My life, as an English girl living in California in love with Provence, spending time in these three special places is made easier by just how interconnected our world has become. Sometimes I feel it’s as if we live in a iridescent spiders web of connectivity, gossamer veins joining us to everyone, everywhere.
And a few days ago those fine shimmering threads, that so intertwine our lives came together in a way that can only be described as unbelievably serendipitous.
My daughter, Kate, as many of you know, is currently living in Michigan and the other day she was chatting with her work colleague and friend in New York. As friends do, they share their joys and sorrows which sadly for many months has included the worry of her friend’s sister’s ill health. During their last call Kate’s friend mentioned how supportive her sister’s in-laws have been, despite the fact that they live far away. When Kate inquired, that far away place turned out to be France, not just any town anywhere in France but Uzès…….
Kate was amazed, she explained that she knew Uzès that she knew it really well, that I had lived there and that she had been there several times.
Kate was also surprised to learn that her friend’s brother-in-law was French …… only to be told that he wasn’t French but British,
like his parents, who had retired to France from England several years ago, he a doctor, she a midwife.
Light bulbs began to illuminate the telephone strands from Michigan to New York and then became quite dazzling when Kate was further told that the father-in-law had been a radiologist. Hardly believing that what she was thinking could be true, she gingerly inquired their names, remembering some friends of mine she had met in Uzès, he a retired radiologist and she a midwife. ………
And yes, they were one and the same people, coincidence, serendipity or what?!
So a phone conversation between Michigan
and New York
became about my British friends who live in Uzès….
and their son is married to my daughter’s friend’s sister who lives in New York….
And my daughter, who is connecting all these dots, lives in Michigan.
A phone call from Michigan to California explained this incredible serendipity to me
and then I cast those incandescent strands even further with a call from California to Uzès….
Once my astounded friend in Uzès has taken all this in, she remarked “how strange, just this morning I was sitting in the market place in Uzès at the coffee shop where we used to go together wondering, ‘when might Caroline next be here?'”
Actually sooner than she thinks…….and very soon I, in California, hope to hear from my friend in Uzès of happier news; better health for her lovely daughter-in-law in New York whose sister works with my daughter in Michigan…..
Such fortunate happenstance! 🙂
Love this story… and so true, over and over! Hurry back!
I hope to be over briefly in July and for longer in September, love hearing about all your travels, xx
I just love that amazing connection!! Travel & adventure sure opens people’s lives & hearts!
I will be in St Rémy for 2 nights, and really only one full day. We will spend a few hours in Avignon on the noon arrival TGV train. Any suggestions on a full beautiful day of fun? June 25-27. 3 61 year old girlfriends ….
I lived in Valence for one year, but my 2 friends are in awe that they’re getting a chance to take a peek at Province!
Love your writing & insight!!
Rosemary
Livermore, CA
Thank you!! Well I have many ideas, you could drive to the Luberon Valley and visit some of the perched villages.
From St Remy I would suggest doing them in this order Gordes, https://shuttersandsunflowers.com/gordes-the-luberons-most-splendid-perched-village/ (don’t park at the first place you see, a big car park at the bottom of the hill, continue on into the main square and turn left up the hill where there is easier parking
then go to L’Abbaye Notre Dame de Senaque https://shuttersandsunflowers.com/the-luberons-labbaye-notre-dame-de-senanque/ – even if you don’t do the tour it is worth seeing especially in June with all the lavender
Then Roussillon https://shuttersandsunflowers.com/roussillon-the-ochre-jewel-of-the-luberon/
If you have time you could include Menerbes, https://shuttersandsunflowers.com/lacoste-and-menerbes-two-more-captivating-luberon-villages/
and even Bonnieux before driving back https://shuttersandsunflowers.com/bonnieux-a-perched-village-in-the-luberon-provence/ – this post explains how to get to Chateau Canorgue the winery nr Bonnieux where ‘A Good Year’ is filmed – check opening times everywhere as they all close for lunch even in the summer, detauls are on my site!!
You would equally have a lovely day just visiting Lourmarin!
There is much info on my site take a look at my suggested itinerary https://shuttersandsunflowers.com/plan-a-stay-in-lourmarin-in-the-luberon-provence/
and my travel guide for Lourmarin which includes info about the area https://shuttersandsunflowers.com/lourmarin-the-luberon-provence-travel-guide/
OR you could go to Uzes my other fav place about the same distance form St Remy,
https://shuttersandsunflowers.com/uzes-languedoc-roussillon-france-travel-guide/
DO stop off at the UNESCO site Pont du Gard which you pass on your way in, the breathtaking Roman Aquaduct https://shuttersandsunflowers.com/the-pont-du-gard-unesco-site-near-uzes/
If you need more help just call me! 925 216 8304 I would be happy to chat! Have a lovely trip to that very special part of the world which I adore and thanks for being in touch!
Wonderful! It’s a small world indeed and the world finds away of bringing you closer to “your people”. Neat coincidence.
This reminded me of the time when I became friends with a lady in Lourmain who runs a shop there only to find out I was staying in her sister’s apartment!(from all the places we could stay at that’s the one we’d picked :P) we ended up having a great converation and are still in touch.
A small world indeed!!
What a precious story! I love things like that. What is it they say?
Six degrees of separation, or something like that. I think that might be
the title of a book? I should goggle it.
Thanks for this happy post, Caroline!
Yes it is SUCH a small world, glad you liked the story!!