{"id":762,"date":"2025-08-02T17:45:34","date_gmt":"2025-08-02T17:45:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/marcielsims.com\/?p=762"},"modified":"2025-08-02T17:45:34","modified_gmt":"2025-08-02T17:45:34","slug":"ilona-cole-guest-author-story-186","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/marcielsims.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/02\/ilona-cole-guest-author-story-186\/","title":{"rendered":"Ilona Cole, Guest Author, Story 186"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Love Affair with Paris<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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But our choice for a retired life settled on Provence, the south of France,<\/strong> close to the Luberon mountains. Heavenly, mother nature in its prime, lush lavender fields, relaxed, friendly and congenial people. Sun ripened melons, beautiful, lush vines, nice fruity table wine, Truffles, delicious food and outdoor living, relaxed, a deserved life. Outdoor markets with the abundance of all your heart and taste buds could desire, offered by jolly merchants, happy to please.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Music and writing an occasional short story of love and contentment, what more could we, my beloved Hal and I wish for?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We tried our hand at an early retirement at Lake Chelan, but it was not what we had imagined. After six years we returned to our city on the West side in the State of Washington. I went back to work, it was to be for a year, but turned out to be four more years. Our plans were still open to retire in beautiful Provence. Our trips during my summer vacation, were more frequent over seas, to Germany and France. More frequent were our visits just to Germany, maybe just a few days to Paris, beginning of our trip. Mostly we visit my sister Friedl and her husband Georg. By that time they had lost their younger son, their third child. Georg was not doing well at this time and the following year he passed away. My duty now was to see my sister Friedl as often as I could manage, to give her love and support. My beloved Friedl was longing for a visit from me and my Hal. Her sad and upsetting news she had for us, she had cancer, already in the advanced stage.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our retiring destination, sunny, beautiful Provence was put again on hold.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My beloved Friedl, my lovely sister had cancer.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I quit my job to be able to stay longer to be with my mouse, as I called her when I was tender with her all our lives. My precious Friedl died during that year.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Forgotten, at least not making plans for our retirement at this painful time in my life. It was, for me, unimaginable my life continuing without my beloved Friedl. Pain and hurt every hour of the day and often tears<\/strong> on my pillow during the nights. The year 2010 would again be a year with unbearable news. Thoughts of retirement for my Hal and me moved further and further away, just a glimmer, looking on the time, we first had made aloud this dream.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My Hal, my life, my light was diagnosed with Parkinson\u2019s disease. Visually, it already was here. The short steps, no more manly gate, not too steady in his walk and falling often. The brain-scan at the clinic showed it clearly. It was devastating news for my Hal and me.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our love will take it in stride!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I vowed, my Hal will be mine to care for from now on until that dark day, when I will also lose him.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That day came, seven long years, but I treasured those years every day and every night. Thankful for another day I would have with my precious Hal.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I had books on Paris, the Luberon, Provence with wonderful stories, no longer our dream, but I thought reading the stories out loud by my Hal\u2019s bedside and hoped, he could take in the romance and get some enjoyment out of it.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My Hal left me January 2017, a very dark, dark day for me. Once in a while I sit down and read a story about Paris and Provence a loud, I cry, put the thoughts out of my mind.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Right here, in America, is my love and my life, at Tahoma, Washington State and that is where I belong too.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Provence, not in the distance and memory any longer.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Love Affair with Paris But our choice for a retired life settled on Provence, the south of France, close to the Luberon mountains. Heavenly, mother nature in its prime, lush lavender fields, relaxed, friendly and congenial people. Sun ripened melons, beautiful, lush vines, nice fruity table wine, Truffles, delicious food and outdoor living, relaxed, a … <\/p>\n

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