Do you remember the story I wrote years ago called My Italian Housekeeper about when I lived in Italy and the housekeeper did not speak English and I did not speak Italian and she was terrifying but we got along just fine! Because she talked to me using her hands and her body and pointing and drawing pictures. And we laughed.
Hugo and I are a bit like that. He is an excellent mime so there is very little that he leaves to the imagination. And my drama training is useful in creating a response. We have spent the good part of two and a half months working together. We have our rhythm – we are good. We don’t need many words now though we use them, we love to talk in our own form of french/english pidgin. It is a physical language, sound is only part of it. Laughter is most of it. We laugh all day.
We drive up to collect a few of his family from the train today. They flew in from France last night. I am hoping that this ability to communicate without words runs in the family. And I hope the house is clean enough and I have cooked the right food.
In fact just between you and me I am a little nervous. And I live a life full of people now, I have many summer people to visit. Why am I nervous? I guess the mothers always make me nervous. I don’t know why. I am only nervous until I meet the person then I am fine. And once we are in the kitchen and at the table we use the universal language of food and wine anyway.
But do you know what I mean? Do super confident people get nervous too? Or just us shy ones.
Well, I had better get going. We will feed the animals and birds and then begin our journey. I do love it when the families come to visit. Nerves are just judder bars not cattle stops. There to slow us down a little. So we think and plan a bit better.
I hope you have a lovely day.
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
42 responses to “Nervous Mime”
I bet the family is just so excited to see Hugo that all you are worried about really won’t matter anyway! I hope his mom has been reading along – I know I would have been! She can’t wait to meet you!
Ahah! Sleeping policemen and cattle grids in my old life, and traffic calmers and stock grids in my new one. Even when we are all speaking English, we are still divided by our origins. I think you’ll do wonderfully well in your non-vocal way: Maman will take one look at a healthy, happy Hugo and be satisfied, Papa will take one look at your table of food and wine, and ditto. Fear not, they cannot fail to love you. And if they are dubious, well, tant pis, you have thousands who do, and follow you devotedly every day.
Good point! Rumble strips and cattle guards here! 🙂
Oh Kate – you SO have a way with words and I SO agree with your Maman/Papa statement . . . methinks all the four-leggeds on the farmy will look at one another and wonder at all the laughter to come . . . don’t think ‘tant pis’ will come about a’tall, a’tall, a’tall . . .
Nor do I. What’s not to love…? Hey Celi, sorry to be saying nice things about you behind your back!
Kate – I can hear HER laughter all the way across land and sea! Behind whose back ?: we all know she has eyes there also . . .
That’s the best! Really. – I’m curling up with laughter. Would like to see your face when you will read these comments, Celi!
Methinks by this stage she has Irmi !!! Well . . . perhaps she will find the time after . . . ‘with love, Miss C’ !!
I look up to you as super confident. So if you get nervous at times, then EVERYONE gets nervous!
J’espère que les parents de Hugo ne sont pas trop fatiguées après leur voyage, et peuvent profiter du chaleureux acceuil que tu prepare. Skype me if gestures and smiles fail and you need an interpreter!
Enjoy your day and your visitors.
love and hugz
ViV
I have forgotten your policy on your photos but I would really like an HD copy of the two kittens with the mug. Calendar worthy!
Oooh, I feel for you …. but I’m sure Hugo and his parents will return year after year English or no English. Laura
I know you will be just fine—you speak the universal language of love and compassion as you show every single day. Can’t wait to hear how it all works out. Love the kitty photos, of course. 🙂
The kitty shot is so lovely. Oh, I’m not super confident at all. Oh, how I can understand you. I confirm to Elizabeth, the others are nervous too. But you’ve got one big, big advantage: You are curious, openminded and you love to laugh. Breaking the ice is the turning point: And Hugo is helping you. He is the missing link. All will be fine, Celi. – I wish you a lovely ice-breaking breakfast, lunch and dinner. Enjoy. Hugo is at your side.
I am sure they will be enchanted with you and the farmy. Just as we are! Good luck. Laugh and have fun.
Yes, at the end of the day you will be wondering what you were so tied up and stressed out about. Elizabeth and Kate have said it all so well… you have no worries. Just keep re-reading their comments over and over. All will be well. Have fun and enjoy the experience! ~ Mame 🙂
You not confident. I would not have thought C. I bet you are going to have the most wonderful visit.
Adore your kitty pics today.
Have a beautiful weekend.
🙂 Mandy xo
My ex girlfriend’s parents live in a small village in Lincolnshire. The village is twinned with one in Normandy and every couple of years they do an exchange visit. In spite of the fact that neither is particularly well versed in each other’s language they all have a marvelous time. Supper is definitely the time when everyone relaxes as they are all on common ground. If your visitors come from rural France they will admire your livestock and you’ll have another good topic of discussion. Who wouldn’t admire Sheila 😉
Hugo’s family will love you. How could they not? I bet this mom will embrace you and thank you for taking such good care of her son. I would.
I agree totally!!! They will love you for what you’ve done for Hugo.
I agree totally!!! They will love you for what you’ve done for Hugo.
You will be you, and they will be they and all will be fine I expect because they raised Hugo and he seems to be a wonderful young man. As to language, I absolutely cannot speak without my hands. I literally have to sit on my hands to control them if I am in a deep conversation and want to emphasize something…words are never enough to get the point across so my hands must flail and gesture and wave. I never notice that I’m doing it and it gives others a laugh so…
I don’t think it matters who is coming to visit our home, we get a bit nervous. The language thing could be a bit of a hiccup but Hugo probably translates ideas pretty fast by now. If they don’t love who you are and what you do, shame on them. But how can they not? Hugo will have a delightful time sharing all he has learned from you and your generous nature that his parents will be enchanted with you as well. Have a fun and wonderful visit. Will be waiting for the breadcrumb of details about it.
Even though you are not “taking care of” Hugo, any mother will feel nervous meeting the mother of the young man she’s been taking care of. At that unspoken core, that’s how mothers perceive things. And I am one of those quite shy people that others view as confident. A puzzlement. You will be brilliant.