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”
All will go fabulously, no doubt, and a wonderful time will be had by all!!! 🙂
You will be great and with the backup cast of farm residents, very charming. Food, wine and laughter. Perfect!
In high school, I took both French and German because it was my intention to travel. Instead, I have stayed right here on the family farm where there are 40 or so seasonal workers from Mexico. Some have been coming back for 30 years. I’ve communicated with them as you do, it mostly works because they are such kind, wonderful people. This year it was hard for the farmers to find enough Mexican workers, so they hired Ukrainian immigrant teenagers. It’s been so much fun watching the new crews learn to communicate and work together after a period of scepticism. I know what you mean about visitors, my house is functional, not decorative. It’s cleanable, but I don’t often have time to indulge in that frivolity. I once had a visitor, who came at a time when I was brooding chicks in the house, tell me my house reminded him of a French farm house. So maybe your visitors will feel right at home.
All will go well. Nerves are a good thing. They keep us on our toes. I get them every time I meet someone new. Sometimes even with people I’ve known for years. Enjoy the visit. Tell Hugo hello from Miss A and I. 🙂
I am always nervous to meet new people! Especially if they are to be in my home (refuge)
I have just caught up with the blog today. It is not like me to miss even a day, but we have had illness in our home which put my husband in the hospital for 36 hours. He is better now, but they have not defined what caused all the fever or respiratory issues. He is very weak still, but I think he is on the back side of this.
I loved the picture of the girls from yesterday or the day before. Those EARS and PINK noses!!!! Rowdy Teens for SURE!
Enchanted is the key word used above to describe how they will feel meeting you. Enjoy!
I think you are very brave…I also would be very nervous!
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
They will love you! I don’t take you as the nervous type, either. You went to Oregon and spoke for WordPress! On your own turf–you’ve got this!
I’m sure they’re over the moon! I do think that everyone gets nervous. Good on you for not letting the nerves create a cattle stop.
Brilliant analogy about the purpose of nerves. 🙂 Introverts may suffer longer fears, and more often, but in the life I live among famous-in-their-field friends and acquaintances, I have learned that this kind of social nervousness is nearly universal. And the most insecure people I’ve met—who worry constantly about being judged, and often are wildly competitively driven because they’re convinced they’re being judged—are generally among the most accomplished and high-powered. Guess that drive is what gets ’em there, but what a horrible way to live, if you ask me! 😉 You seem to have enough self-awareness to keep you from being cowed by being an excellent, if (hopefully!) imperfect human, and plenty of humaneness and kindness to remain sympathetic to others’ happiness. That latter is what makes you nervous, most of all: the desire to connect on a good, solid foundation of mutual respect and good humor. That wins for me, every day.
Have a fabulous time with Hugo’s family! I don’t doubt that the scion is a sign of their general quality. You’ll delight them, as you always do!
Much love,
K
I think it is normal to be nervous! You have their boy, after all. But how thrilling that they want to visit! You will be grand, I know it.
I’m usually nervous too when new people come to my home… after all it says a lot about who and what we are – no need for words or language! However, I think the only ‘problem’ you and they will have is they will love you and The Farmy so much, they won’t want to leave. I’m pretty sure that’s how I’d feel about it 🙂
Ditto Ditto Ditto everyone’s comments. They will love you! 🙂
It’s just stage jitters before another great Celi performance.
Are you shy Celi? Wonderful post lovely lady ..gorgeous images. How I would love to come and visit you and stand in that famous kitchen 😀