The piece about Pearlie's fall and being cared for by Rasta and Ben and you, speaks volumes about what is so out of balance in our world right now. It's so beautiful this care and connection, the healing power of it.
It puts my own grief and loss into clear perspective. But also my own deep healing power, that I think we all posses.
Oddly, the earlier stories, with all their angst and dodgy relationships, were easier to write about than these few chapters about my time in Spain. The happiest and most exciting, free and strong time of my life evokes such emotion within me that the words choke me up. I am so fortunate to have been able to do that journey when I did it and with such good company! I could rattle on for many, many chapters with anecdotes galore. I met some wonderful people and learned so much. Too much happiness can kill ya (according to Chinese medical fundamentals)..... lol
While I held my breath over Pearlie, I couldn’t get over how much like paradise your fruit farm in Madrigal de la Vera was. But also learning how very much hard work paradise is to maintain!
I felt each thrill, anticipation, adventure, beauty and happiness of your journey and time at Madrigal de la vera. Your son Dan was so right when he said that you have planted many many seeds. It is what you do!
Those living conditions sound wonderful. I always wanted to live off grid too, but caring for loved ones over the last two decades was in the cards instead. I agree, Frances, that bartering is a wonderful system. We may be back to the old ways of a bartering system before too long. It would not surprise me anyway if this were to happen. It would be a blessing in so many ways to not have a world dominated by globalist banking and food production with no safety standards. FDA oh my , for they look the other way when it comes to the safety of drugs or food. Anyway, a nice story to the start of my day! Thank you , Frances.
You’re an inspiration Frances. The way you settle in, get work and become one with the land, leaving your love mark. I love your stories about your animals. I was holding my breath with Pearlie and melted with the visual of Rasta and Ben loving and healing her. 🫠
Wonderful wonderful adventure , I TOO have some wonderful times in Spain. They certainly know how to live differently, such an ancient place so filled with history , many discoveries there .
I heard hot flashes be called, “power surges” once and have been calling them that ever since. Like the sound of that better! 😆 So glad I’m done with those! Although they weren’t so bad since I rarely drink alcohol.
One might be deceived into thinking a hot flush would be a form of diarrhea:-)
Back in 2003, I was staying in a hotel in London. Having never seen an elevator and curious where it was hidden, I asked the Indian woman at the desk where the "lift" was and she didn't know what I was talking about.
What a great story, one that very few people in today's world can experience. Your life during those years would make an excellent feel-good movie based on a true story.
Such a free spirit! I want to make notes on the off grid living! I remember the first time I drove a car in Thailand with the steering wheel on the wrong side to me and all. It took a long time aand I still don't quite feel entirely comfortable doing so here especially in manul trnsmission. Amazing your kitty healed and wht good dogs for helping!
I am 71 now and could not manage the terrain. Very few places in the Sierra de Gredos are flat! A person needs to be really fit to live and work there. I had my time, it was glorious, but fruit farming and teaching are labour intensive with gruelling hours. A off-grid lifestyle sounds idyllic but it is also exhausting, especially for a woman on her own as future episodes will show. 😉
I hear you...I used to be reckless and decadent - and adventurous as well...but those memories are the ones that get us thorough this end-game horror show. These dayz I'm just thrilled to make it to the bathroom when I wake up at 3:00 AM, hoping I don't wake my clowder of 11 special needs rescue cats - they always want something from me...and just for the record, crazy cat ladies never aspire to be crazy cat ladies...special needs are almost impossible to re-home, and so it goes...we're simply cursed with the empath gene.
We all have our special gifts... I don't blame you for caring for so many special needs cats - whatever their story, they are superior beings and I think they know it! 😉
If they only knew that they could rule the world!!! And we would be so much better off! They would be happy to let us live...they would NEVER murder their slave groomers!
Thank goodness Pearlie survived that fall. Your 4 legged friends are very lucky to have you in their lives just as much as you feel blessed to have them in yours.
PREVIOUS EPISODES are listed in the pinned comment here - https://francesleader.substack.com/p/sunday-in-memory-lane-episode-13
Thank you Frances! Time for some time traveling to visit you in your beautiful life in Spain!❤️
The piece about Pearlie's fall and being cared for by Rasta and Ben and you, speaks volumes about what is so out of balance in our world right now. It's so beautiful this care and connection, the healing power of it.
It puts my own grief and loss into clear perspective. But also my own deep healing power, that I think we all posses.
May we prove them wrong!!!💜
Oddly, the earlier stories, with all their angst and dodgy relationships, were easier to write about than these few chapters about my time in Spain. The happiest and most exciting, free and strong time of my life evokes such emotion within me that the words choke me up. I am so fortunate to have been able to do that journey when I did it and with such good company! I could rattle on for many, many chapters with anecdotes galore. I met some wonderful people and learned so much. Too much happiness can kill ya (according to Chinese medical fundamentals)..... lol
While I held my breath over Pearlie, I couldn’t get over how much like paradise your fruit farm in Madrigal de la Vera was. But also learning how very much hard work paradise is to maintain!
Well, there's bad stress and good stress (ustress), so some say.
You should prattle on, have fun with it. Even if it elicits sobs.
I'd love to hear!
I felt each thrill, anticipation, adventure, beauty and happiness of your journey and time at Madrigal de la vera. Your son Dan was so right when he said that you have planted many many seeds. It is what you do!
Those living conditions sound wonderful. I always wanted to live off grid too, but caring for loved ones over the last two decades was in the cards instead. I agree, Frances, that bartering is a wonderful system. We may be back to the old ways of a bartering system before too long. It would not surprise me anyway if this were to happen. It would be a blessing in so many ways to not have a world dominated by globalist banking and food production with no safety standards. FDA oh my , for they look the other way when it comes to the safety of drugs or food. Anyway, a nice story to the start of my day! Thank you , Frances.
You’re an inspiration Frances. The way you settle in, get work and become one with the land, leaving your love mark. I love your stories about your animals. I was holding my breath with Pearlie and melted with the visual of Rasta and Ben loving and healing her. 🫠
Thanks a lot! 😌
I love this story!
Love re reading these. Unlike BBC repeats.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS AMAZING JOURNEY!!! AND FOR ALL THAT YOU SO ELOQUENTLY SHARE...
Wonderful wonderful adventure , I TOO have some wonderful times in Spain. They certainly know how to live differently, such an ancient place so filled with history , many discoveries there .
Are "hot flushes" anything like hot flashes? :-)
They are the same thing. Unfortunately American and British terms are frequently slightly different.
I heard hot flashes be called, “power surges” once and have been calling them that ever since. Like the sound of that better! 😆 So glad I’m done with those! Although they weren’t so bad since I rarely drink alcohol.
Mine were not too bad but went on for several years. I was glad when all that was over. I wish I had heard of power surges! That is ace! 😂
One might be deceived into thinking a hot flush would be a form of diarrhea:-)
Back in 2003, I was staying in a hotel in London. Having never seen an elevator and curious where it was hidden, I asked the Indian woman at the desk where the "lift" was and she didn't know what I was talking about.
What a great story, one that very few people in today's world can experience. Your life during those years would make an excellent feel-good movie based on a true story.
What an adventure. Thanks for sharing :)
Such a free spirit! I want to make notes on the off grid living! I remember the first time I drove a car in Thailand with the steering wheel on the wrong side to me and all. It took a long time aand I still don't quite feel entirely comfortable doing so here especially in manul trnsmission. Amazing your kitty healed and wht good dogs for helping!
What a wonderful way to live, Francis
I loved reading your story! How inspiring. I am also an animal and nature lover. Would you want to return to the community in Spain?
I am 71 now and could not manage the terrain. Very few places in the Sierra de Gredos are flat! A person needs to be really fit to live and work there. I had my time, it was glorious, but fruit farming and teaching are labour intensive with gruelling hours. A off-grid lifestyle sounds idyllic but it is also exhausting, especially for a woman on her own as future episodes will show. 😉
I hear you...I used to be reckless and decadent - and adventurous as well...but those memories are the ones that get us thorough this end-game horror show. These dayz I'm just thrilled to make it to the bathroom when I wake up at 3:00 AM, hoping I don't wake my clowder of 11 special needs rescue cats - they always want something from me...and just for the record, crazy cat ladies never aspire to be crazy cat ladies...special needs are almost impossible to re-home, and so it goes...we're simply cursed with the empath gene.
Love your substacks!
We all have our special gifts... I don't blame you for caring for so many special needs cats - whatever their story, they are superior beings and I think they know it! 😉
If they only knew that they could rule the world!!! And we would be so much better off! They would be happy to let us live...they would NEVER murder their slave groomers!
Thank goodness Pearlie survived that fall. Your 4 legged friends are very lucky to have you in their lives just as much as you feel blessed to have them in yours.
Thank you ❤️