Unedited excerpt of my memoir - ©2019 Sylvaine Francine “I spent the night in the company of the moon. She was looking at me. And all around, trees with exotic foliage whispered in the night, nocturnal birds flew and shouted. I slept on my bed made of wood and rope. No walls surround me, just the screen. It is very early, daylight. A rooster blasts its song in the stillness of the early … [Read more...] about India – In The Company Of The Moon
Writings
India 1978 – Biri cooks
Unedited excerpt of my memoir - ©2019 Sylvaine Francine Morning comes early enough. We are tired from our late night at the Lions Club and still on jetlag. Feeling hot before we even set foot on the floor, I set the fan to a higher speed. “I’m starved. You want chai or something?” “Nope, I’m hot and I want a cold beer,” Yvette answers. We laugh. “Did you hear what Mokala said yesterday? … [Read more...] about India 1978 – Biri cooks
India 1978 – Arrival at Mokala’s
Unedited excerpt of my memoir - ©2019 Sylvaine Francine The car comes to a stop in a paved courtyard. Through the window I see a house— the bungalow, as Jagatjit has referred to it. The bungalow stands a few feet away, a large house, light peach color, in an upper middle-class neighborhood. Westerners would turn their noses up at this house. It looks run down, not fancy enough. The constant … [Read more...] about India 1978 – Arrival at Mokala’s
Paris 1979
Unedited excerpt of my memoir - ©2019 Sylvaine Francine On the other hand, I had a good life in Paris: student with a part time job and a place I call home. When I left the Left-Bank neighborhood, I rented two rooms on the edge of the Marais district. I like my new arrangement; each room has a full-size window that opens on the courtyard. Recessed from the noisy boulevards, I like the … [Read more...] about Paris 1979
A Practice of Gratitude
Every year, on the morning of my birthday, I am filled with joy. Joy springs up, for no obvious reason except that it is my birthday. In my forties, I used to invite my friends to share the celebration of this day with me. It became a yearly ritual. We gathered for an afternoon of fun, with potluck cheer and laughter. I looked around me, utterly satisfied to see everyone in conversation and … [Read more...] about A Practice of Gratitude
Timing
Sometime last spring, a client made an appointment for her elementary school age daughter. The mother was concerned about social challenges her daughter was experiencing at school. Her daughter felt that she didn’t belong. Her anxiety level was high, she felt vulnerable, and her self-esteem was dropping. I had worked with each member of this family in the past. Years ago, Lisa, consulted with … [Read more...] about Timing
