Today is Sunday time to look back in the rearview mirror and talk about my week . I am linking up to the Sunday Post hosted for years by Kimberly@caffeinatedreviewer .
In my private life
Happy Sunday!
Last Sunday, I skipped my weekly post as I couldn’t remember what happened of my week that was not routine to talk about!
Before I dive into my week, I’d like to say a few words about what happend in the US last week and the US Supreme Court ending the constitutional right to abortion.
From the BBC Article, you can read that “After the Supreme Court ruling, abortion access is expected to be cut off for about 36 million women of reproductive age, according to research from Planned Parenthood, a healthcare organisation that provides abortions.” Read the article here: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-61928898
I think no one should get to decide what someone does with his or her own body. Be it for euthanasia like my dad did when he had cancer or be it abortion.
Some States will now decide FOR women what they can do with THEIR bodies and with their lives.
I am not saying that you have to abort. What I am saying is that you have to have a choice to decide what’s good for you. It’s your body, your life, your choice!
Also to sum it up, I am leaving below this post reposted by Suanne Laqueur, a brilliant author and an extraordinary woman.
After this heavy and heated introduction, let’s go back to my week that seems so inconsequential compared to this…
This week though, has been a bittersweet one.
My uncle, my aunt ex-husband, passed away at 76 totally unexpectedly.
As they were divorced, I had seen him a few times in the last twenty years but I had tons of memories of him when I was a kid and then, a young adult.
He left behind three kids, and among them, my favorite cousin. As I am an only child, she went with me on holiday for 18 years! And I also spent time in their holiday house. That makes for a lot of memories.
This week’s ceremony was bittersweet.
The kids now grown adults between 50 and 34 all made speeches as well as my aunt and the grand kids.
Boy do they know how to write!
They chose to focus on fond and funny memories and that helped keep the mood sad but light too.
I saw family members I hadn’t seen since COVID began. So that was a sad and yet warm afternoon.
And as life is going on, my daughter just turned 21!
Where did the time fly? I still recall her as a 2 years old girl, stubborn to do everything on her own and claiming: “Non! Moi toute seule!” “No! I do it myself!”.
And of course that would be every time I was in a rush to bring them to school or daycare!
I let her walk barefoot in the snow once (don’t worry, just a few steps) because she didn’t want any help putting her boots on!
On another note, I visited new headquarters (we have regional headquarters) in my town and I was amazed by the beauty of that brand new building! It’s a smart one with solar panels and using rain water to cool down the building.
It was also a time to meet colleagues I ahd not seen since before COVID either!
It seems that this week’s word is : reunion.
Next week, I am hoping to go watch Elvis! He was my dad’s idol and we had all his songs when I was a kid. That should be another walk down memory lane!
Here is one of the many trailers.
I am leaving you with another Instagram reel that I made yesterday.
Instagram has new features like “comic caption” where when you talk, it’s written in a bubble!
I wondered if the tool was smart enough to work with my French accent and…it was!
I was a little bit disappointed as I had expected some fun words to come out of it but no! Either the tool is very smart, either my pronunciation is not too awful.
If you are curious about my accent, now is the time!
Enjoy 😉
On the blog these past two weeks (click on the graphic to read the post)
I truly have been lucky to read four brilliant books and all different from each other!
I am realizing now that my taste changed for the past two years and I need that diversity between woman fiction, mysteries, adult fantasy, MM romance and YA contemporaries…among others!
Please, give “The Silence that Binds Us” by Joanna Ho a chance! It’s brilliant!
Then if you are in the mood for a big hearty laugh and MM romantasy, go for The Lightning-Struck Heart by TJ Klune. Go for the audio if you can!
I know there are many mixed reviews for Holly Black’s first adult book and indeed, it took me some time to fall into it, but keep on reading! It’s brilliant!
And finally The Change by Kirsten Miller is a powerful book mixing feminism, magical realism and mystery/crime.
Thanks for reading!
Sophie
I’m sorry for your loss, Sophie. It seems like you had a bittersweet week. And the news from the US has indeed been horrible.
Thank you Lindsey!
I’m sorry for the loss of your uncle. Reunions for funerals or memorial services are bittersweet; such sadness that one loved one isn’t there anymore, but so much joy at seeing loved ones you haven’t seen for a long time, perhaps even years. I’m glad your uncle’s funeral offered a chance to remember him with love.
That Instagram post about the two Supreme Court decisions really says it all. Sigh.
Thank you!!!
I’m so sorry for the loss of your uncle It has indeed been a rough week in the U.S. thanks to the Supreme Court. The quote you shared about guns having more rights that women is exactly the thought that keeps running through my head. I saw your comic reel on Instagram and loved it!
Thank you Suzanne!
Sorry for your loss, Sophie. It sounds like you were very close to your uncle and his family, I hope those happy memories will bring you solace.
Thank you Mogsy!
So sorry to hear about your uncle, Sophie. It’s kind of sad that so often we only see extended family at funerals. I’ll be interested in what you think of the Elvis movie. The reviews are quite good. My mom saw it over the weekend. She thought the actor who played Elvis was excellent, otherwise she was on the fence about the rest of it.
I will probably write a review about it Tanya!
I’m sorry for your loss, but at least you were able to reconnect with some family members – and that’s always what makes the pain more bearable…
Indeed Maddalena and thank you!
Gads i hit submit by accident. Deeply sorry for your loss.
Thank you Kimberly!
Well said. Loving your recent reads!!
I’m sorry about your uncle. It’s rough and takes one right back to earlier years. You did get out and see lots of folks. I’m still not comfortable with very much of that. I’m so sad about the abortion rights and now there’s monkeypox on the horizon. But at least we have the best books!
Anne – Books of My Heart This is my Sunday Post
Yes there is that Anne! Let’s focus on a bright side.
Baz Luhrmann doing Elvis? Fun! I’m sorry to hear about your loss, though- my condolences to you and your family. That’s hard especially when it’s unexpected.
Couldn’t agree more about the decision here in the States. Such a frustrating place to live these days… 🙁
I know Greg and that makes me sad!
Thank you for your support from afar regarding the SCOTUS ruling on abortion. It’s not a good ruling, even if you don’t like abortion. Ugh. I’m so mad and sad.
I am mad and sad on your behalf Jennielyse!
I’m sorry for the loss of your uncle, Sophie. Your daughter is 21? You look too young to have a young lady like that!
Aww that’s so sweet to say Jacquie!
I am glad that diverisfying your reading has been such a positive experience for you. My reading has also grown too but in different ways from what I read years ago. I am so sorry for you loss, love the idea of that new building in your area.
Thank you Renee!
I’m sorry to hear about your uncles passing. And the ruling on abortion is shocking. I just don’t get our legislation anymore. That’s sad.
I am sad for you all too Laura!
Sorry about your uncle. Funerals have been the only places I have been seeing the majority of my extended family because we are so spread out. They are that odd kind of reunion.
Indeed Sam!
So sorry to hear of your loss, Sophie! Nice that you got to see so many relatives even if it was for a sad occasion. Have a lovely week! 🙂
You too Rachel!
I used to think that I lived in a great country. But, as an adult woman, I see how broken the US is. For a country that touts rights and freedoms, we fail many people. I can carry a gun to my job as a teacher with only 24 hours of training, but if I were to get pregnant and the baby was incompatible with life, I couldn’t get an abortion. I am troubled by how our society gives everything to white men. It’s so disheartening. We have children starving because the only food they get is at school and we just got rid of free school lunches. We have kids dying of diseases because their parents don’t have health care and can’t take them to the doctor. I have so many students who bounce from foster home to foster home because their parents are addicts. I wish we cared more about people in ALL stages of life instead of only caring about them from conception.
I’m glad you were able to reunite with so many family members! That is great!
I feel so frustrated and sad for you all Samantha!
Oh, so sorry about your loss.
I love your Elvis trailer.
I am so frustrated by our country right now, and the Supreme Court that takes away women’s rights while allowing gun rights to continue.
Enjoy your week!
Thank you Laurel and hugs!
I’m sorry for your loss. Thank you also for posting about the US abortion rights. Things are going backwards here and it’s scary.
I know! And thank you!
You’re welcome.
A week of ups and downs Sophoe, sending hugs. I do hope your daughter had a lovely birthday.
Omg it won’t let me change it. I promise I know how to spell your name Sophie, I just have sausage fingers!
:-))))) don’t worry Caro!
Wow, what a week! So sorry about the loss of your uncle. And happy birthday to your daughter, our daughters are the same age!
Really???? 🙂
I’m so sorry to hear about your uncle. It sounds like you have a wonderful family.
I do Jen and thank you!
I am sorry about your uncle, and a happy birthday wishes to your daughter. I am not even in the US, but the overturn has my blood boiling. Mainly because we don’t have those rights in India or UAE nor can we actually have it in the near future. But you guys had it, and then you are losing it. If that could happen in the US of A, why not in other second world countries like India? Oof, as I said, it just angers me.!
It angers me so much too Gayathri!