Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

Since You’ve Been Gone

French Tower Clock face

 

Since you've been gone for eight months.

Yes that is how long Chelsea has been away.

Eight months.

Chelsea returns tonight. Needless to say I am excited, and busy cleaning her room. Not that she left it in a mess, heaven knows that would never happen.

Before Chelsea left she said, "I hope my room remains how I am leaving it." Well that lasted all but two seconds after she walked out the door.

Since you've been gone dear daughter your spotless room has become:

A catch all… yes.

A Brocante pit stop… yes

A bed for friends to sleep in… 23 times to be exact.

Plus Sacha used it as his bedroom a few times, since his bedroom has become the Brocante Headquarters / Looks-Like-a-Bomb-Exploded-in-There room.

And well a Flood happened when the roof leaked from the downpour/hail storm that ruined many a tile roofs in the area.

…. Since I am a last minute kind of person, and since I work best under pressure, and since I have had a million other things I would rather do then clean up Chelsea's room, TODAY is the DAY and the Time is NOW.

Chelsea is coming HOME!!! For a few days before heading to Paris for her last year of University… then her bedroom will return to the same ole' same ole'… Happy Place!

 

Comments

21 responses to “Since You’ve Been Gone”

  1. Marie-Noëlle

    ENJOY those privileged moments !!!

    Reply
  2. martina

    Something tells me Chelsea will be hugged for many minutes and her parents will be teary eyed. Welcome home Chelsea, no matter what the state of your room.

    Reply
  3. jody

    hurray…and i know it will be a sweet family reunion! enjoy the blessings of having your daughter at home..xoxoox jody

    Reply
  4. Massilianana

    It’s a very happy time indeed ! Same thing for me : my kids have been away for 6 weeks in Brazil with their father and I ve been working but also , I confess, enjoying a single-again type of life during that time : no cooking , enjoying drinks with friends after work, going to parties , being quite carefree with domestic chores…only this last week I had to do all the cleaning tidying organising that needed to be done. In this heat we are having I am telling you, I was a mess at the end of the day ! Now they are back and this is so ss sweet !!! So enjoy Chelsea s return home !

    Reply
  5. m

    My daughter is leaving for college tomorrow, junior year. Judging from the past she will not leave her room like Chelsea did…:) Missing her already..:( enjoy your time together!!

    Reply
  6. Marilyn

    Good luck with the cleaning! Enjoy Chelsea being home, savor each second.

    Reply
  7. g

    oh c- SO SO HAPPY FOR ALL – when does her brother return to the fold…good days indeed-i remember telling my mom the same thing about my room being in the same state when i used to leave for college and as i shared the space with my darling beloved sister who is the total opposite of me IT NEVER WAS AS I HAD LEFT IT…this post has made me smile and brought to mind small details of my life when my mom was still with us-I AM GRATEFUL TO YOU for that and my spirit is happy for that- thank you for stirring what was forgotten-

    Reply
  8. Kathie B

    Don’t forget to stock up on Camembert, and some fresh baguettes from the “good” bakery — yummmm!

    Reply
  9. Zosia

    LOL! Lilla is coming home tomorrow from her summer in Canada. I’ve been storing stuff in her room as well and am cleaning the room today and putting clean sheets on the bed. Happy airport meetings and hugs tomorrow, Corey.

    Reply
  10. le petit cabinet de curiosites

    Welcome Home

    Reply
  11. Jeannie

    Welcome home Chelsea!!! Wishing you hours of giggles, remembering, and being together – regardless of the state of her room. (Corey, the sachets arrived. They smell heavenly! Thank you so much. I also directed my dear heart to your brocante. A birthday is just around the corner and I thought what better place for him to shop!)

    Reply
  12. Jenna

    I’m sure it will be a happy homecoming, welcome home Chelsea.

    Reply
  13. Mardog

    Back to yesterday’s post. As I read it and scrolled down, all I could think about was how was brother Mat enjoying it. His comment didn’t disappoint.
    Enjoy your girl time Coco with Chelsea.

    Reply
  14. Nicol

    Welcome home Chelsea! Has it been long ?… Has it gone by quickly? I find myself in the same situation but at the beginning rather than the end. My eldest daughter has an internship in Vienna and won’t be home until February! She has only been gone a week and I find myself counting the days already. Thank goodness for modern technology like e-mail and Skype! So glad you are welcoming your girl home xo N

    Reply
  15. jend’isère

    Welcome back to your family and room! Brocante finds transfer from owner to owner but a daughter is the true treasure!

    Reply
  16. Tongue in Cheek

    I so agree!!

    Reply
  17. Paulita

    I remember the relief of coming home when I was in college, and now I know the mother’s joy of cleaning up and preparing for the homecoming. Enjoy your daughter.

    Reply
  18. cindy

    Ahhh I remember those days! I was told when my daughter went off to college many moons ago…do not turn her room into a sewing room, or a…whatever! Of course I did exactly as you did…it became a dumping ground…until she came back! Corey you do not know how closely I identify with you!!

    Reply
  19. Peggy Braswell

    Brought back sweet memories + arms around your whole family-Happy reunion. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com

    Reply
  20. Auping

    Welcome home!

    Reply
  21. Auping

    Cool photograph!

    Reply

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