TODAY’S WORD: tout doux : gently; easy now; softly PRONUNCIATION: [too doo] TOUT DOUX, LE LOUP by Jacqueline Espinasse I wanted to follow up on my two-week “cette fois-ci, c’est la bonne” challenge. Well… c’était pas trop la bonne. The Great Gatsby wasn’t so great after two chapters. So, while walking through Prospect Park, I called my mom—my guru, and the only person I trust … Continue reading Tout Doux: How to be Gentle to Others and Oneself
HOMMAGE On Friday, near midnight, Frédéric Chollet passed away after a long illness. I learned the news in a message sent from South Africa: “Fred est parti.” Fred… he was the one who picked me up at the Marseille airport when I moved to France. I’ll never forget stepping off the plane in my cowboy boots, fresh from the Arizona desert—a sharp contrast to Fred’s … Continue reading Goodbye Fred: On Love, Chocolate, and Immortality
TODAY’S WORD: cette fois-ci, c’est la bonne : this time it will work; this time’s the one PRONUNCIATION: set fwah see say la bun CETTE FOIS-CI, C’EST LA BONNE by Jacqueline Espinasse Here is a French saying you use when you’re convinced it will work this time—even if you’re a little delusional. Let me give you some examples. • You are trying to score at … Continue reading Doomscrolling in French & New and Better Habits
TODAY’S WORD: le chamboulement : upheaval / disruptionPRONUNCIATION: [luh shahn-boo-luh-mahn]EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Ce chamboulement a commencé avec le vent, mais il a fini par atteindre jusqu’à nos lettres.This upheaval began with the wind, but it eventually reached even our letters. A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse Le Monde à l’Envers Opening my bedroom shutters, I hold on to the dusty ledge, half afraid I’ll be carried … Continue reading No Letters to America? New Tariffs Disrupt French Mail
Before I begin today’s story—Jackie’s story—a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has already ordered a copy of our newly released book. Seeing our mother-daughter stories gathered together in one place, along with your positive feedback, has been such a joy. With your help launching this colorful series—books teeming with photos and French—we will be able to reach readers who have yet to discover A … Continue reading Plouf! A Big Little Leak in My New City
Dear Readers, Our book is ready! After a last-minute hurdle getting this bébé up onto the bookshelf, ça y est — a beautiful paperback edition, brimming with full page photos, is now available for purchase. This is the second volume in the series A Year in a French Life—a lively chronicle of language, family life, and love in France and beyond. Thanks to the wonders … Continue reading Ça y est! Our New Book Has Arrived
TODAY’S WORD: se mettre en échec : to set oneself up for failure PRONUNCIATION: [suh met-truh ahn eh-shek] EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Quand on apprend quelque chose de nouveau, il vaut mieux avancer doucement pour ne pas se mettre en échec. When learning something new, it’s best to move forward gently so as not to set yourself up for failure. A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi EspinasseDuring one … Continue reading Success: Advice from a French Nurse and Dog Lover
Salut! Enjoy today’s story by my youngest, Jackie—and thank you, as always, for reading. I’ll be back next week with an exciting update from us both, something we’ve been working toward for a long time. Profitez de l’histoire d’aujourd’hui, écrite par ma benjamine, Jackie, et merci, comme toujours, de nous lire. Je serai de retour la semaine prochaine avec une belle nouvelle de notre part … Continue reading Strong Values & The Art of Having Fun in a Storm
Hello Dear Readers, Very sorry for this extra email in your inbox. Did you notice something unusual in my recent newsletter? Things got a little scrambled in my previous email. A technical glitch created question marks throughout the story text (in the emailed version, only). Please use this link to see the full version. I put a lot into today’s story. I hope you’ll take … Continue reading A Note From Kristi (and a link to the full text for today’s story)
TODAY’S WORD: se soutenir : to support each otherPRONUNCIATION: [suh soo-TEH-neer] Nous nous soutenons, même quand il est loin.We support each other, even when he’s far away. A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse When the fire alarm suddenly sounded in our house, my husband was not here to silence it. Its piercing scream sent a slew of gros mots flying out of my mouth … Continue reading Love is…
