tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post5287531509120916598..comments2023-10-11T04:09:53.564-07:00Comments on materfamilias writes: My Life in French, Part Two . . . materfamiliashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16062766947897513369noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-51733525613778330722013-05-22T06:21:46.819-07:002013-05-22T06:21:46.819-07:00Hmmmm, what happened to the response I thought I&#...Hmmmm, what happened to the response I thought I'd left here?! I thanked you for your comment, Teresa, but it seems not to have shown up. I'm so pleased that this post resonated with you. Something about the French language and culture really gets its hooks in, doesn't it?!materfamiliashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16062766947897513369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-36095698557415126852013-05-19T19:19:21.160-07:002013-05-19T19:19:21.160-07:00Dear MF, I couldn't have stopped reading your ...Dear MF, I couldn't have stopped reading your post if I'd tried! There are a few parallels in our lives, including the love of the French language and time spent in France, and I am already looking forward to reading your next post.<br /><br />Thank YOU for sharing these memories with all of us!<br />Teresa in OntarioVintage Cat's Eyeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03337924971244753775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-7350014371221239132013-05-15T06:42:21.353-07:002013-05-15T06:42:21.353-07:00Oh, you're sweet to say this. I definitely spe...Oh, you're sweet to say this. I definitely spent time wondering why the road had kept me from achieving some of the "success" expected of me (by others and by myself) based on early promise. And frustrated at trying to figure out what I was going to "be when I grew up" . . . <br />Even now, having pulled off a grad. education, an academic career, I'm well aware of my shortcomings in the field (small teaching uni, no time for research, not so much inclined to it anymore anyway!) and have some frustrations about compromises to my social life (I don't have any friends, I sometimes wail to my husband -- and then he patiently enumerates. . . ). But if the examined life is the one worth life, you and I live very worthy lives, right? I think you're going to be pretty amazing at 60! ;-) materfamiliashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16062766947897513369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-74364202364569042762013-05-14T06:58:20.877-07:002013-05-14T06:58:20.877-07:00As always, it seems currently, posting and running...As always, it seems currently, posting and running, but just wanted to express my appreciation of your candour. It really helps me, a little younger than you (but not by much, still old enough to have made a hell of a lot of wrong turns by now in my life) to see that the 'success' that I perceive you as (a proper, balanced success, professionally and personally) did not drop fully formed out of the sky but has been forged by dint of great perseverance, planning, energy and focus. It inspires me not to give up and write myself off as one of life's failures but to pick myself up and carry on. If I am blessed, I may reach sixty, and who knows what I might have achived by then or how different my personal landscape may seem by then. Must be optimistic, and your post enables me to be just that.<br />HesterAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-34241187594993906142013-05-14T06:33:02.549-07:002013-05-14T06:33:02.549-07:00Thanks for reading and commenting, Jeanne. You'...Thanks for reading and commenting, Jeanne. You've certainly put a big dream in motion yourself! materfamiliashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16062766947897513369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-51135592109631940732013-05-13T18:58:48.289-07:002013-05-13T18:58:48.289-07:00I so enjoyed reading your journey (Part I?)...what...I so enjoyed reading your journey (Part I?)...what a life it has been so far! It is wonderful that you have stayed true to your dreams and have made them happen. It is true when they say 'never say never', I truly believe that all is possible if we stay true to our dreams. xxJeanne Henriqueshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07986759909478180763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-76216891341158009302013-05-13T17:45:02.820-07:002013-05-13T17:45:02.820-07:00I'd have to say the same of you, Susan. In fac...I'd have to say the same of you, Susan. In fact, every commenter here has a story that would impress, should we all be lucky enough to sit down together. . .materfamiliashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16062766947897513369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-85477663039863006742013-05-13T17:44:00.895-07:002013-05-13T17:44:00.895-07:00Thanks for the encouragement, Orane. On essaye . ....Thanks for the encouragement, Orane. On essaye . . .materfamiliashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16062766947897513369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-80853253774022385452013-05-13T17:43:42.295-07:002013-05-13T17:43:42.295-07:00Okay, so we need to have regular gatherings of you...Okay, so we need to have regular gatherings of you, me, and Madame Là-bas so that we can keep our French fresh! I'm envious that you've managed to raise a bilingual family and may even manage a trilingual granddaughter, if she continues to emulate her grandmother.<br />I am actually still quite proud of my ARCT -- it was more work, in many ways, than some of the more academic accomplishments, and it helped pay for many extras through the years while I stayed home with the kids.materfamiliashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16062766947897513369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-5817702718101815862013-05-13T17:39:29.285-07:002013-05-13T17:39:29.285-07:00They did take a lot of work and energy, but I alwa...They did take a lot of work and energy, but I always loved learning something new -- and the discipline of motherhood, the escape to something that was just for me, cast the work in such a different light. I really notice this now in the mature students I get in my classes.materfamiliashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16062766947897513369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-42840673164229504652013-05-13T17:37:23.451-07:002013-05-13T17:37:23.451-07:00And now there you are, taking extended independent...And now there you are, taking extended independent trips to Europe and enjoying the possibilities of retirement after what sounds like a rewarding career. Something to be said for doing things "wrong" ;-)<br />(Curious to know what institution you did that Art History course through -- back in the day, Athabasca filled the gap for me)materfamiliashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16062766947897513369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-87120284047911813842013-05-13T17:35:33.194-07:002013-05-13T17:35:33.194-07:00As above! Stacy's and your perspectives overla...As above! Stacy's and your perspectives overlap and enrich mine -- thanks!materfamiliashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16062766947897513369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-47100239803070182712013-05-13T17:34:48.157-07:002013-05-13T17:34:48.157-07:00I love this perspective, Stacy. It's true that...I love this perspective, Stacy. It's true that adapting to my husband's needs (and he to mine) and to my children's as they grew helped me become who I am now, even if that might be a different person than I once thought I'd be. materfamiliashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16062766947897513369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-82170897321277112082013-05-13T15:46:50.632-07:002013-05-13T15:46:50.632-07:00Mater, you have done a splendid job managing the c...Mater, you have done a splendid job managing the challenges of life as a late 20th/early 21st century woman. It boggles the mind thinking of all of what you have achieved over the years.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15711792521348799922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-10600919405891579412013-05-13T15:34:47.295-07:002013-05-13T15:34:47.295-07:00Il n'est jamais trop tard Mater! Continuez vot...Il n'est jamais trop tard Mater! Continuez votre parcourt et bon courage.<br /><br /><br /><br />OraneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-66102657561827963442013-05-13T10:06:11.769-07:002013-05-13T10:06:11.769-07:00I came to my French degree only recently, after sp...I came to my French degree only recently, after spending 20 years studying and speaking Spanish. I worried that my high school and very early college French would totally disappear. It didn't. Now, I'm fearful of losing the fluency I gained since I use it so rarely. I'm teaching my granddaughter a little of both languages and she can differentiate amazingly. The rest of the family speaks Spanish, too, so I concentrate on the French with her. Language acquisition is such an interesting process.<br /><br />Achieving your Piano Performance is no small thing either. You've constantly challenged yourself. Love it! <br />Lorriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03653026442945027184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-59422302046108356952013-05-13T08:43:54.277-07:002013-05-13T08:43:54.277-07:00I'm impressed by not only your persistence re ...I'm impressed by not only your persistence re French, but also by the many other achievements along the way; each requires so much energy and hard work.Duchessehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09986153653120526776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-86196025219076604842013-05-13T08:22:53.874-07:002013-05-13T08:22:53.874-07:00You sound like my long lost twin sister. I dropped...You sound like my long lost twin sister. I dropped out in second year, worked in an office, got married, took French Literature courses part-time, had a baby, took more courses part-time and on it goes...I meet people who did everything (it seems) in the right order but I guess how you do things is the right order for you. I even did correspondence Art History with slides when my daughter was a baby.Madame Là-bashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16703782237948233124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-60977948026049578402013-05-13T07:23:22.264-07:002013-05-13T07:23:22.264-07:00Of course I read all the way through. I see so ma...Of course I read all the way through. I see so many parallels in our lives - many compromises and changes of course that in the end have added up to a very satisfying life. I am convinced that this satisfying time wouldn't have been possible without the detours and small disappointments. I look forward to reading about that first experience of life in France.Pondsidehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02407539138546412482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-38745897782710001462013-05-13T06:54:41.772-07:002013-05-13T06:54:41.772-07:00As I was reading this post, I was thinking not onl...As I was reading this post, I was thinking not only of French lessons diverted, but the many detours and roadblocks people take in their lives while having an intent on a goal. Isn't that what life, parenthood and being a partner is all about? Flexibility, little regret and keeping an eye on a goal for the long term can make life enjoyable and less frustrating.Stacyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424660063345307786noreply@blogger.com