French la Vie

My name is Susan May,

I am delighted to tell a bit of my story, here on Corey's blog. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska. 

 

Growing up far from the continental United States, travel has been part of my life since a toddler. 

 

 

 

 

 

Which made moving to Switzerland, 14 years ago, for my husband's job, an adventure more than a challenge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8 years into our life in Zurich, we had an opportunity to live in Munich for 3 years.  We embraced this change, and enjoyed Bavaria very much.

 

 

 

 

 

Then it was back to Switzerland, where we will remain … hmmm, until we begin to feel old!  Who knows when that will be?

 

I'm grateful for my life, and the opportunities we have had, while living in Central Europe.

 

 

 

 

Travel memories Chelland-Saint-Victor, Aosta Valley region of northwestern Italy. 

 

 

 

 

 

Hiking, of course is one of our greatest pleasures, we are fortunate to live in such incredible landscape.

Afternoon walks – in the paths a few kilometres from our place – that weave in and out of the forest. Love the fresh autumn air. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yesterday, we took the gentle, 25 minutes cable car to First,

above Grindelwald, in the Bernese Overland.

Elevation: 2,166 meters above sea level (7,106 ft.) at the station.

Fresh snow made it all the more beautiful.

We walked the trail up to Bachalpsee, a beautiful lake at 2,265 meters.

I look forward to returning in summer 2021.

 

(If you look closely, you can see the narrow cliff-walk that leads to a viewing platform that extends 45 meters out over the cliff face; I decided to skip it!)

 

 

 

 

 

Photo of my husband on our walk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

On another day we took a quiet train to Konstanz, just across the border, in Germany. While walking back to train station, I spotted a "Stolpersteine" in the cobblestone street. A quote from Michael Friedrichs-Friedländer, 69, the craftsman who makes each Stolperstein,

 

“I can’t think of a better form of remembrance;

if you want to read the stone,

you must bow before the victim.”

 

We see these type of memorial stones throughout our part of Europe

 

 

 

 

My husband and both love the outdoors and photography. The above photographs belong to my husband. You can see and read more about him

https://djessemay.com/about.html

 

 

 

                        Our Daughters – double trouble (I miss trouble)

 

Our daughters, Amberly and Allison, are both married and living in Illinois.  Amberly lives in a suburb of Chicago and works at a library. 

Allison lives near Lincoln Square in Chicago, and teaches English as a 2nd language. 

 

I've been missing air travel and my family in the United States, these past 8 months, tremendously – but of course I'm not the only one. 

 

Following along with Corey's experiences, while in California, earlier this year, I found much of her emotions, her thoughts of being in one home-place, while missing another home, resonating strongly with me.

 

I'm glad that I found her blog, Tongue in Cheek, when I had been in Zurich for just a few years.  Like the others who have shared recently, seeing life through Corey's eyes and learning about her home, their growing family, her love of the Brocante, her ties to the home-place in Willows – all have been an enriching experience.

 

I will close by telling you of a chance meeting at the San Francisco Airport, in November 2017.  After flying direct to SFO, I was feeling a bit fuzzy in the head, and rumpled in appearance as I made my way, following other passengers to Customs, to enter the country.  I looked to my left and gasped, because there was Corey and her husband, Yann.  I said "excuse me, I'm going to be that person who says 'I read your blog! You're Corey!' " Or something like that, honestly between jet lag and astonishment, it's amazing I was speaking in sentences.  They were both just as you would imagine – kind, friendly, and open to chatting for a few moments.  I was on my way to Alaska for Thanksgiving, and they were going to Willows for the holiday too – as a surprise for her family.This chance encounter made my day!

 

Corey, thanks for sharing your life with us.  Thanks for blogging. 

You are a blessing.

 

Follow Susan on Facebook and on Instagram

 

Zurich, Switzerland