In another month Bonaparte and I will be back in France. This time it’ll be different because we won’t be in Paris. Since Daniele’s passing, Bonaparte finds it very difficult to return. I can’t blame him. I had another good cry a while ago realizing that she really is gone.
This is as close as I get to the Eiffel Tower. It’s like being that New Yorker who never went to the top of the Empire State Building (Me!)
We won’t have those wonderfully long and relaxed breakfasts in her bedroom anymore. Those mornings when we took her morning tea into her on her tray. And on the tray were the fresh croissant for Daniele and Bonaparte and sometimes a small brioche for me.
We had the same thing every morning. Daniele’s tea–and our coffee. We would discuss the day’s events. Perhaps driving Daniele to her office at Zazi Films or running errands for her if she wasn’t feeling up to par.
I’ll miss driving to this office and just hanging out with her…and her assistant Melly
I miss the time of early evening when Bonaparte would run off to get the baguette for dinner and Daniele and I would “sneak” a porto before Bonaparte returned so all three of us could enjoy our aperitifs as the sun set and I could catch a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower beginning the night’s sparkle!
I miss running around Paris with Daniele. Here’s Bonaparte and Daniele at Fonation Louis Vuitton last summer.
I miss Daniele’s generosity–and how she literally made me feel like Cinderella when she took me to the Guerlain Boutique for a shopping spree. It was such a wonderful feeling when I was whisked upstairs to pick out cosmetics and my favorite perfume.
This time around we will be in Theoule. We will enjoy our time in the Cote d’ Azur. It’ll be a blast to visit Bonaparte’s father as he admires my fat ass! We’ll have fun exploring places we stumble upon and I’ll get some serious reading done on the beach and at the pool.
Bonaparte, left, and his dad Dany, right. Dany is so cute and has the greatest sense of humor!
And while I ponder what to pack and while I have that pity-party because I didn’t lose that elusive 15 pounds I wanted to, I thought I would repost the three-part posts about our last visit to Paris in October about “Paris Without Daniele”. So please. Click on the links and read about a great, great woman and the last time we were in Paris!
PARIS WITHOUT DANIELE–PART DEUX
PARIS WITHOUT DANIELE–PART TROIS
I hope it brings back some fond memories for you or perhaps gives you new ones.
XOXOXOXO
Oh Catherine, I am so sorry for Bonaparte and your loss, she sounds a wonderful woman. I had not “discovered” you when all this happened last autumn so have been reading about it, thank you for those three posts. You write so beautifully and it is so understandable that Bonaparte wants to give Paris a miss, at least for now. Hope you have a wonderful time away, look forward to reading all about it.
Hi Judy. Thanks so much for your sympathies and kind words. We definitely will have a relaxed and wonderful time and we both are looking forward to it. I’m bringing lots of pens and journals to write write write! XOXOXOXO!
Catherine, it will be a very different trip this time. But you sill have Daniele’s memories in your heart when you are there. And Bonaparte’s dad looks like he is fun to be around! Thanks dear for sharing, hope your day is a happy one! 🙂
Terry–it will be different and memories are the best souvenir of all time. Thank God we have some truly great ones! XOXOXOXO!!!
She’s going to be with you both in Spirit. ❤️❤️
Thanks Linda–and she had the greatest spirit of all time! XOXOXOXO!!!
XOXOXOXOXOX. Well then no doubt she’s gonna be tagging right along with you and B…pay attention, you just may feel an occasional nudge or two!!! ❤️
I’ve read almost all of these posts Catherine, and I’m not sure at all who Daniele is, in relation to you and Bonaparte. I’m really sorry. She’s obviously someone incredibly important to you both and i’m sorry that she’s gone. And this – is she someone famous too? I’m a bit lost …
Suzy–Hi. Daniele’s Bonaparte’s aunt. She was a second mother to both him and me. She was also a much beloved actress. It’s still hard to believe she’s not here anymore😓😘😘
Ah, Ok, thank you for that. I now understand.
I am so sorry for the loss of Daniele – she sounds such an absolute treasure, you keep her alive and keep her essence going by loving and missing her (and talking / writing about her), I feel very strongly about how we remember people and being grateful for them. I am sure Daniele felt very loved and appreciated, maybe she feels it still.
Have a wonderful holiday – it will be different but it will still be wonderful, just different wonderful
Thanks Juliet! You’re absolutely correct in that Daniele was a treasure..and it’s somewhat therapeutic to write and talk about her. It makes me think she’s still here! XOXOXOXOXO!!!
XOXOXOXOXO right back at you sweetheart, when we lost our middle child 4 and half years ago I thought I would go mad and then was disappointed when I didn’t. Simon was my partner in crime in many ways – so I still talk about him and talk TO him (if I see something I know he’d have appreciated I have a wee mental dialogue with him – “Did you see that Simon? well what do you think of that…”) I don’t know if he hears me or not wherever he is, but I am sure that the love we feel for someone gets through.
Have a fantastic holiday honey – and enjoy every minute, I hope Daniele feels the happiness she created and that sort of spirit is worth nurturing and keeping alive
Juliet. You’re making my eyes all teary. I think it’s proper and normal and wonderful that you still talk TO Simon. He’s with you all the time. I talk to my dad and ask his advice and I know that he’s listening. I think Daniele will feel the happiness and I will feel her on my shoulder and I will have the porto ready for her! XOXOXOXO!!!
How fortunate you are to have had the blessing of such a refined fun loving woman in your life. As they said in the movie, You will always have Paris….
True Bernadette. True! …and we WILL always have Paris! XOXOXOXO!!!
I have just read your three posts about your visit to Paris for Danièle funeral. A very sad time but full of beautiful memorise to treasure. As I live in France, I thought the face was familiar. And it was! It was that lovely actress, Danièle Delores. I always remember her in that great comedy as the wife of Jean Rochefort (still going strong). I think it was called Un Éléphant, ça Trompe Énormément. Anyway, I was also fascinated to read about Danièle’s father, the artist, André Girard whom you spoke about and his part in the Second World War. He created a famous group of résistants called Carte. Please correct me if I’m wrong, Catherine. What a family. I can imagine the conversations you must have had together.
Anyway, thank you for that interesting peek into your family history. Bises xx
Hi Rosemary! Yup! Daniele was in the film Un Elephant ca Tromp Enorment! Her husband Yves Robert wrote and directed it and it was very, very funny indeed! I read your comment to Bonaparte last night and he was touched. He was fascinated that you knew Andre Girard created Carte. Oh–some of the conversations we’ve had would knock your socks off. His family is pretty incredible. Thank you so much for your lovely thoughts! XOXOXOXO!!!
Sorry, a typo slipped in there. I meant Danièle Delorme, of course.xxx
I’m so sorry you’re both feeling so sad about Daniele – what a blessing she was in both your life and Bonaparte’s life. But how wonderful that you keep her memory alive and indeed have introduced her to so many people who did not know her – thank you so much for that and RIP Daniele. You both have a wonderful time in the south with Bonaparte’s father who sounds great fun xxxxxx
P.S. Pack a sun hat!
Hi Penny. Yeah. Bonaparte’s father, Dany, will be especially thrilled this summer since there is more of my ass to appreciate–lol! I’m started to get excited and pondering packing!! XOXOXO..
PS. I’m going through my “stuff” to find my good sun hat..it’s SPF material!!!
Great pictures of Bonaparte with his dad and with Daniele. I know it must feel like a “season”has gone away and will never come again. But I hope you enjoy your time there. {{{Catherine}}}
From one Catherine to another. Thank you so much. We’ll definitely be having a blast! XOXOXOXO!!!
YOUR HUSBAND does not LOOK FRENCH TO ME!GORGEOUS HOWEVER!SORRY< to hear you LOST the FAMILY GRAND DAME…………..she looks like a BALL of FIRE!
YOU will lose the weight OVER YONDER as you will walk so much and the portions are much smaller………………NON?ENJOY ENJOY ENJOY……………XX
Oh Contessa. I shan’t tell Bonaparte that you don’t think he looks French. He’ll be devastated! LOL. Oh. Daniele WAS a ball of fire and we got along so well. She was my kindred spirit! XOXOXOXOX! Hugs and Kisses to you!