Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

Just to Good to be True

Sunburst mirror

 

 

No I did not find a million dollars in an old chest at the brocante, nor did I win the lottery (called Loto in France). Instead after five weeks of not using my camera, and for me that is like saying: Not breathing, I picked up my camera and took a photo.

 

 

Sunburst mirror gilded

 

The wedding dress… I couldn't stand not being able to take a real photo! The dress needed my bigger camera, the iPhone has served me well, but I needed a bit more than it could give me. Hence I grabbed my chuncky monkey camera, moved the lens 'come what may' with my good hand while resting the camera on the table, then I picked it up and balanced it on my bad arm, it was a slow effort and painful, but the happiness it brought was better than any ten boxes of chocolates.

 

 

Camaro hand

 

 

My amazing hand

 

Practice makes perfect.

Wedding dress photos tomorrow!

 

 

Have you had the will and the way came?

 

Comments

22 responses to “Just to Good to be True”

  1. Rhonda

    Are you kidding me? Living in Chicago all alone, I once put an air conditioner in my window and almost dropped it out the window. I always lived in vintage buildings without central air, so….it would get so warm and where there’s a will there’s a way.
    Friends would come over and ask, you didn’t put that air conditioner in the window by yourself, did you? I’d roll my eyes to the side and smile. 5’2 and full of strength.

    Reply
  2. Paulita

    Yippee. Here’s to using all of our limbs safely!

    Reply
  3. Kathie B

    At our “starter” house, I painted the bathroom while Farmboy Husband was back on the farm for a brief visit with family.
    The lower half of the bathroom walls had lovely butter-yellow tiles with black edging — but, inexplicably, the previous owners had painted the ceiling and upper half of the walls a deep lavender-gray (a hideous shade even for this lover of lavender and gray, and a most UN-complimentary complimentary shade to the yellow of the tiles).
    We’d bought matching yellow paint for the task just before Farmboy Husband left on his trip, planning to do the paint-job together upon his return. But in his absence I. Just. Couldn’t. Stand. looking at that lavender-gray even one day longer.
    So I got to work: cleared out movable stuff, masking-taped the edges of the window panes and tiles, hauled the step-ladder up from the basement (brand-new model with rubber gripping on the bottom, so less likely to “do the splits” than Corey’s old one), re-shook the paint, got all my other gear ready, tied a bandana over my head — and voilà! In a few hours, a yellow + yellow bathroom with black tile trim — even did the ceiling by myself, despite being slightly nervous on ladders.
    I was so delighted with my results that the next day I walked over to the mall with a paint chip and bought matching butter-yellow towels and wash-cloths!
    When Farmboy Husband returned home a few days later, he was absolutely amazed, and impressed with my work (well, why wouldn’t he be? He’d taught me!). I’ve always wondered, though, whether he felt slightly less indispensable around the house after that ;-))))
    (At our second house, I laid out all the courses of the random-length hardwood flooring in two rooms — rather like solving a Diophantine equation) for each row (LOL!) so that nothing would be left over from each bundle of pieces and each row reached from wall-to-wall, preferably without having to saw any of the pieces in two — although Farmboy Husband did do the hammering).

    Reply
  4. Paula S In New Mexico

    I have the will and am waiting patiently for the way to show itself. One day I will come for a stay in France, not just a week vacation but more like an extended period of time, where maybe I can house sit for someone, explore, absorb, spend endless days painting and sketching and eating and oh…….living in heaven………I know the way will reveal itself some day. I’m patient. I am hopeful. And I believe.

    Reply
  5. Sam

    Bravo! Mind over matter, I knew you’d manage. I cannot wait to see the dress tomorrow.

    Reply
  6. martina

    Um, let’s see. I built a pegboard back wall for the workbench area and have all the hand tools arranged on it. Built a gate for the veggie garden using old picket fence. Had fenced the entire area earlier using recycled black plastic fencing. Wish I dared to take the a/c out of the window like Rhonda, but a friend and I have it in there so secure it is a two person job.

    Reply
  7. Isa

    I am working on that right now with all of my heart. I have the will and am praying for the way back to good health.
    Corey, you know how amazing I think you are, and you keep validating it again and again. Your strength and how you live life to the fullest is so inspirational. Seeing your little wrist like that makes me want to hug you and help you hold your camera for you, though.
    Can’t wait to see the wedding through your lovely eye.
    xo isa

    Reply
  8. pattyg

    It’s so great to see your wrist. And with therapy 3x a week, hopefully the function will come along bit by bit!

    Reply
  9. Delphine

    Earlier this year I painted the lounge room with the help of my grownup son (who had never painted anything before, so it was a teaching moment). My arthritis wasn’t too bad and we did it in a day. My husband is ill and can no longer do this sort of stuff. It all looked good and that left the floor. It is slate and needed re sealing but first the old stuff had to come off. I scoured each tile on my hands and knees with steel wool. I did three rows at a time. It took me a few days and me knees, shoulders and hands complained loudly but I did it. After that the sealing was easy and now it all looks wonderful. I honestly didn’t think I could do it, but I did, and pat myself on the back occasionaly.

    Reply
  10. deborah

    Yay! I’m so excited for you! I love to take pictures too. Sometimes my camera sits because we are just plain busy, but I would hate not being able to pick it up and shoot.

    Reply
  11. deborah

    “5’2 and full of strength”…I love it! 🙂

    Reply
  12. Kimberly

    Yay! Blessings, Kimberly

    Reply
  13. Christine

    Hooray for you, Corey!

    Reply
  14. amylia

    Yes! Whoop Whoop, Corey! You look at home! You know what they say, Leap and the Net Will Appear! 🙂 Your photos make my day! 🙂

    Reply
  15. Marilyn

    Can’t wait to see it. Take care!

    Reply
  16. Heather-roo

    Ten years ago I started a Ph.D. program in clinical psychology. 9/11 happened, my husband became very sick, I became very sick, my school told me many times to meet deadlines I could not meet. About a month ago, I defended my dissertation, and if I can survive a few more tasks/deadlines/etc., by the grace of God I may finally get my degree next year. No matter how weak and sick I was, I never stopped putting one foot in front of the other. My sister sent me a card that showed a snail inching straight up the step of a flower. I am that snail.

    Reply
  17. jend’isère

    The golden sunburst mirror typifies your lofty ideas with a reasonable air of being well-grounded.

    Reply
  18. littlebadwolf

    foxx’s book of martyrs?

    Reply
  19. Zosia

    Perhaps your physiotherapist could design some exercises involving the camera and photo taking?

    Reply
  20. Brenda, Walker, LA, USA

    Good for you! I often command myself and my flesh to get moving because I know the end result pays off! I will stare at the wedding dress pictures for a slow and long time, enjoying your efforts! Makes me want to take on that kind of project! However, I will transfer that desire into getting my Christmas look together!!!! :/)

    Reply
  21. Amy Kortuem

    Congratulations! Baby steps, and you’ll have two fully functioning photo hands soon!

    Reply
  22. Penny

    Magnificent. One step at a time, then two, then three and off you go on your road to recovery.

    Reply

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