Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Ennui

 Rule # 3: Don't use foreign words. Sage advice. If you're writing in English, then, damn it, write in English.  But "ennui" is such a lovely word, and so much less boring than "boredom,"  I'm going to break my own rule, just this once. "Ennui." Leave it to the French. It conjures a picture of a slender Victorian lady, with Gibson girl hair, fainting on an old fashioned couch---pass the smelling salts please.

Not that I'm bored. Too busy for that. Just suspect that anything I write will bore the britches off the reader or, to put it more Frenchly, might induce in said reader a sense of "ennui."
"Is this the best she can do?"

Ennui didn't get a look in while the Little Blister was here. Five glorious, ennui-free weeks, awash in beaches and rivers and laughter, kayaks and manatees and more laughter, shopping and eating and sewing [My, how we sewed!] And laughter. Did I mention the laughter? Gales and gales of it.

That's what I miss the most. Seemed like everything was more fun with the Blister around, from the first cup of coffee to the final "Oiche Mhaith!" [Oops! There I go, breaking the rules again!]

And now she is gone, and the everyday routine has closed over the space she occupied. And not just gone. Incommunicado [there I go again!] As far as I know, she is off in France, climbing around among the rocks, at very high elevations. Sigh. While I am fainting here from the ninety degree heat. Pass the smelling salts.

And so, I wonder, how did it come to this? An aging Irish lass, lover of laughter and language, conversations about everything and nothing at all,  little Blisters, offspring, grandchildren and friends----all of them miles and miles and miles away.......How did she get here, to this table, sitting alone in this sweltering heat stirring her tea?

Overcome by ennui.


*Oiche mhaith = "Good Night" in Irish.

7 comments:

Birdydownunder said...

I understand this Molly. We choose our path which to us seemed golden, but now when we sit at our table with our cup it can seem very much like we are alone.
But memories are golden too dont you think.
Glad you had a fun time with Rise.
hugs birdy
ps anymore books you can recommend?

Relatively Retiring said...

I think I understand too.
After every wonderful visit you have to learn to live alone again, and it's a skill that needs work, and that's ennui-ing!
Best wishes.

persiflage said...

Being together with those we love, and who share our past is wonderful. I hope it is not too long before it happens again.
I love all the photos, including those from your previous post.
Your word verification is obard. Thereby must hang a tale.

Pam said...

Well, yes. Families should not disperse.

But I'm sure you have friends - as well as bloggy ones.

Glad you had a good time with the Blister.

dianne said...

sigh ... my sister is only 30 miles away, but it might as well be 30,000 ... wrapped up in responsibilities and duties and guilt, we don't laugh when we are together anymore ... sad, innit?

Pauline said...

Those five weeks flew by didn't they? And oh, the crossover time, when the Blister is not there in person but still there in your head. (I suspect she's always in your heart.) How do any of us get where we are? Trace back and you can see, but when looking ahead, none of that is visible. Come have tea with me - we'll talk it over.

The Lass said...

My family isn't all that far away, but unfortunately it's still very, very hard to get a hold of any of them - in every way you can imagine. I feel for you, though. I wish things were different.