Alone together
Ricci quickly disappeared (probably in search of cat food at my neighbour’s). In the distance, I could hear giant waves crashing against the shore – their pounding seemed to have started the moment my better half, ma moitié, left home. Alone again in a foreign land, I felt a sudden chill. While I enjoy solitude, I’m beginning to realise just how much my husband’s presence comforts me like a warm manteau set over my shoulders on a chilly night. What if I go off the rails while he’s gone? Skip our daily walks, linger in bed, and stay glued to YouTube? Suddenly, Ricci reappeared, bounding back from her brief escapade. Ahhh. I remembered that, in addition to my faithful dog, I have my fearless mom just around the side of our bungalow. And there’s Max, his darling Ana, and Jackie, who’ll soon be back from her périple in California. Returning to the kitchen. I removed the day’s loaf from the oven, the warmth and the scent of yeast inviting me to settle in and embrace this ever-shifting nest of ours. I noticed my belle-sœur‘s pairing knife, left at Christmas when she made that mouthwatering salade aux crevettes, avocats et pamplemousse. I’d call Cécile and see if she wants to return and share a favourite walk to les roches plates. I hear the dolphins are back!
“We are so blessed to have this family, and Jean-Marc is a true leader!” Mom toasted, during our farewell lunch for Chief Grape. My eyes locked with his. Leader indeed! The adventures he’s dragged us through! But, oh, the stories he’s given me to share. And now our chef has gone off again, leaving me solo but not alone, and with a mission: to tie up the loose ends on my manuscript about these last 12 months by the sea en famille. My forthcoming book, A Year in a French Life, is a collection of blog stories with full-page colour photos of La Ciotat. Ask for it at your favourite librairie. I hope you’ll enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed living it – ups and downs, crashing waves and red tape. May it leave you enveloped in a warm Mediterranean hug on a quiet morning somewhere in the south of France.