Commandments

Commandments (Eng.)/ Commandments (Fr.): a divine rule; a set of rules to be observed as strictly as the ten commandments.

I wonder if he actually stuck to this.

Vers la bas

Downswing (Eng.) Vers la bas (Fr.) n. : a downturn; downwards

For a young lady, Gabourey Sidibe sure is wise. Watching this short interview with her on the definition of friendship caused me to take pause. To recognize that there are friends who are the first to show up when you are in crisis, but those same friends are the last to offer you a congratulations. I imagine that the same in true in reverse. And that is okay to have these two types of friends as long as you know what to expect from that friendship.

But, is it possible to have, or to be, a friend that swings both ways? I suppose that is what a best friend is. And something I am being extra conscious of these days in terms of the type of friend I strive to be.
 

Surprise

Surprise (Fr.)/ Surprise (Fr.) v. : To cause to feel wonder, astonishment or amazement at something unanticipated.

The word surprise is the same in French as it is in English. It's just pronounced differently. No matter how you say it, surprise was exactly what happened to my newly 40-year old friend earlier this summer.

His partner had covertly arranged to have his friends from all of the world come to their house in Bourgogne for a surprise birthday weekend bash. Lucky for them that their house can sleep upwards of 14 people because remarkably his friends arrived from all over the world-- from the west coast of the US to New Zealand.

Getting him away from the house for the day on Friday proved challenging, but nothing an all day wine tasting couldn't resolve.

While he was out the guests began showing up, complete with various versions of jet lag. Everyone then proceeded to take the element of surprise up a notch by wearing disguises. George Washington wigs, masks, scarves, etc. were put to task. The fact that we all began our own "wine tasting" helped in the costume creativity department.

When he arrived, we were all huddled into the candlelit wine cave out in the backyard.

He was instructed to "go pick an evening bottle of wine from the cave" (like ya do when you live in Bourgogne, France). He opened the wine cave door and BAM! I think his suprise was actually a blend of overwhelming joy and sheer terror, as he could not make out a single person. Alas the big reveal unfolded over the next hour-- one by one their identities were revealed.

The entire weekend was non stop laughter, story telling, impromptu cabaret performances, bonding, and wine tastings. Perfection!

Déborder

Déborder (Fr.) / Overflow (Eng.) v.: to fill beyond capacity; to have boundless supply; to flow or run over the top.

This has definitely been one of the most memorable summers of my life.

I have given myself permission to lean into it and to get lost in the non-stop joyful experiences that it has produced. It was the epitome of the work hard/ play hard philosophy. Sure, there were times when I thought "Good grief, I should hop off this ride and catch my breath. This is too much for one girl to take in." But instead of listening to that voice of lack, I did the opposite and am now able to take a step back and reflect on everything that has been happening.

So bear with me as I begin to recap this summer's incredible journey filled with surprise birthday parties in Bourgogne, jet skiing in Cannes, dining alfresco in Aix en Provence, Gay Pride weekend in Paris, first class train trips to Amsterdam, world horticultural exhibition in Venlo, and the trip of a lifetime through Italy. All to be captured somehow over the next few posts.

My cup runneth over.

Séduction

Seduction (Eng.)/ Séduction (Fr.) vb.: To lead or draw away as from principles, faith, or allegiance. To win over, attract or entice.

It should comes as no surprise that the timing of this exhibition in Paris and the recent outbreak of popularity of the 50 Shades of Grey books in the United states is auspicious.

"My job as a portrait photographer is to seduce, amuse and entertain."

- Helmut Newton

(Helmut Newton Exhibition, Grand Palais, Paris, Juillet 29, 2012)

"There must be a certain look of availability in the women I photograph... I think the woman who gives the appearance of being available is sexually much more exciting than a woman who is completely distant. The sense of availability I find erotic."

- Helmut Newton

(Charlotte Rampling, hotel Nord-Pinus, Arles, 1973 by Helmut Newton)

"Photography was always his mistress, and I was his wife. Let's say it was an open marriage."

June Newton (aka Alice Springs), Helmut's model, muse and wife.

(Helmut Newton, Monte Carlo, 1987 by June Newton, aka Alice Springs)

"Look, I'm not an intellectual. I just take pictures."

- Helmut Newton

(Catherine Deneuve, Paris, 1976, by Helmut Newton)

Juin

Juin (Fr.)/ June (Eng.) noun: The sixth month of the year, in the northern hemisphere usually considered the first month of summer.

Smack dab in the middle of the year I find myself traveling more, with more social  and business engagements than all of last year. In addition, I have been house hunting in a medieval village in Bourgogne, France. And in July I will be going to The Netherlands for the first time and then Munich. Amidst all of this movement there has been a whole lot of reflection. Yet it is not the type of reflection that I am used to. You see, in the past I have induced my own reflective periods and conversed and pondered them intentionally. But now it seems to be happening under the surface, without any prompting from me. I am not even sure what it is all about.

"We cannot see our reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see."
- Taoist proverb

So does that mean I won't find out until August when things become still again?

Contemporains

Contemporaries (Eng.)/ Contemporains (Fr.) noun: a person or thing living or existing at the same time as another. A person at roughly the same age as another.

What I am reading now...

While my American contemporaries are reading 50 Shades of Grey I seem to be heading in an opposite direction.

What's new.