Health and Happiness

October 7, 2013

While it seemed as if we were living in a fairy tale, (how could it not with the castle turrets and serene countryside?); reality is the manoir was cold and damp and our bodies subject to all sorts of germs.  The influenza that swept the midwest a few weeks earlier caught up to a few members in our group on Monday.  

Thankfully Artannes had a pharmacy with a sympathetic pharmacist who spoke enough English to recommend some cures.  Unlike the Walgreens in America, with its expansive aisles and broad range of inventory - this pharmacy was very small, and you basically had to ask the pharmacist for everything. Nothing is self-service here - it's all full-service with a smile.  Can anyone remember what that is like?  I'm appalled to think of the impression we make on the French when they visit our country.  

Anyway... in spite of a few health issues the happiness of everyone a broad stayed at record levels.  Also with no television, no phones, limited computer access and only a radio, we didn't find it difficult to entertain ourselves either. We found only one station that played music which ironically was American jazz - hosted by French DJ's - but it was the perfect backdrop to cook and eat by.  

One of my favorite evenings was spent in the lounge on the first floor which had a grand piano.  Luckily for us two of the guests (channeling the memories of childhood music lessons), managed to eek out a few tunes from sheet music discovered in the piano bench.  Several songs included two-part piano duets.  I'm not sure who had more fun, those of us listening - or the ladies at the ivory keyboard?  

The conversation at dinner was fascinating.  For those of you who know the members of the group, what you may not know is we didn't all know one another before our arrival.  Imagine travelling over 3000 miles (or more) to a foreign country, not knowing who you would be rooming with for a week?  For some strange reason, this did not worry me as much as the likelihood that I would board the wrong train and end up in Spain or something.  

We talked of so many things - a little about ourselves, our shared love of our pets, work, life, death, resurrection, life's hard knocks, but mostly our thoughts on what we saw during our daily treks in the countryside.  "We talked of cats and kings, and wine and things..."  

I can't speak for the rest of the group, but I've returned stateside recharged. I feel as if I've been blessed to find others who are adventurous, kind, generous, fun-loving, artistic, imaginative - kindred spirits; and who are wonderfully almost French. Une âme sœur est un éternel ami. Translated: A kindred spirit is an eternal friend.