Il Bel estate - The Beautiful Summer
When I was a teenager, my mom, who is fluent in Italian (and other languages), introduced me to Cesare Pavese, one of the great writers of the 20th century. The book was "Il Bel estate", and it's a bittersweet coming-of-age story whose main character is the torrid summer in the Italian countryside. The summer in the Paris area has been cold, blustery, rainy, and cloudy overall, with only three hot days so far; but if I was ever tempted to complain I only had to look at the catastrophic news of heat waves in the US.
It is a "Bel Estate" indeed, and appropriately hazy as my scrying reveals less than ever about what awaits us. My mom lives, is well, is in a good mood. She now has a very competent, affectionate helper. I have resolved most of the legal and financial issues with the estate. But I'm stuck here for a few more sticky aspects - and then there's the matter of whether it will work for my mom to stay at home. The hospital told me it would and it if it didn't I could always adjust. I like my decisions to be data-driven, so the consult with the GP was very reassuring. The GP also said no one can force my mom to go into a home, so the only viable option is her apartment. At this point, mom's also untransportable, if that's a word, making our California senior home plan moot.
I'm learning to let go and roll with life, a la French. And enjoy a glass of excellent red wine in the process. Not to mention insanely good cheese and divine pastry.
Ok, as you've figured out, I'm in a better mood. It's taken a lot of work, grief counseling and most of all the presence of my wife and a few friends who came to share my sorrows. I feel bad for them. And am grateful for all the support my mom and I continue to get.
Here's a "vlog" of what's been happening: https://youtu.be/t8g7Ww6rWY0
A repeat of the vlog link up top, in case you missed it.
In other news, don't believe everything you're told about French politics. This latest election was about voting against the "National Gathering", the "Rassemblement National", which was founded by a guy who collected SS paraphernalia. They've toned down their discourse - wolves in sheeps' clothing.
How this was achieved was via a disciplined system of endorsing anyone who was not RN in the election. Of course this will now all fall apart. There will not be a unity government in France, unless Macron can create a center-right-left coalition. Not impossible mathematically, but harder to achieve ideologically. The problem is that a large number of seats in the new Assembly will go to LFI, the French far-left. People who openly support Hamas as a valid political entity.
Whatever happens, the news is good - much better than it is in the US, where we have clearly lost our collective marbles. Half of us feel a crook is an OK presidential candidate; the other half is bound to a doddering old man who has trouble thinking straight.
France will be governed more like the UK. And the UK, after this Labor tidal wave, will be governed more like France.
Enjoy your summer.
Comments
Post a Comment