Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

Faithful and True

Faithful and True

 

 

 

 We have lived for nearly twenty-some years in the countryside outside of Marseille. Before that, we lived in Marseille and Paris. Our oldest friends, or my oldest friends in France, live in Marseille. We met over twenty years ago, but that is another story.

Michelle and Herve invited us to lunch today.

 

 

Faithful and True

 

 

 

Michelle's youngest son, Nicolas, and Morgane had a baby boy six weeks ago. I knew Nicolas when he was six or so. Today, I held his baby. 

The years felt like silk ribbons connecting us, a Maypole dance of sorts.

Michelle helped me a great deal when I lived in Marseille. At that time, Chelsea was three, and Sacha was a newborn. I had ovarian cancer. Michelle was a lifesaver. I will never forget her love, her help, and her constant care in my life at that moment. There was another of my family, Erika… Ellen… and my French connection Michelle.

 

As I plan to blog differently this year, I will be showing you more of my intimate circle. Michelle and her family are a big part of that circle: A generous ribbon of unimaginable color.

 

 

Faithful and True

 

 

Nicholas and his newborn son Leon.

 

The joy of holding life newly given.

 

 

Faithful and True

 

 

Michelle and Herve have three sons and five grandchildren so far. The photo above is of their oldest granddaughter, Anna.

I loved the light playing around her, the intensity of her inspiring scissors, and the play of shadows as she created.

 

 

Faithful and True

 

Michelle is an excellent, inventive cook. Every meal ends with a salad and cheese from the Basque region where she grew up.

I have favorable memories of sharing and being around their table. Oh, that international table where hunger is never known.

 

Marseille by Corey Amaro

 

Marseille today at the old port.

 

 

Who is one of your oldest friends?

 

Comments

26 responses to “Faithful and True”

  1. Joan

    This is wonderful to have a little snapshot into your “ordinary” daily life. Thank you. Not that I would ever imagine a part of the Corey-life as “ordinary” because extra-ordinary seems to surround you!

    Reply
  2. g

    as always pure delight in this post-we grew up in a cul-de-sac and across the street lived a family with 2 girls and a boy. the oldest girl was born shortly after my brother and my mom and her mom were in the hospital at the same time-The 2 girls are Clare and Carolyn -being with them is being home no matter where we are-the laughs, the memories, the warmth the comfort-I am on air after seeing either one of them they bring a smile to my face even now as I am writing this!

    Reply
  3. WR

    Ah! Baby Love…
    Two of my three oldest friends have passed… I am blessed with newer but just as dear friends since…

    Reply
  4. JoleneMarie

    Ohhhh, you got me when you said “Basque region”…my maternal Grandmother was born in Urepel…I WISH I could visit the area!!!
    Beautiful post as always, Cory. xxx

    Reply
  5. Debra

    What a beautiful baby! My oldest friend is godmother to my children. We met in 10th grade. She is always there for us, her kindness extraordinary. And, thank God for the wonderful friends I didn’t even know I had during the last few months.

    Reply
  6. carol

    Precious newborns and beautiful longtime friendships, what special experiences you’ve shared with us today. I’m truly moved. Thank you dear, Corey.

    Reply
  7. Marilyn

    That cheese is immense!
    Love seeing the baby, he looks very much
    like my grandson at that age. My grandson’s
    grandfather is French.
    My oldest friend was born 6 days before me and
    we were neighbors and playmates as young children.
    As adults we have only seen each other a couple
    times, but still consider ourselves the first best
    girl friends. Dear friends are precious and worth
    appreciating fully.

    Reply
  8. paula s in new mexico

    My husband, of course.
    Hug

    Reply
  9. Cathi

    My oldest friend lives 5 hours from me and we see each other a few times a year. Who knew that the day we met in 7th grade would turn into a lifelong friendship – 45 years so far! We’ve been through it all together – having children and for her, grandchildren, the sudden death of her husband and my divorce after a 20 year marriage along with many other adventures. We always pick up right where we left off and we both cherish our friendship so much! Your friend sounds absolutely wonderful and her grandchild is so beautiful! xxoo

    Reply
  10. Claudia

    What a beautiful baby!
    And since you asked…
    A few days ago I turned 60. In the morning I received a phone call from my college sweetheart who I hadn’t heard from in nearly 40 years! His birthday is a few days before mine, and he remembered, so he thought he’d look me up. We both have families and fulfilling lives, but it was nice to hear his voice again.
    And at the end of the conversation, before he hung up he said, ‘I’ve always loved you.’ What a wonderful birthday present! (…although I realize he was talking to the girl I used to be, quite a bit younger and svelter than the woman I am today! But that’s okay.)

    Reply
  11. Chico Sue

    Is there anything better than sharing the joy of grandparenthood with old friends?! Two years ago, my husband and I spent ten days together with eight other high school friends in a villa in Tuscany. We all go “way back” together. We are in our 70s and we laughed and danced and ate like we were teenagers again. Thank God for old friends!

    Reply
  12. Jann

    Such a beautiful and precious baby…each one is a
    small miracle.
    My husband is my best friend and we have been married
    for almost 52 years…the years do fly by.
    My best girl friend moved across the street from me
    when I was ten, and we have remained friends through
    the years. We live far apart, but always keep in
    contact…we talk on the phone frequently. I miss
    being with her, but at least we can talk and share
    what is happening in our lives.

    Reply
  13. Jeanne

    Babies are bits of stardust sent from God’s own hands.
    How beautiful indeed I love to hear your stories and see your photographs. Each one is very precious indeed.
    Love Jeanne

    Reply
  14. Linda P.

    As you probably experienced when you had cancer, those with cancer soon learn that some people surprise you with their caring and some surprise you when they disappear. I will always remember how my friend Debby was there with me and my family, along with my extended family. She is the younger sister of someone my husband dated before he dated me. He had stayed friends with their family, and so I was soon introduced to them when my husband and I were dating. Debby and her husband married six weeks before my husband and I did, and I borrowed Debby’s veil. As young married women, we drove to and from work in another town together every morning. We each moved several times but luckily had ended up living only blocks from each other when I was diagnosed with cancer all those years ago, when my girls were ten and fifteen.

    Reply
  15. Cindy

    I look forward every morning to opening up my emails and finding the link to Tongue in Cheek. I start my day with you, Corey, and you never disappoint…..never. (I read this blog for two years before I signed up to receive notices via email.) Your words today especially touched me because you talk about cancer and friends. Having taken care of my husband as he battled cancer twice, I, too, experienced those close friends and those who disappeared. I have been friends with Patty since we met in kindergarten. Now, Patty is dying of a rare cancer and I don’t live too far from her. We are spending time laughing and remembering and sometimes even arguing (mildly and jokingly) at how we both recall the same event….but differently. God is giving us a different time in our friendship and I’m so glad we are getting this time. Long-time friends share so much in so many different ways and most of the time it is just a part of me….a loving part of my life for as long as I can remember.

    Reply
  16. Robin

    My oldest friend is George. We met in college in 1982, studied painting together in Venice, Italy and have been best friends from the moment we met.
    We’ve been through love affairs, marriages, divorces, and deaths together. He stood by my side with me & JeanPaul at my sister’s funeral. I read “If” by Rudyard Kipling at his father’s funeral.
    Friendships like these are little miracles. Boats we can count on when the seas get rough. What makes these relationships so special is that each person gives and takes in equal measure.

    Reply
  17. Karen Carson

    Last weekend i drove to Chico (via Willows!) to visit my dear friends Karen and Armond, their daughter and husband, and meet their new grand-baby Ella…what a joy to be with friends and to see the three generations of lovely women.

    Reply
  18. Peggy Braswell

    I get to see my old friend every weekend or so + ahhh the joy of being an old friend to someone + pure joy. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com

    Reply
  19. Kathie B

    Our oldest dozen or so friends are all from Cal, so those who know our ages can do the math ;-)))

    Reply
  20. monika

    I met my oldest friend, Patricia, when I was in grade 8 and she was in grade 9. We lived in the same city only that one year, but miraculously, have stayed in touch over the decades.
    Patricia has a blog, and on her very short blogroll, she has…. (drumroll please) TONGUE IN CHEEK!!!!
    I’ve never mentioned it to her, or her to me, but there it is… we are in agreement, and we both love you and your blog!
    (Funny about kindred souls, isn’t it? 😉 )
    Right now, her son is going through radiation and chemo for Ewing’s Sarcoma, and I wish we lived closer together. The funny thing about having had cancer is that you know how to reach out to others going through it and other difficulties.
    Corey, I never knew you went through cancer — ovarian cancer — when the children were so young, and so far from family. What a harrowing experience that must have been. But, it brought you Michelle, and all these beautiful silk ribbons tying you to such wonderfulness and joy.
    And you are fearless in reaching out to others in your turn… was it this experience that made you so? I know my cancer changed me that way, and for that, I am grateful every day.

    Reply
  21. Bridget

    My oldest and dearest friend is Deb. She is everything I’m not and I love her more for it. We became fast friends when we were seven years old on the play ground at school. Deb was the super fun adventurous girl at recess that skipped a metal ring as she went down the line and twirled round and round with one leg over the metal bars. I’m the safe girl that never skipped a ring, and stayed on the swings. And of course I never jumped from the swing. Forty three years of a wonderful friendship and counting.

    Reply
  22. labergerebasque

    I would recognize that tombe of ardi gasna (sheep’s milk chees) ANYWHERE and your photo is particularly beautiful. NOTHING like breathing in new life to remind you of heaven and paradise 🙂

    Reply
  23. labergerebasque

    I have known my friend Eliane since we were 2 years old. Our parents had a Basque restaurant near LA at that time and yes, we were/are ALL from the Basque Country. She truly is my sister in every which way you can define the word. She “carried” me through my divorce, the death of my brother, Paxkal’s cancer and the estrangement and “reconnection” of my daughters…she is truly my guardian angel. Thank heaven for FaceTime and her total acceptance and non-judgement…life would have been insupportable without her.

    Reply
  24. Rosemary

    One of my oldest friends is Carol Ann. We met in 1979 when our younger children started kindergarten. We lived across a cul de sac from each other then. We have each moved a number of times and are now two hours from each other, but are still very close. I am so blessed to have such a dear friend.

    Reply
  25. suetinker@mac.com

    When I was in Marseilles last fall, I took dozens of photos at the harbor. Not one was 1/2 as cool as the masts photo here. Thanks for all you share.

    Reply
  26. Teresa Young

    One of my oldest friends, is Mark…he and I were christened in our church on the same day, joined the church on the same day, went to kindergarten together, went to each others birthday parties, and graduated from high school together. Today, his wife is my broker and best friend. She has always appreciated our friendship.
    I loved this post…ending a meal in salad and cheese. So very foreign (what a play on words!) to me, but equally sounds so inviting.

    Reply

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