Bad Day No Wi-Fi & My Wheelbarrow Got a Flat

Bad Day: No Wi-Fi and My Wheelbarrow Got a Flat

You didn’t think this journey was going to be all fine wine, cheese, baguettes, and crème brûlée, did you?

Oh no.

It’s all fun and games until the wheelbarrow gets a flat.

That morning, I woke up in a freezing European cement-built home and immediately knew, this place needed a fire… and so did my bones.

Half asleep, in pajamas, I wandered outside to fill the wheelbarrow with wood from the shed around the side of the house.

I loaded it up like a champion…

only to realize it wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Flat tire. Of course.

This blog goes out to my sister Lena. If there’s humor to be found, giggles to share, and someone who understands me anywhere, state or country, it’s her. Protective too. No “boy” will do. Give it a rest. She wants only the best… for me.

Lena. 🤍

A Joyous Morning… or So I Thought

And so it goes.

Up with the sunlight, reflecting cosmic-like through my bedroom window. Ah yes… “Morning has broken, like the first morning.” This was going to be a joyous day.

A few morning gratitude mentions. Thankful to have slept. Thankful for family and friends. Truly blessed.

I strolled down to the kitchen to make a hot cup of coffee.

Thankfully, wearing more than my birthday suit.

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A Frenchman in My Kitchen

To my surprise, I see with my little eyes…

A Frenchman looking back at me.

I jumped. And perhaps an inappropriate French word or two slipped out under my breath.

He was bundled up with big sparkling eyes, kind of like a lost puppy, but definitely a very smiley real hu-man standing at the back door.

Since his work van was parked on the lawn, he seemed familiar with the property.

“Here to fix the roof.”

Ah yes, of course you are.

(Heads up, maybe 24 hours notice would have been nice, but who am I to question French scheduling?)

Up he goes with his counterpart, channel curved tiles in hand.

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Meanwhile… the Wi-Fi Apocalypse

Already unshowered, I was also waiting for the Wi-Fi guy. You know the appointment window:

8 AM to 1 PM.
Or whenever we get there, if you’re lucky.

The Orange Line was coming to the rescue of my très wifi gone bad.

Waiting. Waiting.

Meanwhile, the roofing guys have now made their way inside the house to fix a leak.

Still waiting.

And then…

Yes! The Wi-Fi guys are here!

In my best Boston, fast-speaking accent, I anxiously greet them at the door:

“Hi! How are you? Do you need to come in, or work outside?”

If I had been chewing gum, it would have been perfect.

The guy looked at me like I was from Mars.

Maybe even slightly scared.

And then we began the game of:

My French sucks… how’s your English?

I’m literally laughing out loud as I write this.

After many hand gestures and grunts (much like the family game Guesstures), I realized a translator might be best.

Not sure what the Orange Line worker was expected to read, but he gave a good chuckle when he saw my message, and I quote:

“Le Wi-Fi continue de s’allumer et s’éteindre. Désolé c’est chiant.”

Translation:

“The Wi-Fi keeps going on and off. Sorry, it’s a pain in the ass.”

I thought that about covered it.

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No Water. No Shower. No Signal.

Meanwhile, back at the leak, in an accent built for Southwest France, the roofer says:

“We need a part. This one corroded. We’ll be back in a bit.”

No worries, I’ll just grab a shower after Wi-Fi leaves.

Except… no.

“Not possible,” he says. “The water has been turned off.”

Oh.

Okay.

Got it.

So now I’m dirty, my wheelbarrow broke, the house is leaking, and I can’t reach the U.S. without standing on my head with my arms splayed out for reception.

I could write a country song.

But instead, I decided to check in with “Mr. Telephone Man” (New Edition).

Yes. No. Comme ci, comme ça?

Oui, oui… it works for now.

In the end, it all worked out.

The roofers came back, made nice with the water tank pipes, and everybody was happy.

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Perspective Check

All that said, it’s about center.

Not the house. Not the Wi-Fi. Not the wagon wheel. Not the leaks.

Despite the hiccups, the gîte here is lovely (seriously, check it out). And by no means am I complaining. Sometimes it’s just good to be reminded that even in beautiful places, life still happens.

But life is what we make it.

Our movie to create.

Be the leading actor or actress. This is your production.

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A Walk, A Reset, and Gratitude

So I went for a walk.

In gratitude for the light, the fresh air, and the gift of human kindness, even when things feel chaotic.

Here are a few photos from my walk, including:

• “Sign, sign, everywhere a sign”

• grape vines

• windmills

• the famous footwear designer Phillipe Filoppe’s home (so the locals say… that was a joke)

• and the local food source: the ostrich farmer neighbor says it all 🤍

Enjoy.

Love & Light,
jMf