember the biggest lesson was that day long ago in France when we had our most life-altering fight.
Oh I won't go into all of that right now, but when you pulled me around to face you and said I was not allowed to turn away, we were going to push through this moment until we came out with love and victory on the other side....
One of the most life-defining moments of my existence.
What can I say - - You are a story that will last forever and I am so proud that you step up to the plate and swing that bat every week, keeping us in the game of your life.
Honey, could you please post that photo of you when you were playing baseball in grade-school. Also the one of you dancing when Maria spent the night, your hair is flying.
XOXO
MOM
Posted by: Jules Greer | Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 02:59 PM
I was at my wits end with rls! I did not want to take prescription medecine for it because I knew that I would need it for the rest of my life, but I was desperate for rest and ready to ask the doctor for something when I read that sometimes taking iron pills helps. For almost one year now I have been almost completely free of rls symptoms just by taking an iron pill twice a day. Such sweet relief! And thanks for the french translation of rls, I live here with my french fiance and never knew what the translation for this was. Renae
Posted by: Renae | Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 03:05 PM
One time, thirty-some years ago, I was awakened by something in the middle of the night. I got out of bed and went into the hallway to investigate. There was our four-year-old son coming back from the bathroom down the hall. He screamed, I screamed, and even as we both realized there was nothing to scream about, we couldn't stop screaming. We weren't over our fright yet! I've never forgotten that moment, but I doubt he even remembers it.
Posted by: Cyndy | Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 03:09 PM
Oh, and one more comment: I wonder if the farmer was out there spraying his vines at night because the Mistral had died down.
Posted by: Cyndy | Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 03:14 PM
And... After reading Jules' comments, I can see where you get your writing skills.
Posted by: Cyndy | Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 03:17 PM
Thank you for the laughs (Cyndy) and the tears (Mom) and for every message everyone has shared.
Deborah and Ron, what a smile this story brings!
Meredith and Renae, thanks for sharing your rls stories. Will see about the iron if it gets any worse.
Bruce - many thanks - and crop sprayer - was just the term I was looking for!
Newforest, excellent synonyms for todays theme! Loved your trouillomètre -- youd taught me this before but I had forgotten. That would have been a great word-of-the-day!!!
Kathleen, Welcome! So good to have you with us.
Paul, no idea about the background for pomme damour. Newforest?
Hopefully back later, for any comments I missed. On my way to take Jackie to a friends....
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 03:22 PM
My night sounds story:
I was having a vivid dream in the small hours-a dragon was roaring in my back yard; I clearly heard the rhythmic bursts of fiery breath so clearly that I woke up! And was terrified to realize that the sound did not disappear with the dream. Braving what might lurk I stumbled to the back window...to find an early morning balloonist inflating his craft in the field behind my house. But here's the eerie thing: the motif on the balloon was a dragon!
In the spirit of Hollyhocks & Horror I guess this should be Dragons & Dread.
Posted by: Zann | Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 03:34 PM
Great story, Kristin! We have all had middle-of-the-night frights.
Bienvenu, Kathleen Hill! You are going to love it here!
Posted by: mhwebb | Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 03:40 PM
Where's that camera to capture THIS part or your day??!!
You really had my heart thumping through this story, Kristin. I was really hoping it was a saucer shaped hollycock and that we could tune in later for further adventures as the grape farmers head off to great gardens in the galaxy!! heehee
Posted by: Karen Whitcome | Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 05:16 PM
Salut Kristin,
Jean-Marc’s dedication to his passion are admirable and the recent high ratings for his wine are his reward!
One day late but, Solstice d'été heureuse pour tout le monde (happy summer solstice to everyone). Enjoy the summer for those in the northern hemisphere. Here in Phoenix we’re looking for 113 degrees F. today.
À bientôt
Posted by: Herm in Phoenix, Az | Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 05:29 PM
My scariest/funniest story is this: It was a time when I was living alone - sans fils et sans chiens - and was awakened in the middle of the night with what sounded like someone in my garage. My garage is detached and at the back of the yard with a small shed next to it. I just knew that whoever had broken into my neighbor's garage the previous week had come back to see what was in mine! I didn't know what else to do so I called the police. They kept me on the phone until I could see the flashlights coming down the alley. 2 policemen had come very quickly! (The dispatcher must have heard the fear in my voice!) They looked in the garage - nothing. The sound continued to come from the shed! I peeked my head out of the backdoor, now I was getting braver knowing the police were there to handle everything and I began to suspect who the intruder might be. And sure enough, the policeman says to me, "We found them, ma'am, there are 2 of them and they're wearing masks"! Two sneaky racoons had invaded my shed to eat the food I kept in there for the squirrels. Boy did I feel silly. But the police were so nice and said I did exactly the right thing as I was alone and it was night and I had no business trying to take care of it myself. I'm sure my story provided smiles for the rest of the night patrol - a job well done, mission accomplished and everyone was fine, except my pounding heart which didn't calm down until dawn!
Posted by: Candy in SW KS (only for one more month!) | Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 05:31 PM
Don't take any of that Parkinson poison for your RLS!! Take homeopathic Tarantula C30 - it really stops the "dance"!! And has NO side effects whatsoever....
Loved the story. Here in southern Germany the farmers get out at night to set up their asparagus fields. Huge equipment with bright lights and enormous black tarpaulins. You can forget sleep that night....
Posted by: Maureen | Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 06:08 PM
Your story today --- as lovely as those hollyhocks of yours! Beautifully written with such vivid imagery I was right there with you. The middle photo with the sky…dreamy!
My middle of the night fright took place a few years ago. Alone that night and living deep in the mountains surrounded by forestland, a man was walking down the county road yelling hello, hello…. I awoke, froze in fear and then went to my window to peek out. My Great Pyrenees was frantically barking. I waited to see if he stopped at my farmhouse as I knew I was in trouble if this person dared enter my yard. Instead I was relieved to hear my dogs barking growing more and more distant as she followed this person the next half mile down my fence line. Deep breath…. Then, I panicked as I thought of my sweet 85 year old neighbor, Leta, who was alone in her cottage. What if he robbed her or worse? It was difficult to get back to sleep. I called Leta early the next morning and she replied, “Oh, honey, I was sound asleep and didn’t hear a thing.”
Posted by: Stacy, Applegate, Oregon | Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 08:00 PM
What a wonderful and sweetly sly telling of this tremulous ordeal!
My most memorable night scare happened 50 years ago as I, a young teen, spent a late evening all alone in our isolated country home. About an hour after I'd drifted calmly off to sleep, a mysterious, furtive rustling sound from downstairs awoke me. It was a sporadic sound, but persistent and very distinct.
Long seconds of silence punctuated the crisp rustling. The careful intruder was determined to get away with whatever he was up to. Oh no -- Mum kept her best sterling silver in deep drawers down there ... J'avais le trouillomètre à zéro!
Seizing a heavy paperweight to clutch in my upraised fist, I crept down the hall toward the stairs. Trying not to hyperventilate, I tiptoed down. In the dark kitchen, I began easing toward a window into the night-lit dining area. The rustling echoed loudly now, so I hadn't been detected! Holding my breath, I peered through the window.
Yes, Mum's deep silver drawer was half-open. Luminous white tissue paper was sticking out out of -- and so was a skinny pointed black thing: huh?! Suddenly, two pointy black ears came into view beyond the dark spear; they turned my way and -- two gleaming and very startled blue eyes came into focus above a black-muzzled face. Our Siamese cat!
He'd been burrowing into an open space whose invitation he was helpless to refuse. I'd forgotten all about him, as he usually slept in Mum's armchair when she was out. He and I had quite a restorative cuddle, needless to say.
No, these inner adventures are not easily forgotten are they?! Fun to look BACK on!
Posted by: Kit Wilson | Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 09:25 PM
Verbs, schmerbs - very funny :).. from the discourse throughout the comments - I loved the added learning. Your story was fabulous. I could feel the rising fear. I can relate to 'the wake' and wondering what exactly punctuated my sleep. Most often, for me, was the occasional earthquake, reminder of the mother underneath of us. Ah life on the farm, and those hours of vigil - even while we sleep.
Thanks for the wonderful story.
Posted by: Cindylee | Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 09:40 PM
I want to know where Jules got that coat? i love it!
Posted by: sue | Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 11:22 PM
Lovely photo of the roses trémières and the angels. Jules' flowing cape is truly ravishing. And congratulation to Jean-Marc and famille Espinasse, on the wine mention.
Kristin, I enjoyed your "suspense story"today. It kept me reading until the end, with suspense :0) I'm a scary cat, but I enjoy romans policiers, go figure. I have a scary moment of my own to add...
It was a lonely night, my husband was away, out of the country. I was alone with my little dog. I live near the “forest” so it is not unusual that my dog would bark when uninvited guests such as deer, raccoons etc… approached my home,at night. And that night, somebody suddenly knocked on my door. It was after 1AM. I was scared stiff. I did not even dare to walk to the window to take a peak, for fear of making some creaking noise. I crawled to the phone to “wake up” my son living in another town. The knocking continued. No,I did not dare to open the door, not at this time of the day. My son advised me to call 911. The dispatcher was so nice to keep me company on the phone until police finally showed up with flash light. When I opened the door, the police pointed at a note taped on my door that says...keep your dog quiet, so I can sleep!!!
What a way to scare people. Thank you to Newforest for being such a wonderful person to add few more expressions to describe notre peur bleue.
Posted by: Millie | Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 11:27 PM
oh heavens, how my imagination reels with scary stuff like that. I get totally irrational. When i was in college i remember an evening at home watching alfred hitchcock (yes, that long ago...) and i was so petrified by the show i was even too scared to walk up to the television to touch the knob (again i say...yes, that long ago.) to change the channel or turn it off. I was sure something would reach out of the television and grab me.
but my favorite 'scared' story (oh, that sounds mean--not intended to be!) involves a friend of mine. Long story short, he found evidence that perhaps racoons or some other undesirable critter had chewed themselves a little entry into his house. he called the exterminator to make an appointment, and the fellow told him to make a thorough inspection of basement, attic, closets, etc., to look for traces. every squeak the patter became some kind of rabid beast. he went upstairs to check the attic which was off of a little-used storge room. he swung the door to the attic open, and was immediately met with a short but scary hiss coming from the dark. He screamed like a girl and ran downstairs. he immediately called the exterminator and asked him to come right away. he had it trapped. the exterminator came and together they went up. bill opened the door again and sure enough they were met with another hiss. he slammed the door shut and asked the exterminator what he was going to do. the guy calmly looked at bill and said, "i'm going to remove that loose weather-stripping off the bottom of your door. that's what you heard scraping against the floor when you opened it."
the power of the imagination..... :)
Posted by: Gwyn Ganjeau | Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 11:45 PM
It was about 1 a.m. I'd been listening to the radio, couldn't sleep. I looked out a window and off in the distance saw was what looked like a giant parachute slowly moving down in the sky. It was very translucent. Aliens, it had to be aliens were landing and no one else was awake to stop them!! That is what I get for listening to Art Bell's show late at night. Later on a friend told me what I'd seen was an aurora borealis.
Posted by: georgie | Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 04:14 AM
Alas being "Down Under" I am not fortunate to wake up to french word a day but it slips into my inbox at night!! I have just returned from 2 weeks en France and loved each and every minute of it - I am already scheming my return - reading your scary tale reminded me instantly on a time - too many years ago - as perhaps a 9 or 10 yr old. I had just been given a new bed - a glorious double brass bed that I had to at that point on the hight scale, run and jump to get in!! On this particular night I woke at some dark and early hour by noises under my bed. I lay their terrified conjuring up far too many scary stories in my head to the point that I must of started to cry. Mum eventaully came in, turned on the light to see my distress. One quick look under the bed and out wandered aimlessly our dog who had been snugly asleep all that time!!
Night time and imagination are not necessarily two good bed partners!!
Enjoy your day! x
Posted by: Caroline | Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 05:45 AM
Hi Kristin
Another excellent offering/stream of consciousness observation. It was both enigmatic and evocative. I got it! We writers don't always write 'le mot juste' in its technical/clinical sense. To us words are like daubs of paint - sometimes well-considered, pure, saturated of hue, unambiguous, and sometimes more muddy - hurriedly mixed and shifted from pallette to canvas before the intuition and impetus disappears or moves on. Our inner wordsmith moves to fast for the hand to craft the colour perfectly - but we know the feeling we seek to convey - and we do convey it! Sometimes we create new words as Shakespeare did so prolifically in his word-play. I recall when, as a young trainee teacher, I had a gifted 5-year-old boy in my class who would write wonderful imaginative pieces of reportage on his daily life - oft-times with many spelling errors. I did not correct them all - just those required for clarity - for fear of stifling his flow. I am sure he is a fine writer today with an acquired and masterful vocabulary beyond the pedantic.
I love Jules homage to you and memories of your childhood. You were evidently a gifted journalist even then with a passion for painting word-portraits and landscapes which she devoured subconsciously and recalls vividly today. What a blessing it is for a mother-child relationship to have this shared creativity.
Savour it! Save it. Memories - created and revisted are precious, lasting gifts indeed.
love Robyn x
Posted by: Robyn Daniels | Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 06:00 AM
Kristin, I so enjoy your blog and follow religiously although comment infrequently. This entry was so well written and sparked such responses, I've loved reading it all, and especially the contribution from Jules. I do love strong women, especially when they love and respect one another, and it's so apparent the two of you do. Many thanks for the hours of pleasurable reading throughout the last year.
Posted by: Claudia | Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 01:14 PM
For Deborah
Great minds think alike, in French: Les grands esprits se rencontrent, or great minds meet each other.
Posted by: Leslie in Massachusetts | Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 08:25 PM
Kristin,
Don't be so hard on yourself! I, for one, so enjoy your wonderful bits of daily life in France and don't care if you make a mistake! Thank you for sharing so much with us; you are a delight. The vocab words are an added bonus.
Posted by: Becky | Saturday, June 25, 2011 at 05:05 PM
Merci Leslie in Massachusetts from Deborah á Massachusetts aussi
Posted by: Deborah Auclair | Monday, June 27, 2011 at 02:45 AM
Hi Kristi, I just now came upon this story, 21 fevrier 2017, and had to make myself not look to the end because you made it so very exciting!! Thank you so much!! God bless, C-Marie
Posted by: C-Marie | Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at 09:30 PM
Wonderful story again. Thank you, Kristin.....
RLS - Restless Legs Syndrome is still not fully researched. They suspect a dopamine deficiency....hence the prescription of drugs from the Parkinson corner....but who wants to take synthetic drugs for the rest of their lives???
I sometimes get relief from homeopathic TARANTULA - i.e. the spider that causes one to dance the Tarantella!!!! But it doesn't always help.....It is a CURSE; I've had it since I can remember.....as a small child of three I had it already....all our family does...... Sleep deficiency is a torture.... Does anyone know of a real cure for it?
Posted by: Maureen Winterhager | Thursday, February 23, 2017 at 11:41 AM
This condition sounds so bad to cope with & is not one talked about very often. I had a friend who suffered with it & I hope cure can be found in the not too distant future .
A scary incident for me ( again in the night !) was when we woke to a rumbling & shaky in the house . Probably a train I thought .But hang on there are no trains around here . We discovered from the excited chatter in the village next day, it was' une tremblement de terre' (earthquake) in the next valley ! Phew !
Posted by: Audrey Wilson | Thursday, February 23, 2017 at 01:08 PM