I feel as if I have been in a parallel universe for a while.
Georgette's family have just brought a beautiful orchid that she had organised for us from hospital! It made me cry again, I have been reduced to tears so many times this last week. But it was so typical of Georgette to think of doing something so kind when she was so desperately ill. It has become obvious from conversations with numerous people, that she had organised many things in the knowledge that she was not going to live much longer. I received phone calls from people I didn't know, she had told them that I wouldn't mind! (I didn't) and she had managed somehow to connect us all and create strong connections that will grow and develop.
I don't think there has been a dry eye in the village as everyone drew together to organise Georgette's funeral. It was sad but as people reminisced it was impossible to think of her without remembering the happy times and laughter that she always seemed to have around her.
It felt like a privilege to read the eulogy in church, the last thing that I felt able to do for her. The church was bursting at the seams, many people had travelled long distances to be there. Her family are truly lovely people, many of them have become friends and plans have been made to meet them again soon.
During the entire time the village was snuggled in a thick quilt of snow that created a quiet stillness that seemed very appropriate.
The cemetery in Job is situated just above the village, with stunning views in every direction. It works its magic no matter how sad you are and for me it triggered memories of our first visit to Georgette's house. She said that there were people we should meet including a young English girl, intrigued we followed her along the steep street she always called the "road to eternity" to the cemetery where she showed us the grave of the Rimbaud family, the former owners of "La Jovienne" and recounted their story. The experience felt like an important rite of passage at the time and Georgette seemed to think that we could settle properly now that the introductions had been made.
And the English girl? She was also there, in the tomb of a local family, she had died in a plane crash on the mountain in the 1970's and as her mother was unable to take her "home" the village stepped in and looked after all the arrangements. Georgette tended the grave and had remained in touch with the girl's mother over all those years. She did these things a naturally as breathing and there were many many stories of her extraordinary kindness to recount this week.
It was inevitable that discussions became a tad philosophical and for us it was a time to look back at our arrival in France because Georgette had played such an unexpectedly important part in it. We had the same ambitions as many others of living "The French Dream" but we could never have envisaged the loving bonds that we would create here, how could you? We were so very sad this week because we had been so very happy and shared so much life, love and laughter together. In the end it was a celebration of an extraordinary and wonderful life that we had the privilege of sharing.
During the last week many people sent me lovely messages, some of whom had never met her but had followed the ups and downs of recent months and were generous with their love and support, there were also messages from guests who had enjoyed meeting her very much, and my own family who had spent many happy times with her. I passed the messages on to Benoit and the rest of the family and they were amazed to see how she had touched people from all over the World.
Now the snow is melting rapidly and the sun is shining brightly, the Earth keeps spinning on its axis and life goes on..............
Georgette's family have just brought a beautiful orchid that she had organised for us from hospital! It made me cry again, I have been reduced to tears so many times this last week. But it was so typical of Georgette to think of doing something so kind when she was so desperately ill. It has become obvious from conversations with numerous people, that she had organised many things in the knowledge that she was not going to live much longer. I received phone calls from people I didn't know, she had told them that I wouldn't mind! (I didn't) and she had managed somehow to connect us all and create strong connections that will grow and develop.
I don't think there has been a dry eye in the village as everyone drew together to organise Georgette's funeral. It was sad but as people reminisced it was impossible to think of her without remembering the happy times and laughter that she always seemed to have around her.
It felt like a privilege to read the eulogy in church, the last thing that I felt able to do for her. The church was bursting at the seams, many people had travelled long distances to be there. Her family are truly lovely people, many of them have become friends and plans have been made to meet them again soon.
During the entire time the village was snuggled in a thick quilt of snow that created a quiet stillness that seemed very appropriate.
The cemetery in Job is situated just above the village, with stunning views in every direction. It works its magic no matter how sad you are and for me it triggered memories of our first visit to Georgette's house. She said that there were people we should meet including a young English girl, intrigued we followed her along the steep street she always called the "road to eternity" to the cemetery where she showed us the grave of the Rimbaud family, the former owners of "La Jovienne" and recounted their story. The experience felt like an important rite of passage at the time and Georgette seemed to think that we could settle properly now that the introductions had been made.
And the English girl? She was also there, in the tomb of a local family, she had died in a plane crash on the mountain in the 1970's and as her mother was unable to take her "home" the village stepped in and looked after all the arrangements. Georgette tended the grave and had remained in touch with the girl's mother over all those years. She did these things a naturally as breathing and there were many many stories of her extraordinary kindness to recount this week.
It was inevitable that discussions became a tad philosophical and for us it was a time to look back at our arrival in France because Georgette had played such an unexpectedly important part in it. We had the same ambitions as many others of living "The French Dream" but we could never have envisaged the loving bonds that we would create here, how could you? We were so very sad this week because we had been so very happy and shared so much life, love and laughter together. In the end it was a celebration of an extraordinary and wonderful life that we had the privilege of sharing.
During the last week many people sent me lovely messages, some of whom had never met her but had followed the ups and downs of recent months and were generous with their love and support, there were also messages from guests who had enjoyed meeting her very much, and my own family who had spent many happy times with her. I passed the messages on to Benoit and the rest of the family and they were amazed to see how she had touched people from all over the World.
Now the snow is melting rapidly and the sun is shining brightly, the Earth keeps spinning on its axis and life goes on..............
Cynthia, What a beautiful memory of your dear friend Georgette. LuvL
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