When I was nineteen I entered a Benedictine monastery in Pecos New Mexico. I stayed a few years. Most women who enter a monastery want to become a nun. I wanted to become a priest.
My desire to be a priest, and life in the monastery is another story.
While at the monastery I met another young woman named Cheryl, she was from Australia. We became fast friends and have remained so throughout the years.
Cheryl returned to Australia, married and had a family. Most of you know my story, I left the monastery… and eventually met and married a French man and moved to France.
Cheryl has come to visit me and I have visited her.
This week her oldest daugher is staying with us.
I met Alice when she was two or three. She looked like Sacha, they both had blonde curlier than curly hair, rosy cheeks and were "pickle peppers". Adorable, sleepless, beautiful babies. Alice admired Chelsea and wanted to wear only her clothes. Chelsea didn't mind.
Alice has a fashion sense, she still loves clothes. When Annie met her yesterday she said, "Alice dresses like a French girl. Chic et classe."
When went to Arles today, we were in Cassis yesterday. Provence looks and feels very different in the winter. We have Provence to ourselves.
As we walked around I clicked a few photos of Alice under the pretense that I had to for mother's sake. French Husband knows me well, he sighed, "Alice I am glad you are taking my place usually she takes photos of me."
I confessed, "I like to have a subject. The subject matters."
Chocolat chaud matters especially mid afternoon to take the chill off.
The Arles arena is a lovely subject.
Especially against a backdrop with wispy clouds.
We walked along.
Taking random side streets.
Talking about this and that.
Admiring the facades, the doorways, the faded wonder of Arles.
Bottle caps ornaments hung in a shop window,
they caught my attention,
though Alice's reflection in the window mattered more.
She didn't even know I was taking her photo.
The subject matters whether past, present or future.
"Seriously who wants photos of my shoes?" I asked.
The sweet subject matters.
Dear Cheryl,
Thank you for sending Alice, I am going to keep her.
Love Corey
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