Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

The Butterfly and Her Rock

Butterfly

(Today is French Husband’s birthday.) 

We were sitting by one another, just the two of us, I looked over at him as he drove, thinking… When you love someone, you believe in them…You would go to the ends of the earth for them. When you love someone you share in their journey, and feel their depth.  You trust them and you allow yourself to free fall into their being, knowing it is going to be safe.

I sat by French husband knowing he wants me to fly with him, and in that moment I  said to myself, "Yes! Why not? I’ll go." As if something within me opened,  I felt myself pouring into that empty space, rushing in… (Have you ever thought of something,  and had it change you, instantly? Then at the same time wonder "Why didn’t I think of that before?" That is how I felt, it caused me to catch my breath.) I looked over at French Husband and asked him if it would make him nervous if I flew with him. He smiled and shook his head no.

Butterflyonarock_2

I’ll fly with you.  I trust you. Happy Birthday, I’ll let go of my fear and fly!

Photos: A butterfly and her rock. Their is a safe place to land.

Comments

63 responses to “The Butterfly and Her Rock”

  1. gracie

    That is such a beautiful expression of trust. My hubby is my rock too… but I confess I’m glad he’s not taking flying lessons!

    Reply
  2. Chantal

    This has to be the best post on love I’ve ever read!! Joyeux anniversaire au mari français 🙂

    Reply
  3. Rosemary

    Hi Corey,
    Ah, love!!!
    I trust and love my husband too, but I too am glad he is not taking flying lessons either.
    Rosemary

    Reply
  4. Mélanie

    You have already flown with him (don’t forget it ) from SF to France . You have trusted him to do so.
    So I can’ wait to hear more about this special flight .
    Joyeux Anniversaire to your husband .
    This post is so romantic and wonderful

    Reply
  5. Donna O.

    Beautiful post but I have to ask…Will you serve French Pastries on the flight? You will? Well, Amen!
    🙂

    Reply
  6. Marie-Noëlle

    While flying, Corey, you could sing :
    “Pigeon vole,
    Le ciel vole,
    Chapeau vole
    Et vole aussi mon cœur,
    Plein de bonheur.
    Cheveu vole.
    Herbe vole,
    …
    Et vole mon regard
    Vers tes yeux noirs…”
    (song by Charles Trénet)
    Joyeux Anniversaire, FH !!!

    Reply
  7. Jeanne

    How beautiful and precious are your words and photographs.
    Blessings my friend.
    Here’s to many more years of enchantment…….
    Love you
    Jeanne

    Reply
  8. tlchang

    Oh Corey! Wow. Thanks for sharing your transformative-instant-change thought processes. So inspiring…
    Enjoy your flight! Both physically and spiritually!

    Reply
  9. cd&m

    happy birthday French husband!

    Reply
  10. Ellen Cassilly

    Happy birthday, FH.
    Have a lovely journey together.
    Ellen

    Reply
  11. ParisBreakfasts

    A very sweet Bonne Anniversaire FH!
    Lovely thoughts well deserved.

    Reply
  12. Nora

    Joyeux Anniversaire FH!

    Reply
  13. tut-tut

    happy birthday! but keep one foot on the ground, maybe . . .

    Reply
  14. Shannon

    Happy Birthday Yann!! I can imagine him blooming inside when he heard you say you’d fly with him.

    Reply
  15. Beverly

    Happy birthday to French Husband!
    And Corey, I love your joy of living!

    Reply
  16. My Melange

    Happy Birthday to French Husband! Maybe a short trip to Paris is in order 😉 I’ll be up ontop the Eiffel Tower and see you circling round and round and round…..

    Reply
  17. candy

    Great post, Corey. Great epiphany. Thanks for sharing with us. Happy Birthday to French Husband from Texas!

    Reply
  18. Darla

    Happy Brithday to your Husband. I think you’ve given him a great gift. Surely that is trust manifested. Have a good flight.
    Darla

    Reply
  19. sognatrice

    Sounds like you’ve given your husband a most memorable gift! Best wishes to him for a wonderful day 🙂

    Reply
  20. rochambeau

    Happy Birthday Frenchhusband, have a wonderful flight!

    Reply
  21. Penny

    What a lovely commentary on love and how true — trust is one of the most elemental pieces of love (and a long lived marriage I might add).

    Reply
  22. Julie Loeschke

    Oh, that tricky Holy Spirit! He can cause us to catch our breath! 🙂 Happy, happy birthday, FH! ( Oh, and Corey, look out at the horizon, not down at the ground. Always good advice. LOL).

    Reply
  23. Amy

    Happy Birthday, French Husband! May you have many many more! (good luck flying – to both of you!!)

    Reply
  24. Melissa

    My husband loves to power paraglide.
    It’s an engine strapped to your back and a wing. That’s it. Some day I’ll do it either when I get strong enough or when we can afford for me to have my own trike.
    To read more about paragliding, please go to my blog and look under, ‘Lost Stirrup’.

    Reply
  25. blueVicar

    Haven’t stopped by in a while, Corey, but I’m glad to see that you are safely back in France and finding more heart warming experiences from here to there.
    I am looking forward to my upcoming short trip to the Riviera…a small booster to reorient myself as I find my again as an American.
    I’ll be waiting to hear more about the flying…
    Meilleurs voeux!!

    Reply
  26. tommiea

    What an awesome gift to him!

    Reply
  27. Dee

    I can’t wait to hear about your first flight with french husband! I can still remember my first flight with my husband! I loved it!
    Happy Birthday to French Husband…Have a blessed day! Fly safe!

    Reply
  28. martina

    Beautiful true words Corey. Happy birthday French Husband!

    Reply
  29. Massilianana

    Joyeux Anniversaire to French Husband and wishing you a great flight with him in the Mosquito (save the Kouign Aman for AFTER the flight , then 😉 !!!

    Reply
  30. JO

    Great…I bet it will be a great gift for you too. It’s funny, I get dizzy on a ladder but love looking at the world from an airplane.

    Reply
  31. beachy

    Happy Birthday, French husband!
    Corey, your man was obviously born to fly; you know you can put your trust in him. Enjoy!!!

    Reply
  32. AnnieElf

    Magical Corey. I feel embraced. I’m sure it was doubly, triply, quadrupally so for French Husband.

    Reply
  33. Lorene

    Happy Birthday to Yann!!!
    Enjoy your flight! I have to hand it to you. I don’t think I could do it. I can’t wait to hear about your adventure!

    Reply
  34. Ulla

    LOVE KNOWS NO BOUNDRIES!!! Birthday blessings to Yann, and big California hugs to you!!!

    Reply
  35. Amanda

    congratulations! your trust is inspiring – I am sure you will not regret it! Happy flying! Happy Birthday!

    Reply
  36. Hasmin

    FH, Joyeux Anniversaire! (Virgo’s rock!)
    Corey, such a wonderful sentiment. Maybe I should go parasailing? 🙂

    Reply
  37. stephanie

    Happy Birthday to your beautiful French Husband….and yes!!! FLY!!!

    Reply
  38. marita

    je te souhaite une trés belle journée Yann et joyeux anniversaire. have a great day together corey!

    Reply
  39. Star

    Happy birthday to your rock! I hope your flight comes complete with white-knuckle pictures, brave girl.
    —————————
    Hi Star,
    Photos are a must…I hope I will be able to release my fingers from their tight grip to take some!!

    Reply
  40. phyllis

    French pastries are being served? Well then. Count me in, I want to go too!

    Reply
  41. BOSSY

    That’s a sweet gesture. But Bossy will just be here waving to you both from the ground, thank you.

    Reply
  42. delphine

    souhaitez lui un joyeux anniversaire!!!!
    and bravo Corey… I knew you were a firecracker!
    (and thanks for sharing!)
    delphine

    Reply
  43. Lisa M.S. Oceandreamer

    I believe you’ve been flying with him for many years…you’re just going to be in a plane this time. You fly on the wings of love and respect….You fly on the wings of nurture and togetherness….You fly on the wings of creating a family….You fly on the wings of travel and connecting two homelands….you fly on the spirit of two wholes that came together to create one solid rock!
    Happy Birthday to French Husband!
    XOXOXO

    Reply
  44. Shelley

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY YANN and have a great flight and good for you Corey.

    Reply
  45. elsa

    happy birthday to your rock! and good for you, enjoy every bit of it!have fun!

    Reply
  46. A Fanciful Twist

    You are?? Oh my goodness… Well, yes, this is love. Trust. Jumping and being sure you will be caught… Can’t wait to hear how it goes… I never flew with my ex love… But I would fly with my current love if he flew.. so, yes, that shows me the difference in love and trust… xxo

    Reply
  47. Gillian @ Indigo Blue

    What a delightful, insightful epiphany for you! I am jealous. Not of your French Husband. Not of your upcoming flight. Jealous of that rush of humanity you felt then and there.
    I want me some of that!
    I shall go seek it!
    xo
    Blue
    (maybe the key is to float like a butterfly?)

    Reply
  48. Elaine L.

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Yann!
    This is a beautiful heartfelt post, Corey.
    And,remember if you go down, at least you’ll be together. LOL
    ~elaine~ from SoCAL

    Reply
  49. angela marie

    Happy Birthday to French Husband!
    Hugs to you Corey!
    A beautiful post!

    Reply
  50. tinker

    What a lovely post about such a wonderful, joyous birthday gift, Corey! I’m sure he must be delighted you want to share in his new interest (you brave woman, you!). Wishing him a very happy birthday!
    xo

    Reply
  51. Marybeth

    Dearest Corey,
    Oh your gift of writing what lOVE TRULY IS resonates in my soul and i jump for joy with you!- dear kindred spirit,- for allowing the amazing love you share with your beloved to wash away your fears and allow you to get in that tiny plane ( yep scares me too).
    I look forward to reading more of this amazing experience !
    Namaste,
    MB in JTRee

    Reply
  52. Hanne

    Trust is a keyword to live by. I keep reminding myself.
    This weekend my firstborn left the nest – to study abroad. I follow her every step in my heart – but I can´t walk the way along with her, she´s on her own now. I love her, trust her – and let her go. It´s hard though…
    ———————
    Hi Hane
    My daughter started school yesterday, my first born too, not as far away as your daughter, but not at home nevertheless, my eyes well up just writing this
    I share your thoughts.

    Reply
  53. Steph W

    Happy Belated Birthday to your French husband and congratulations on your freedom to fly!

    Reply
  54. Lea

    Fly Corey, Fly!!!! Remember… my second date with my sweet husband was in his plane… and it was heaven, truly! Happy birthday to Yann and to the birth of your wings!!!! XO

    Reply
  55. Regina Clare Jane

    How beautiful, Corey- and happy birthday, FH… what a beautiful pair you make. Have fun soaring…
    xo

    Reply
  56. Marilyn

    Happy Belated Birthday to your handsome French husband! He must be quite a guy to have captured YOUR heart.

    Reply
  57. Paris Parfait

    A belated Happy Birthday to Yann and what a wonderful piece about trust! Hooray for your courageous decision, Corey!

    Reply
  58. Britt-Arnhild

    Oh, such a beautiful way to tell a love story.
    Your pen is blessed Corey.

    Reply
  59. Conni

    Yay, Corey! Having a true and loving relationship is such a precious gift that so few people ever experience. I am one of the only married people I know actually blessed with this type of relationship. I am thankful for it every day.
    Fly with him! 🙂

    Reply
  60. cruststation

    Wishing French Husband a very happy belated birthday. So true, so much blessing in finding one another to free-fall and trust with all your being. Enjoy the flight my friend 🙂

    Reply
  61. Mountain Dweller

    You would put your life into the hands of a Frenchman at the controls? Brave girl! Enjoy your flight 🙂

    Reply
  62. susanna

    Happy Belated Birthday, FH! Have you both gone flying together yet? If so, how was it??? And yes, I’ve felt that same way with my adventurous, sporty husband. I’m mountainbiking these days – something I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have taken up on my own. And I’m loving it!

    Reply
  63. susanna

    Hey, I’m curious… what things has Yann taken up since meeting you, Corey? He sounds like an open-minded, adventurous man so I’m betting there are several new things he’s tried since meeting creative, fun-loving you. 🙂

    Reply

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