As you can see by the title, an eye-talian interloper is in our French stack. Probably because 1. it was mailed in France and 2. to the untrained eye, a lot of Europe looks alike. Especially on old postcards.
I was just wondering the other day why Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of animals. Remember, I just took this photo at the pet cemetery in Long Beach?
Unfortunately, all I've seen so far is about him preaching to the birds and talking down a savage wolf. I guess I was hoping he had a companion Labrador or even a lizard that would join him on walks. Or he was known for spooning a hedgehog at night, maybe. (It beats the traditional hair shirt.) Something more domestic.
Then I remember that I keep meaning to watch Brother Sun, Sister Moon. It's been on my list since I saw it at Blockbuster 20 years ago. I can even googlemap you to where that Blockbuster was, but I can't remember to watch the movie. (Meanwhile, did you know that Zeffirelli recently offered to be the pope's image consultant?)
This card was sent to Miss Kate Smallmen, 24 Vicarage Fields, Warwick. "Vicarage Fields" sounds like something an American would make up, hoping to sound veddy-veddy, not realizing how you can't just throw bits of British nomenclature together and get a likely address. Except, apparently, you can. Next you'll tell me there's a "Treacle Woodshire" or a "Bishopsworth Strand."
(Time out to Google both of these.)
Postmark: 1 June 1989
"Maison Ste. Therese Couderc, B. P. 13, F07520, La Louvesc, France
"Dear Kate,
"We finished the Rome part of the Renewal Program 10 days ago and are now in France until July 7. La Louvesc is a small village so I can't check train schedules here. We leave for Lyon on the 23rd so I will sort it out then. I hope to visit Ollie first and then come north to you and my cousin in Scotland if she is well enough. We are having a wonderful time - full of challenge - but fun too.
"Love, Sheila"
Here is a photo of St. Therese Coudere. (aka Couderc) Guess when her feast day is? (Guessguessguessguessguess?) My birthday!
Other than being the nun who founded the "Cenacle Sisters" in La Louvesc, I don't know why she's a saint. Maybe she had the Labrador.
Oh wait, found this. St. T.C. had the running of a women-only inn in La Louvesc so that female travelers would have an appropriate place to stay at the popular destination. However, the inn became crowded and chaotic, so they decided that it would become a place for visiting women who were willing to pray for several days. A retreat for lay women.
Later, there was much politicking about whether T.C. was a good enough businesswomen to run the retreat. She was sent into exile as a temporary mother superior at two other convents. (Like being a long-term substitute teacher?) Then she was allowed to come back, but was mostly ignored. Then everyone felt bad and pointed fingers and she became a saint.
So, I think Sheila's Renewal Program is something religiousy. Maybe a mini-sabbatical for nuns? And the "challenge" she speaks of is probably trying to get along with people after you've spent a couple of weeks letting the way they leave their hairbrush on your side of the sink, full of waving split ends, start getting to you. I think Sheila is totally planning to ditch everyone and at least three packaged tours and see Ollie, Kate, and - cross fingers - her Scottish cousin instead. Bad Sheila! (Let's hope your plan worked.)
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