A few weeks ago, when I first arrived back home in California, French Husband called, my mom answered the phone. By the sound of her voice I knew something wasn't right.
She said, "Hi Yann. Oh no. Really? No. What? How? Oh my God. Oh no… let me pass the phone to Corey."
I wondered: What else could happen! It had been a to-the-edge-of-the-cliff-type-of-year. Which included our friend Thierry's battle with bi-polar ism, the apartment in Paris leaks and near fire, Annie's illness, My mother in law's stroke, an avalanche, Yann's car accident…
My mother casually passed the phone to me saying, "Your house had a fire and you lost everthing." Then she simply turned around and walked away.
I starred at her blankly as she went into the kitchen, was she is shock or just teasing me, "You're joking right?" I questioned her given her calm regard towards the matter. Truly who says, "Your house had a fire and you lost everything," and walks away?
My mom turned around and said, "No, its true."
I put the phone to my ear and asked, "Yann?"
French Husband told me that our chimney had caught on fire, a flue fire.
By law chimneys in France must be swept yearly. We had our paperwork in order, plus the purchase slips of the wood we have bought. Our house is documented four hundred years old, and is on three levels… the stone chimney had tar glazed creosote that was nearly as strong as the stone itself.
Luckily, a neighbor smelled the fire and called the fire department.
Photo via Wallpaper for your computer.
I listened patiently to every word French Husband uttered. He spoke as calmly as my mother did. I began to wonder if I was dreaming. French Husband is a drama king. Maybe the drama in our lives had finally made him indifferent to real drama? Whatever it was it was too strange.
Photo of painting by Fernand Leger via Poul Webb.
Our house is okay… though our chimney is not, nor the stone mantle. The floor boards are ruined by the water used to put out the fire, and the walls are smoke stained. The house has a hint of smoke, which Chanel will never recreate as house perfume.
As it is winter, and as the insurance company has yet to make a report our house is a tad bit cold. Think coat and scarf while dining.
Our fireplace had an insert which kept our entire house warm.
Spot heaters do not heat stone walls.
Photo and painting by Mayke, via Living Art and Sea in Provence.
To the edge of the cliff, but not over. Our home is safe. Hint of smoke yes, but that is minor.
I guess Santa and the Big Bad Wolf will have to wait.
Now to pick paint colors and a new mantle.
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