Day 49 - SkyLines from the French Lock-down: Dreams and Memories

Salut les amis! (Hi friends!) The approaching end of our confinement is now just a week away. The village is so excited and fearful at the same time. If only life could return to normal! But we know that's not how it's going to be. The anticipation is tinged with an underline of worry... It's time to hold on to your happiest dreams and memories. They have the ability to heal us when we are afraid. And courage - there will be new days and the chance to find good times again. 

The Cathedral bells in Perpignan

Day 49 - The sound of birds and the bright sunlight filtered in through the partly open shutters. We slept better for having fresh, cool night air. It was early and I turned to see that Y, my French partner, was awake. He grinned and said, "J'ai rêvé que j'ai gainé une fortune!" (I

Place Hyacinthe Riguard in Perpignan

dreamed I won a fortune!) I said, "What a great dream. I was dreaming we were at the beach.  How did you win a fortune?" "At the Casino with my brother," he said. "Cool," I said and smiled because we never go to casinos. Dreams are nice. 

We ate and took an early walk in town. A few neighbors talked about the fear that when things open up on Monday, the deaths will mount again. It's a probability. But we can't do anything else. People need to earn money to pay their bills. I hope that this time we have stayed at home has given the health care sector time to prepare. It's all scary.  But there is also an anticipation about how good it will be to leave the time and distance restrictions behind. Right now we are limited to a kilometer around the house. Next week it will be a hundred kilometers! I can feel it coming - Road Trip! Well, maybe. We'll see.

After lunch, I noticed in my photo timeline a memory from last May. I showed Y the photos and he said, "I remember that day. The weather in May was not like today last year!" It's been beautiful and really warm all day today -

Timbered building in Perpignan

in the sunshine anyway. Last year it could have been bucketing down spiders and snakes and I'd have just smiled out from under my umbrella. Y and I had begun dating two months earlier and it was the dawn of new love. I felt seventeen every time we saw each other or sent texts on the days we were working apart. Thinking about it made me fillet through my photo file and I came across a day to share. A day  in Perpignan "From the times before the Virus."

It was a sunny day early in May. My new boyfriend - oh my gosh wow - I have a new boyfriend and I'm 58 - wow! Okay. Let's finish the sentence. My new boyfriend texted "Good morning," in English because he was working on learning more words in my language. The rest was in French. He asked would I like to have coffee in Perpignan? He was living there and it was going to be a beautiful day. I said I could be there in twenty minutes. As I drove toward the city, the blue sky was as pretty as the brightest azure crayon in the box.

We met at his apartment and walked into town center. I thought it was funny that he carried an umbrella but Y said, "Le mois de mai c'est imprévisible." (May is unpredictable.) I looked at

Le Quai du Vauban

that gorgeous sky without a cloud in sight and figured it was just a habit he retained from the years of living and working in Paris. I was taking photos all the way, as usual. It was nice to see that it did not seem to bother my new friend at all. That was good - photography being one of my passions, as all my friends could attest! I never get tired of trying to capture the colors of Perpignan. It is a tiny city with Catalan charm and sometimes a bit of chaos too. It's no way perfect but I like it a lot.

The cafes along the Quai du Vauban were busy and we walked from one end to the other before deciding we would try to find a place for coffee in the Place de la République. I noticed a

La Place de la République

few clouds floating across the sky. It was still a warm and sunny day when we found a seat and ordered our coffees. I took photos and listened to my new guy telling me about his life as a gendarme in Paris. I told him about my childhood and how I went to a French maternal school as a youngster in Maison Lafitte. Thanks to my military family, we spent 3 years in the suburbs of Paris and my mom sent me to French school.  I'm sure that's why French culture is so comfortable for me. We both agreed that it was this early exposure to the language which makes it possible for us to communicate. I doubt that if I'd started later, I would be as fluent as I am. (Of course, that doesn't mean I have it down, folks! I make Y

Nice view of the plaza!

laugh often by mis-pronouncing words to the point of saying something completely different from what I mean...)

I said yes to a second espresso and soon needed to find the "facilities."  The waiter indicated that they were upstairs. I found the toilets easily enough and afterwards was drawn into an empty room by the view I could see just beyond the windows. I took a photo of the plaza and noticed that the sky was now extremely cloudy.  I returned and told Y that I thought he had done right to bring along an umbrella. We decided to take another walk and once the tab was paid, we headed across the city to wander through the shops along the canal.  The weather held and we ended up having lunch in the Halles Vauban. We joked and took photos of one another. I think he carries that photo in his phone. I know I do.

Eventually we were in Place Catalogne.  There is a store there that specializes in science and nature that we both enjoyed visiting. When we stepped back outside, a cool breeze surprised me. All at once, the heavens opened and it was raining. Thank goodness for that umbrella! It made a lovely excuse

And then it RAINED!

to take Y's arm and snuggle close as we walked back to his apartment. I drove home and on the way the clouds began to clear. The sun heading toward the horizon was a true sky-painting. I stopped on the way and took a photo. (You knew I would!) When I texted my new boyfriend that I had arrived safely, I sent it to him. I heated up my frozen vegetarian dinner for one. He wrote how much he had enjoyed our time. He sent me a photo of spaghetti and ham that he was eating in his apartment while I enjoyed my Amy's mac n cheese at my village house. Later, we texted goodnight to one another and he added, "Merci pour une autre belle journée." (Thank you for another beautiful day.) I asked, "Even thought it rained?" and he replied, "Especially because it rained!"

Somehow, even with a plague devastating the world, it continues to be a place worth being in because I share it with him. We have been tested by these 49 days of confinement, but the result has been a bond that is strong. You know what?  A year later, we still finish the day by saying, "It's been another beautiful day." These days we often add, "Even under quarantine!" 

So. dear friends, there it is a little "before the virus" story. In a way, we are all sheltering under an umbrella of sorts. Let's stay close and that way we may not get wet. Next week, France will step

The clouds will clear - real clouds and fear clouds too.

outside and instead of a parapluie (an umbrella) we will wear masks. Be brave, wherever you are. Fear must not win. You are special to us and so, we stand as one - have courage! Together, you and we will do our best to stay safe and stay connected. 
A demain, les amis! (Until tomorrow, friends!)

Link to Day 50