A new supermarket opened near my home. To reach it, I leave my housing complex, walk across the street, and walk barely another half-block. You wouldn’t think this is a big deal! But this isn’t just any supermarket—it’s a Grand Frais supermarket. Shoppers here in France are so loyal to Grand Frais that they drive significant distances to shop at one. Lucky me! I am fortunate enough to have one within a five-minute walk. The best way to describe a Grand Frais is to compare it to Trader Joe’s in the US—only it’s like a Trader Joe’s on steroids. As

Although the intent was not conscious, in truth, Blackbird and its three sister novels turn out to be a personal case history of what is popularly called the Mother Wound. According to Bethany Webster, who coined the term, Mother Wound refers to "the pain of being a woman passed down through generations of women in patriarchal cultures. And it includes the dysfunctional coping mechanisms that are used to process that pain." Moreover, Ms. Webster states, "Difficulty and challenges between mothers and daughters are rampant and widespread but not openly spoken about. It’s generally considered taboo to acknowledge and discuss painful

Take this test to find out how much you know about the popular Scandinavian sport, kaninhoppning. The headquarters for the sport is Sweden, but it has become popular in the United States as well. Which one of these statements is true? Kaninhoppning is a unique way of fishing whereby anglers must stab the fish with a sharpened can. Kaninhoppning is a stylized form of dance where four couples must hop over each other’s legs in a particular dance sequence. Kaninhoppning is a sport for rabbits who, like horses, jump over fences and obstacles. Kaninhoppning is a national spelling contest in

Cassoulet. Just Don’t Start an Argument! My extended French family has a tradition of celebrating three February birthdays on a single occasion. This year’s celebration began early on a Sunday afternoon with a Champagne aperitif and hors d’oeuvres. During this relaxed time, birthday presents were exchanged and opened and thank-yous delivered, mostly in the form of kisses. Then the real fun started when we moved to the table for the main meal. We began with two different and traditional salads—a green leafy salad and a grated beet salad served with the same vinaigrette. Everyone, except me, was able to clean

Sightseeing in France Over the past three years, I’ve developed a complicated relationship with the COVID-19 virus.  My first encounter was in the United States. I developed what I thought was a powerful case of the flu, with all the symptoms that most of us are familiar with and are far too unpleasant to detail here. When the symptoms worsened, my husband insisted I see our family doctor, Dr. Bouchier. Dr. Bouchier squeezed me into his already busy schedule on a Friday afternoon. After listening to my symptoms, he recommended several over-the-counter remedies.  Then, standing in the doorway as he

Parakeets A few months ago, the mayor of Castelnau-le-Lez announced the opening of a five-acre park only a few minutes from my home. Since I have a postage-stamp-sized plot in front of my house and an even smaller one in the rear, this well-tended acreage has become my backyard. The park comes complete with playground equipment, trees, shrubbery, walkways, formal plantings, exercise gear, large open areas for Frisbee games, and a few wild creatures. The most common tree in the park is the platane, introduced in France in 1770 for its firewood. Later, Napolean planted platanes on either side of roads

What Is Your Gift? My friend Mary Ellen, who lost her husband slightly over a year ago, was still grieving when she met Ricky Lee Bryant, a well-known body builder in southern California. As a result of her training with Ricky Lee, Mary Ellen not only rebuilt her body but also recovered her joie de vie and stamina. I know very little about the sport of bodybuilding, so I interviewed Mary Ellen to find out more: C: What is bodybuilding and how did you get started? ME: Bodybuilding is a physical activity designed to enhance muscular development and promote general