Rainy and moody day today. Eighteen years ago my baby boy looked very much like this. Today he's leaving home and flying overseas to a new life. I'm pleased about it but it's a page turned in the family album. And then another thing. Many of you know Ruth of East Lansing for her fantastic photos in Flying-my-expressions. In her other blog, Synchronizing (you must read the subheading), she pays tribute to a man she admires, Robert Busby. He was beaten to death last week. If you have the time, read her words and go see his picture. Both are very moving.Journée de pluie, journée douce-amère. Il y a dix-huit ans, mon petit garçon ressemblait beaucoup à ça; aujourd'hui il quitte la maison et s'envole outre-mer vers une nouvelle vie. J'en suis très heureuse, mais c'est une page de l'album de famille qui se tourne. Et autre chose : certains d'entre vous connaissent Ruth pour ses superbes photos dans Flying-my-expressions. Dans son autre blog, Synchronizing (lisez absolument son sous-titre) elle rend hommage à un homme qu'elle admire, Robert Busby. Il a été assassiné cette semaine. Si vous comprenez un peu l'anglais, lisez le portrait qu'elle fait de lui. C'est émouvant.
22 comments:
Dear Nathalie, I really love your posts. This one is rather melancholy and sad. It must be difficult seeing your children leave the nest. I don't think my mum is still used to her girls gone.
I am very sorry to hear about Robert Busby. He seemed to have been a good man. I hope your friend will cope with the loss and in time will feel strong enough to talk about him and how inspiring he was.
Also, thank you for visiting my DP. It is always nice to see your name appear in the comments. Have a peacful day. Do something that you like doing - it might take your mind off sad things.
Sorry it is a melancholy day for you & I hope that things improve soon.
The photo has a softness about it which I like. Thanks for the head's up for Ruth's post.
Hi Nathalie,
I look at your blog frequently and I always love the bright colors and inspiring words. The time with our children goes by so fast, yes? I just have a feeling, though, that you helped him to discover a big, strong set of wings to fly onto the next part of his journey. Your post reminds me of my favorite Kahlil Gibran poem on children, so here it is for you: And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said, Speak to us of Children. And he said: Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. They come through you but not from you, And though they are with you yet they belong not to you. You may give them your love but not your thoughts, For they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies but not their souls, For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannnot visit, not even in your dreams. You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you. For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday. You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth. The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far. Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness; For even as He loves the aarow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.
Here's to a new chapter in your lives! Ann in Northern Virginia, USA
Yes Anne, I know this poem by Kahlil Gibran, it's beautiful and so true.
I remember my mother one day complaining that she wasn't getting enough from her children in return for what she was doing/had done for them and my father correcting her, saying that the things we do for our children are not meant to come back to us but to be passed on so that our kids in turn give the same love and care to their own children... It stuck with me.
Peut-être que c'est une journée douce-amère. Peut-être.
Peut-être que c'est aussi la journée douce d'une mère.
D'une mère qui peut s'asseoir tranquillement, se retourner et regarder tout ce qu'elle a réussi jusqu'à maintenant. Elle a tellement bien pris soin de ses plantes qu'elles sortent du jardin maintenant. Peut-être que c'est une journée ou tu as le droit d'être fière et de te moquer de la pluie, un peu.
Peut-être. En fait c'est plein de peut-être parce que comme tu le dis, c'est sans doute (j'ai encore quelques années avant de vivre cela) doux et amer à la fois. Plein d'ambiguité. De fierté et de peur. De joie et de peine.
Mais il y a toujours de l'espace pour esquisser un sourire.
its Monday.yes,another new begin.
And so coincident,this morning i was thinking about 12 years ago,the time I left parents and began my new part of life.Much thought, sadness&happiness I got. But I realized I am growing up little by little.
best wishes to him.
And best wishes for Mr.Bushy. I dont have religions, but I still believe the heave is existing...So angels will take him to happiest world, I believe!
take care
jing
ben j'aurai compris quelque chose de nouveau, je suis ravie, et aussi consternée de penser que mes commentaires ne t'arrivaient jamais, j'en ai mis souvent !
mille tendresses speciales 6 mars !!!
its amazing how life goes by so fast - you sound like a great mom and with love and support like yours, your son is definitely going to have a good head on his shoulders so to speak - I read Ruth's post and thanks for sharing that.
oh Nathalie! Life's like this!
Your photo is really nostalgic and sent a clear message of your mood.
I'm sorry to heard about Ruth's friend.
Hope you have a nice Monday or almost Tuesday :)
miss nathalie, what is this i hear about your visa? i will gladly chain myself to the ralings outside the embassy if you would like? zut alors! how long have you left?
Thank you for sharing openly your melancholy today about your son moving out. It's a sadness I remember with my own children's moves. But there's also a lot of pride. All the best to your son!
And thank you so much for bringing attention to Robert. Hope is not lost when people like you, and those who have left comments here and on my blog, respond the way you have to him and the loss of him. And thank you for your kind words for my creative expressions, Nathalie.
Un petit mot pour toi chez moi, ma belle.
a warm and melancholy start to the week. nice shot though
les photos de flying sont superbes, merci pour le lien.
tres belle photo, il faut bien un jour que l'enfant prenne sa route, cela n'est jamais facile.
Sinon, je ne suis pas d'accord avec toi, elle est bien la chanson sur la vache ;o))
Your picture is a beautiful moody thought provoking post. Letting go of the sons and daughters in our lives is a bittersweet thing. You can be proud of him.
Thank you for the reference to Ruths blog. It was a very kind gesture about a profound loss.
Even though the photo is moody, it's beautiful too. It is hard watching your 'child' go away. My mother tells of the time my brother and I left home around the same time; and she sat by the river and cried...I hope the sun shines soon ; )
J'ai du mal à écrire un commentaire là sous ce message car il me renvoit à une douleur de mère très récente et très vive pour moi (il y a trois semaines) Et pourtant mes enfants sont tous partis après le bac...
La nostalgie, elle vient elle va et on ne peut pas la contrôler. Elle est une vague, un raz de marée
Thanks to all for your kind words. We had a very nice phone call from our son's new employer to say that he'd arrived safely in New Caledonia and all was well. He wanted the mum to be reassured, what a kind thought!
Merci à tous pour vos très affectueuses pensées. Nous avons eu ce soir un coup de téléphone du nouvel employeur d'Olivier nous annonçant qu'il était bien arrivé en Nouvelle Calédonie et que tout se passait bien. Il a été baptisé, il pleut des trombes ! Il voulait rassurer la maman, j'apprécie.
je n'avais pas eu le temps de laisser de commentaire hier mais cette photo est vraiment superbe. L'atmoshpère qui y règne est à la fois mélancolique et paisible.
Bonne continuation à ton fils dans sa vie future. Tu peux, j'en suis sûre, être fière de toi pour l'avoir guidé jusque là.
Je me dirige de ce pas vers les blogs de Ruth.
Cher Nathalie,
You will visit your son in New Caledonia and you will love it; particularly Noumea. It is only 2 hours from Sydney! I was there in 2005 for a short vacation and it is truly lovely.
Your nostalgia is poignant and I miss my two stepchildren too and M.B misses his 4 children. It seems the way of the world that the young ones choose to vanish to the ends of the earth in search of their personal dreams. We must be patient and wait for their return.
That's a very kind gesture from your son's new employer!
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