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1.11.2020

Our 2nd confinement began Nov 1. Covid cases per day increased for a week after and then dropped dramatically. Now the case count is still too high but the trajectory looks like it will be below spring counts by the middle of December. Our 2nd deconfinement is currently scheduled to be in 3 phases starting Dec 1. That date will be delayed if the case count goes up again. Most Frenchies and residents are aware that travel during the Christmas holidays is dependent on the case numbers continuing to decrease.





15.11.2020

From our apartment we saw a woman and a very young girl standing outside a window of the building across from us. An elderly woman was inside near that window as the two visited under CovID-19 confinement rules. It was sweet and sad simultaneously. Fortunately vaccines are coming soon and the elderly will be among the first to be vaccinated. Half of the CovID-19 deaths in France are people in nursing homes. In the US it's 40%. I'm glad that in France the nursing home residents will be among the first to be vaccinated. Imagine how afraid many of them must be now.





17.11.2020

Kitty time.

Charlie getting comfortable with John. Tommy enjoying his 5th nap of the day. Buster in a box.
Charlie with his signature head tilt. Three boys in a kitty tree. Kitty graffiti near our apartment.
And more kitty graffiti....





24.11.2020

I had cataract surgery today, It was all very interesting and easy. They drugged me so that I didn't have any concern about the surgery but it also helped that a few friends talked with me ahead of time and assured me that cataract surgery is painless, quick and effective. During the surgery at one point I said to myself "did they just clamp open my eye?" A short while later they put in my lens and the crystal clarity took me aback for the moment and many moments afterward. Good job doc!

This is the hospital where Ruth had
her cataract surgery. 		Saint-Laurent is a combination of
old and new buildings. 		Finding out where we needed to go.
Here's the entrance to everyplace
we needed to be. 		Here are some of the newer buildings
of the hospital. 		The hospital buildings surrounded a nice park
with benches and picnic tables.
Another view of the park within the hospital. These little service vehicles were used to
transport seniors and the disabled to and from
their hospital appointments. 		Like all European vehicles the French
ambulances looked very small.





26.11.2020

John says it's so cool that the stores in France are open and we can buy kitty litter on Thanksgiving Day.

I made a nice dinner of pork medallions with veggies and garlic coconut cream mashed potatoes for our Thanksgiving dinner. We had another peaceful day at home and we played with the kitties. Buster is so smart. He can get into anything. Charlie helps by biting holes in boxes. They are both incredibly affectionate. Love those kittens. Tommy has settled into a big brother role. He knows how to keep them in line now which makes everyone happier. Including the kittens.





30.11.2020

We brought the tree up today and left it in its box all day. I was amazed that Charlie didn't bite holes in it. Sometimes I think these kittens are squirrels.

As I was putting up our Christmas tree I saw a lovely young woman and her daughter looking at the bare tree and a few dolls I had scattered beneath. I grabbed Charlie from a nearby sofa chair and held him at the window. He was very interested in the mom and daughter outside. The little girl started smiling. The two of them looked like a fashionably French version of a Currier and Ives drawing in their woolen hats with pompoms and dark colorful coats. Charlie meowed (sort of) at the couple and the child laughed. Then mom smiled, then I smiled. I love those little magical moments. I didn't think to take a photo but hopefully they will be back soon.

I'll leave you with some links to Frenchie Christmas music, history and images I posted on Facebook recently.

Christmas music for families

Christmas Traditions in France

I very much enjoyed my first New Year's Eve in France where in Place Masséna, from the top of the Ferris wheel with a splendid view of the Mediterranean, the Promenade de Anglais and the city of Nice, I heard (for the first time) Chant Des Adieux (Song of Goodbye - the French "Auld Lang Syne" ). A mass of people in the Place M below me were singing. One beautiful rendition of the French "Auld Lang Syne" I've shared over the last 5 years is by Eugene Achi.

Since we won't be sending out another blog before New Year here's a link to Chant Des Adieux by Eugene Achi.

It's a month early, but Happy New Year anyway!