And enjoying it. Not having a cold mind you, but being curled up with a book because I didn’t have energy to do anything – yes! Also because movement seemed to bring on the sneezing and blowing.
I actually read my first novel in French! With minimum help from Google Translate, I might add. I needed those too many days of having a cold to really get into it. Reading French for hours at a time helped me retain vocabulary because a lot would be repeated. Being submerged helped me make connections between words I know and uses of them in various forms.
The writing was beautifully descriptive and I believe that also contributed to my enjoyment and understanding.
Too many days though, not because I wasn’t enjoying being hunkered down, but because colds are annoying. I still have stuffed sinuses on day 8!
Today warmed up significantly though and I took a nice long walk in the Ridgecrest neighborhood, came home and filled the bird feeders, did a bit of yard work, and made a delicious chicken soup for dinner. Feelin’ better.
And! Back to French…attended a Group Français meeting last night and had multiple conversations with a variety of people and felt quite comfortable doing it. Of course, it was a lot of chit chat, getting -to-know-you talk, which I’m comfortable with and have a handle on vocabulary.
Being on Zoom meetings with people from all over the world and talking about more meaty topics is a lot more challenging. I prepare my remarks in advance, writing them out in paragraph form, then make bullet points, so that I’m not reading, but more naturally speaking. I still get way too nervous though and hope I get over it.
Which reminds me – I’ve got to get online and see what next week’s topic is and sign up for a few meetings.
Wherever you are, I hope you’re comfortable and healthy. I hope the new year is starting off well for you. It is for me. I’m happy to see our country course-correcting.
Take care, and if a cold visits, take advantage of some lazy days.
Shared Illusions 
Sounds great except for the having a cold part! What French book are you reading? I have a bunch of books in French here — haven’t looked at them in years. Maybe you’d like to borrow some? I should be practicing French, too. Still thinking about attempting the Vezelay this spring — or maybe fall.
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Thanks, Linnea – I would love to see what books you have. I read Tous le bleu du ciel by Melissa Da Costa. It’s now a movie on Netflix!
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Bon jour!
Hope you feel better quickly!
French: Congratulations! There’s a great show on Masterpiece called “Astrid” you might enjoy.
Le Jeem
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Le Jeem, thanks for the tip on the show. Je vais le rechercher.
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Paula, What a constructive way to deal with a cold, reading, writing and resting. Like you walk in the neighborhood to get out, I joined my hiking buddies in the foothills after three weeks off between the FL trip and avoiding the freeze. It was beautiful in the fresh air of 9:30 for our four miles starting at the parking lot at the end of Copper. I used to be first up the steep incline to the large power pole, but wheezed up in last place. Still refreshing getting winded and an afternoon nap was perfect. My throat feels raw but I’m following your lead with a good book and soup.
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Glad you’re getting out there – and taking care of yourself. I’m looking forward a more strenuous hike soon!
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