Tomorrow is July 22, the feast of Saint Mary Magdalene, where many will gather in the Basilica of Saint Maximin la Sainte Baume and near her grotto in La Sainte Baume in southern France, to honor Mary Magdalene, as they have for ages. For me, July 22 has been a special day for a long …
Saint Mary Magdalene and La Sainte Baume; A Very Mysterious Place Indeed Read More »
Finally, I was Abbey bound! The bus driver, an obvious aficionado of blues and impromptu drummer took delight in pumping up the volume while beating the side of his chair to the rhythm of the music. A rather strange musical accompaniment cruising towards Saint Jacut de la Mer Abbey. The territory of Saint Jacut de …
Abbey Saint Jacut de la Mer, My Mini Retreat , Part Two Read More »
After the strict confinement in Paris finally was relaxed to some degree, I found myself craving to flee to the sea. Oceans for me offer the most healing and revitalizing energy available from mother earth! I first thought of Biarritz in the southern part of coastal France near the Basque country and the border of …
My Mini Abbey Retreat By The Sea Near Saint Malo, Part One Read More »
Anything I might have written about Paris these past weeks would have been grievously frivolous and trivial, given the immense racial violence exploding once again in America and the aftershocks in European countries. Perpetual racism, racial disparity, white privilege, and white supremacy remain scourges that are firmly rooted in white-dominated cultures. Being silent about the …
Each time, I prepared “mes sorties”, or outings, during confinement, I would feel this slight anxiety as I went through my mental checklist. Authorization QR code or paper? Did I fill it out correctly? Did I bring my French ID card? Am I going beyond the allotted one kilometer? My mask? After all, I had …
Whereas whatever self-discipline I had pre confinement, has waned and flown the coop with all my best intentions, preparing nice meals hasn’t. It’s my way of bringing something of joy and pleasure into my life, not only for myself but others of course. Sitting down to candlelight dinners is a delight I look forward to …
I have a habitual habit of forgetting my umbrella. I guess I have a hard time remembering it could rain. It happened again the other day while out on my authorized one hour walk! No problem, I thought. Instead, I decided to enjoy the raindrops, which felt suddenly new again. Perhaps it is my optimism …
You are not going to find any formal DSM diagnosis of Covid Confinement Blues and Anxiety, at least not yet. But the symptoms are as rampant as the virus! I haven’t been spared from these sinking blue feelings either. Sometimes I feel like a bobbling cork adrift in unknown waters. Perhaps you too. What we …
The world is being ravaged by the Covid-19 virus as it slowly infiltrates into practically every crevice of the earth. Most of us are in confinement but our healthcare heroes aren’t, nor many other supportive heroes. Paris has been in strict confinement since last Tuesday at noon. The whole city has taken on an eery …
Coping With Paris Confinement And Compassion For Our Heroes Who Aren’t Read More »
I have no intentions of writing philosophic waxings in my post about the immense menace that this virulent virus poses. Nor, do I want to write psycho babblings about let’s not panic or that none of us can escape death, so we might as well go cheerful as I recently read. The enemy is here …
I have been away on my annual February grief getaway. This time I chose to explore some Austrian Alpine spas sandwiched between a few days in Vienna. Getaway is a misnomer in so far as there is no getting away from grief. Yet, travel does offer somewhat an alternative distraction of sorts, not avoidance by …
Anybody who lives in Paris will have to get used to living in small spaces. Downsizing is essential if you want to live in lilliputian Parisian apartments! When I came here over 20 years ago, the sudden transition to suddenly living in a small place wasn’t really difficult. After all, I arrived with 3 suitcases …