Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

Broken Made Whole

Broken Made Whole

 

 

I happened to be walking by when I heard glass breaking looking down I saw the broken inkwell.

"Zut!" sighed the dealer, as he looked at the broken inkwell on the ground. Bending down he picked up the pieces declaring, "Poubelle!"

 

 

 

Broken Made Whole

 

 

My ears perked when I heard the word, "Poubelle" which means garbage in French.

"Bonjour Monsieur," I said politely, before asking, "If you are going to throw that broken inkwell away, can I have it instead?"

 

 

Broken Made Whole

 

Laughing, he handed it to me saying, "Saves me a trip to the garbage, here take it."

 

 

Broken Made Whole

 

Broken, saved, came home with me, Mother-in-law's nimble fingers glued it, now rests secured by my bedside.

At the right place at the right time, or symbolically broken made whole.

Comments

31 responses to “Broken Made Whole”

  1. Natacha

    Lucky inkwell!

    Reply
  2. jackie

    like you…

    Reply
  3. jackie

    I meant like your wrist…:)

    Reply
  4. Merisi in Vienna

    Lovely true story.
    May all heal that well!
    xxx

    Reply
  5. Rhonda P.

    That inkwell was meant to be yours.

    Reply
  6. Cheryl ~ Casual Cottage Chic

    Repaired with love; and is still striking even with its lines (wrinkles) 😉

    Reply
  7. missy

    love that the inside is beautiful as well…which we would not have seen had it not been broken…..nice metaphor. Fits!
    missy from the bayou

    Reply
  8. LA CONTESSA

    I thought you were going to say that the “garbage” word meant MORE BEAUTIFUL!Because as YOU photographed it it was truely STUNNING!
    elizabeth
    http://www.vintagehenhouse.com

    Reply
  9. LA CONTESSA

    I thought you were going to say that the “garbage” word meant MORE BEAUTIFUL!Because as YOU photographed it it was truely STUNNING!
    elizabeth
    http://www.vintagehenhouse.com

    Reply
  10. Marie-Noëlle

    Dealer’s clumsy fingers …
    Mother in law’s healing fingers …
    … balming your wrist and heart !!!

    Reply
  11. Karen@PasGrande-Chose

    Lovely, apt imagery! May your poor broken wrist heal and be restored as beautifully!

    Reply
  12. Penny

    It has been said that broken bones, and inkwells, are stronger after the healing. Your imagery, both in words and in pictures, is superb! Keep healing.

    Reply
  13. Marilyn

    It is beautiful, just as your spirit is beautiful. May you soon be mended and whole again.

    Reply
  14. somepinkflowers

    i love Your Vision
    and
    other
    things
    like
    Taste
    and
    Wit.
    seriously…

    Reply
  15. Kathie B

    Presumably the inkwell can no longer contain liquid, but perhaps you could use it as a vase for dried flowers or leaves? Or found feathers? Or as a pen or pencil holder. Or…?

    Reply
  16. martina

    It looks lovely. Sometimes repaired objects are more special than ones that are perfection. I think you should store some dried lavender in the inkwell or maybe Yann could write little fortune cookie paper size love notes to you and store them there.

    Reply
  17. gayle

    Love that you were able to save it!

    Reply
  18. Isa

    Right place, right time, indeed! I personally think it is more beautiful and displays deeper character with it’s scars. Lovely piece, and it found the perfect home!
    xo isa

    Reply
  19. denise

    what a fine treasure. it is bee u t ful. sounds like you can live with “as is” just as well as i can. it’s a keeper. Bestest,Denise

    Reply
  20. Linda R.

    Beautiful … may you heal well. I have appreciated and admired your continuing reflections in the midst of the pain and inconvenience.

    Reply
  21. Kimberly

    I always say I am a cracked pot! Aren’t we all? Blessings, Kimberly

    Reply
  22. Brenda L. from TN.

    …and it’s STILL very pretty!

    Reply
  23. Denise Moulun-Pasek

    “A thing of beauty is a joy forever.” – John Keats Even when it has been broken and restored. Maybe more so.
    May your healing be as swift in the loving hands of FH and belle-mère.
    Love,
    D.

    Reply
  24. Becky F

    My grandmother had a piece of Roseville pottery that she had received as a wedding gift in 1929. She always had it on the top shelf of her small corner cabinet. My grandparents did not have any fancy china or possessions and she was very proud of that vase. She would always remind me that it was ” my Roseville”. So when I was 13 I decided that I should do some dusting and I accidentally dropped the piece of Roseville. It broke into many pieces. I immediately started to cry since I knew how precious it was to her. She of course only comforted me and then said “lets put it back together”. We proceeded to glue the vase back together and then she said “perfect” and placed it back on the shelf. When she died 15 years ago and we were going through her belongings my aunt was getting ready to throw it out since it was broken, crudely glued back together. Of course I took the vase and proudly display it in my home today. To me it represents the love of a beautiful woman and how she still found beauty in imperfect things. I miss her so.

    Reply
  25. Brenda, Walker, LA, USA

    It still has it’s Bed-side-table charm! We call these pieces “as-is and well loved”!

    Reply
  26. Irina

    I would do the same, Corey. It’s beautiful! How can you throw away such prettiness?
    Even if I had to dig in the garbage for it, I would 🙂

    Reply
  27. Limner

    Sometimes luck is being in the right place at the right time. 🙂 It’s lovely.

    Reply
  28. Mika McDonald

    I love what you write. I love that you write it. I love how you invite life in. I love how you inspire thoughtfulness. I love that you are who you are, as you are. I fell and broke my shoulder about 5 weeks ago and couldn’t find any words so Lovely and inspiring as the ones you write every day! thank you.

    Reply
  29. Mika McDonald

    What a sweet story!

    Reply
  30. Tongue in Cheek

    Hi Becky F.
    Tears swelled in my eyes.
    Beautiful lessons on seeing beauty behind the dust, broken and aged.
    I am happy the Roseville is in your heart and home.
    C

    Reply
  31. Jane Ann

    Just shows that things that are broken never lose their beauty, but gain character. I think we are like that too. Our trials may harm us, but they give us beauty and character. Thank you for the beautiful picture and reminder of this.

    Reply

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