FRENCH WORD-A-DAY

Aah...how I love your stories with Jules. You are so blessed to have this relationship with her. It is something I would have loved in my life. Blessings to you and her.

lI laughed out loud reading this..My own daughter has had the same complaints about my own generous talk and complements with passerbys in the past. She is now used to it and has started the same I see.. what fun spontaneous encounters!!!!!! keep walking and stay warm.

...I must admit, I am like your Mom! I love chatting it up with all kinds of people, which sets my husband on edge. He is a very private person and always asks me not to strike up a conversation with anyone who is the server at our table when we go out. I , of course, forget his plea and go o my merry way and 'chat it up' with waiter or waitress! I have often asked them if I could take their photograph as well! I usually give them my card and tell them to look for their photo from me. Some write back all thrilled and some I never hear from... as we all know all kinds of different people make the world go around!

Hi Kristi & Jules,

I so loved this story today! I love that you are enjoying your time together! The sea pods look lovely in your mom's hair!

Thanks Kristi for such a lovely, and loving post today. My Mum and I also live together and we encourage each other much as you describe. Like your mother, mine can chat immediately to anyone, whereas I hold back for a while. The photo of the seedpods in your mother's hair is like a painting - too exquisite for words. And the one of you among the lavender is beautiful!

Wonderful story today. I want to walk with you two!! Your mother is very fortunate to have you as her encourager to get up and out-I’m sure that helps you, too! I need to find one to get me up and out-not as self motivated as I would like. I love the seed pods in jules’ gorgeous hair!

I also am one of those embarrassing mothers who still has an eye-rolling embarrassed daughter. So I have hope from your article, Kristi! I wasn’t always like this myself. I wonder if as I have aged and my life is less full of my own concerns, I am in need of a broader connection to the world of people? Or is it just a joy to be here and to be able to celebrate others? A huge change for the better for this once introverted person!
There’s just something so yummy about being friendly and open and inviting others to meet me in that field.
When I read about Jules, I too connected to joy.
I am reminded that “enthusiasm “ means “God(ess) filled.
What did I used to be afraid of? Guess that’s finally gone. Hooray!
Thank you for a delicious post and for your willingness to find your own self. 🍂🧡🍁🐿🧡

Our dear Kristi,
What wonderful pictures of you and dear Jules!
Two beautiful women,starting from the inside out!
Like your other readers,I too sometimes find myself being too enthusiastic with compliments,even if they are well meant.To me,outside of prayer,a kind word to brighten someone else's(or even my own!) spirits is really a welcome gift.
Maybe that is one of the nicest things about the troisieme age:you don't worry too much about things like this in favor of bringing a smile to another person's face.
Thank you,dear Krsiti,for this reminder!
Love
Natalia XO

One of your best postings ever....

Kristi,

As always, you are very photogenic, as is your mother!! I do not know why Americans feel the need to compliment....maybe we want to be liked or accepted or we just like to "schmooze"!!!

What a bright joy filled story. Merci, Kristi. I love your mom!

Bonjour, Kristi,
Oui, comment vous avez la voie douce chez vous. I lost my mother to cancer 4 years ago and miss our visits and telephone
calls still. Making a difference in the world begins in the family and spreads. You are sharing something beautiful
with your readers as their responses reflect. Merci beaucoup.

It is so wonderful to "chat" with people. Some are more receptive than others but it is always fun to try.

Love the wonderful stories and so happy to hear about Jules.

xoxo

I love your Mom's spirit! I guess it's an American thing to be chatty. I had a British friend who said at first she was startled about how everyone chatted with her at HEB and she didn't even know them. She thought it must be a Texas thing. I think we are just very open and interested in people as a culture! My kids (boys) used to ask me, "Mom, did you know that person?" when I would chat with people in the grocery store. They got used to it, especially since they knew my dad who would talk to a fence post to pass the time of day!

It's so refreshing to read about a positive mother/daughter relationship these days!

Hi Kristi,

I often complement people, both women and mean about their clothes , a purse or whatever. My husband does not, but for a man to complement another man that he doesn't know is another story. I also talk with people in restaurants that are seated near us and I always talk with people when I am in a line. As one of the other responders said, she was not like that years ago and I too have been more spontaneous lately. Age does it, I guess.
Love the picture of you surrounded by the winter lavender on La Voie Douce. Where is that?

Kathleen

As always a delightful story along with great photography that makes the day shine.
My appreciation for your talent know no bounds. Thank you and best wishes.

I agree with the others—gorgeous photos of you both. I used to be embarrassed by my mother’s friendliness, then surprised and educated by the positive responses, and by how interesting other people are. I also fondly recall my grandmother saying to me one day, “Aren’t you going to make me do my exercises?” She was very wry, a little passive. One generation helps another.

Kristi, Jules reminds me so much of my grandmother, who always sees the best in people and lives with all the passion she can muster. Like you, I tend to be reserved. I once read a theory somewhere: some people are rubber ducks who simply float in a tub of water, while others are sponges and sink easily into their surroundings by quickly absorbing the water into which they are placed. I certainly relate to the sponge types. Because of this, after moving to NZ, I found I had become reserved and was careful about what I said to the people I met. I began to adjust the way I spoke to the way they speak, thereby absorbing what was around me. However, I began to feel that I had lost an important part of myself by moving back into the shell out of which I had worked for years to emerge by shedding social anxiety. Something had to change. Slowly, I began to pay compliments to the mothers I met at the school while waiting to collect our children. Sometimes, they would reply with a polite 'thank you,' but a few other them continued the conversation.

Your words, "It makes me stop to consider, once again, that people are people. Just like us, they want to connect, to laugh, and to live creatively, lightly and more playfully," ring so true!

Thank you for continuing to share the stories of your adventures with your mom. Through your collective wisdom, you inspire me over and over again to greet each day with presence and gratitude. Oh, and when I am older, I hope my hair will look as gorgeous as Jules's hair looks in that beautifully framed photo.

I LOVE this commentary. And good for your mom . My mom was just like Jules and I was like you, embarrassed by her for the same reason. She died 27 years ago and I appreciate her more and more as I grow more like her!

You are SO lucky Kristi to have a wonderful mother. I wish my mum had been like her. Love your blogs and always learn something and always miss France so much.Rupert Suren

Just as I was reading your words, at first I did not know it was you....and suddenly I saw your face in my mind’s eye and said to myself, “ That sounds like something Marika would say..I can hear her voice.” Then I looked up and read your name and said to myself.... I wish Marika could have been there too,” Your love and friendship with both of them just jumps off the page...your genuine emotion is that strong. Hope you are well....we are in the process of moving to a senior living residence and I am exhausted. Have hardly taken a moment to myself to relax and breathe. Your words made me do that!