Week 47

by Sue Janzen, posted in Chapter 3

It was good to come home after nearly two weeks away. And it really does feel like home. In contrast to my longer posts of the last two weeks, I’m keeping this one brief. And I’ve got a great 80s video for this week’s song!

Coming home

My week’s social calendar consisted of: Four morning coffees with an assortment of friends, one group dinner, lunch in Béziers with a Canadian friend and a video chat with a friend back home. Also one apéro where I knew quite a few people and met others for the first time. Except for the video chat, all social engagements took place with newly established relationships here in France. I’d say that’s an indication that I’m home!

One year of retirement

I celebrated an anniversary this week. It’s been one year since I handed in my ID badge, office-issued phone and laptop and walked out of the office a new woman. I’ve begun working on my post for the end of my first year here, only a few weeks away, so I don’t want to get too reminiscent today. But I wanted to acknowledge this very significant anniversary.

I hated playing the career game and I’ve found great relief in simply being myself this past year. I’ve had no one to impress and have played by my own rules. A few people advised me to spend my first year of retirement saying yes to everything. With the exception of the obvious big OUI, I’ve generally taken the opposite approach. I’ve said no to commitment and to being a joiner, to social engagements I didn’t want to participate in and to all those smaller goals that have guided my decisions in the past.

Apart from making the big move to France – obviously the focus of this past year – I have found great joy in the freedom of retirement!

Slothfulness

While I was in Paris, I walked an averaged of 12,000 steps a day. This week I’ve logged approximately zero. The heat soared the day I arrived home and I’ve been feeling its intensity. I have ceiling fans in each room and a couple of table fans that I move around, but it’s barely touching the temperature which is expected to remain high for at least another week. So I’m giving in to slothfulness. This, too, shall pass.

I took this photo in Paris because I love the way the French handle the heat. It’s common to find people in parks in the middle of the day, sharing a picnic and lolling about. Work and studies take a back seat. A word about the tree – it’s an Albizia or Persian Silk Tree. You can get a better view of the blooms in the header image. It’s stunning!

Song of the week

The heat is on! It’s hard to get this out of my head right now, and who doesn’t love a good 80s video!

In advance of July 1, I wish my friends and family back home a Happy Canada Day! 🇨🇦🍁❤️🇨🇦

À bientôt .

6 thoughts on “Week 47”

  4. I hear you Sue. So happy for your discovery and ability to look back on your working history, or should I say her-story.

    Continued joy and peace.

    Reply

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