Re-Opening, Thanksgiving And A Half Century Of Time
Another week gone, and voilà….all of a sudden a whole month of French lock-down is over. Well that, and Thanksgiving and a half century of my life too. The three things happened independently of course, but they all just happened to coincide this week.
In some ways you could say it was a symbolic concurrence.
I’ve now been through two full pandemic lock-downs in France, an experience I hope never in my lifetime to repeat, and it does feel like I’ve aged a good half hundred years in the process. New wrinkles have appeared where they did not exist before, the knowledge of time gone by (and wondering what the heck I did with it all), a few extra pounds on the waist, some more grey hairs on the head, and the hormones of youth quietly slipping away. It’s the inevitable passage of time, sped up by a crazy 2020. A weight that I’m sure everyone feels this year, either physically, mentally or both. These things do age us in perceptible ways.
But it was also Thanksgiving this week, for those of us with US ties, a week where families & friends normally gather and thanks abound. Of course everything is different this year. No big gatherings for us, and zero travel, but we can be thankful that we’re together, healthy and living in a place that abounds with natural beauty. Finding things to be thankful for and beauty in the day-to-day is what will get us through this and into the future. This is important for everyone, no matter where you live or what your situation is.
Then there’s that pesky 50-year thing, which admittedly has been a doozy. I guess a half century of existence is something to celebrate, but it also feels like a dangerous pivot-point of sorts, like you’ve moved to the right side of the balance and it’s now tipping the other way into a scary, black abyss. As a child I never imagined being this “old”, but that could also be said of my 20’s, 30’s and 40’s. Middle age is not something you really think about until it catches up to you. And yet 50 is still so very young in the grand scheme of things. Perhaps half of my life is gone? Or there is half left to live, depending which way you think about it?
One thing is for sure. I never imagined this birthday under these circumstances. And as far as timing for a middle-aged crisis goes, 2020 may possibly have been the worst choice I could ever have made. No-one would have wished for such as thing, but then no-one ever does. The best response is the one that the great White Wizard, Gandalf so wisely gave to Frodo on his own perilous journey into the unknown:
“So do all who live to see such times.
But that is not for them to decide.
All we have to decide is what to do with the time given to us” (Lord of the Rings, J.R.R Tolkein)
France Is Re-Opening Again (In 3 Stages)
On the practical news front, the biggest item this week here in France is that the Government has decided to start opening back up again....wheeeeee!
It’s being called “déconfinement progressif”, a multi-tiered re-opening plan starting with shops this weekend, and an extended permissible “exercise circle” of 20 km, followed by more openings down the road, if the virus numbers stay stable. That’s the top-level view. The details, in typical French fashion, are suitably complicated.
In summation; paperwork is still required every time you go out, and only “essential” outings are permitted up until middle of the month, unless of course you’re going Christmas shopping, or going for your permissible walk. And no gatherings naturally, unless you’re going to a religious ceremony where up to 30 people can be accommodated, which is an exception, or your kids are doing extra-curricular activities, which is another exception. These exceptions are however exceptionally not allowed after 9PM because of the nationwide curfew, which will still be enforced even after the 15th, where no more paperwork will be necessary to go out, except of course during curfew hours. Oh, and there will be a exceptional exception to all this on 24th and 31st, where (presumably) everyone will just go bananas.
Got it???
Four days after the announcement, in other words yesterday, shops opened up for the first time in a month and people apparently went nuts en masse to get their fix. Or at least, that’s what the online news reported (I did not go see in person). What I did see was pictures of department stores filled with people, hoards doing their Christmas grocery shopping, and queues of folks in long lines to buy cheap pants from Primark. That, and massive demonstrations in Paris against the new security law (another can of worms there).
Oh dear….
As a guest in this country, I try my very best not to judge, but I have to admit this last set of rules has us sliding towards the absurd and comical. I’m not the only one who thinks so either. The new multi-tiered plan has caused a slew of memes and hilarious comedian outtakes online (one of the funniest I’ve seen is this YouTube skit (in French)), not to mention reams of questions online in various forums (“so, can I or can’t I go see friends now”….answer; it’s complicated).
Ah well, c’est la vie….
Decisions in these times are not easy, and I guess the result will always be a slew of moving compromises. At least the virus indicators in France are still trending down, and there’s a plan in place for the future. And as far as our little family unit is concerned the main thing is that we can now finally (blissfully) walk outside of our 1km circle, with more freedoms coming in the middle of next month. Oh, and we can go buy a Christmas Tree, or at least I think so (I may have to double-check the paperwork details for that…).
Onwards and forwards….
I Have Some New Camera “Kit”
The other big thing to “drop” this week, was my birthday present, a brand new lens for my trusty Nikon D750, together with a fancy new gimbal to mount it.
This particular set-up has been on my wishlist for years, ever since my good friend & wonderful photographer Hector Lopez showed me his kit (and by that I mean camera lens of course….behave…) while we were staying at a SKP park in Benson, AZ in 2016. His was a Sigma 150-600mm lens, a sweet long lens that sells for a fraction of the price of “Pro” models, and which still carries excellent reviews today. I wanted one right away, but didn’t really feel I could justify the purchase at the time, especially as we were about to spend some $$$ on a brand new solar-lithium installation on the RV.
Camera equipment is always a little like this….lots of “wants”, but always the question of how much do I really “need” it, right now? Ahhhh, the eternal dilemma….
Well, fast forward 4 or so years and that lens was still on my mind. So to celebrate my next half century I decided finally, to put it on the list.
For those not familiar with long lenses, they’re basically lenses that allow you to zoom in close to something from far away. They’re typically used by Sports photographers, and wildlife photographers, and they’re easy to spot as they are HUGE, long and heavy. The best ones are “Prime” lenses (e.g. Nikon 600mm Prime*) which are fast and super-sharp, but also ridiculously pricey, typically averaging around $10,000 or more(!). Unless photography is your livelihood, or you just happen to have a load of extra cash to spare, they don’t make much sense to buy.
For the average Joe-photographer however there’s still a few very-decent, but much-more-moderately priced options. They’re not nearly as sharp or fast as the Primes, but they offer an excellent compromise for “only” around $800-$1,000. Still a hefty investment, but not a bad one if you plan to use the lens for the next 10 years or so.
The three candidates that ended up on my list were the Sigma 150-600mm*, the Tamron 150-600mm* and the Nikon 200-500mm*. Honestly all three are excellent lenses, about evenly-priced with only minor differences in specs (if you want to read some good write-ups with in-depth tests, check out cameralabs.com). I agonized about the decision for a week, but in the end, the upgraded Tamron (the G2 version)* took the edge for me. It turned out to be the perfect choice.
To mount my new “beast” of a lens, I also got gifted a Neewer Carbon Fiber 360-degree Gimbal* which is basically a knock-off (view, much cheaper) version of the ~$600 “Pro” Wimberley Gimbal*. Again, it’s not nearly as perfect as its high-end neighbor, but for ~$150 it’s perfectly suitable with enough sturdiness & movement to work for average me.
The combo is excellent, has already given me some new perspectives, and (most importantly perhaps) I’m having a ton of fun using it. The lens is beautiful, works great and is perfect for those specialty longer-range shots. It should last me many, many years to come. All in all a sweeeet, sweeeeet gift!
*Full disclosure: all the above are affiliate links on Amazon. This means I get a small commission, if you choose to buy these babies for yourself, at no extra cost to you. You are of course, free to shop independently without clicking from this post. And I do of course, appreciate any buys you make.
All-In-All A Good Week
I can’t say this was the half-century celebration I was planning. In fact at the beginning of this year I had something completely different in mind, which included a holiday rental in Spain, all my siblings coming down to meet us, and of course our 12 paws along for the ride.
Alas, none of that came to be to be.
But I did get lots of love this week. I had tons of old friends, both here and abroad who sent me messages on Facebook, several calls from family and even two in-person visits from some good English neighbors who came bearing flowers and gits. We stood outside and chatted for a while, which was both lovely and a refreshing change from seeing or talking to them on-screen.
Not the original plan, nor even the wished plan, but the new plan, at least for now. And it did turn out all right. These are the times we live in, so we must make the best of them.
OK my dear readers, those of you of a “certain age”, please do tell me…how is the “next 50”? I am eager to hear it all. DO comment and share below.
Thanks for the link lady! Happy for your new toy. Dang things are heavy aren’t they … but so much fun. Never enough glass!!!
The Tamron G2 is a nice lens…I have one and the only drawback is that it’s not really hand holdable. I’m thinking on getting the 500PF fresnel lens from Nikon as it is lighter and smaller. Also wonder how you’re liking the cheaper gimbal head…according to the Amazon page you need to also get a tripod mount ring separately. Not sure what that is, does it not have the standard 3/8 inch tripod connection on the bottom? I would love to have a gimbal head but the price of the Wimbley has always stopped me…so wondered how you like this one. As an amateur only I can justify the price of it but not the higher priced Wimbley.
I’m really liking the head. I didn’t need a separate mount for it, so not sure what that’s about. It just mounted straight onto my Gitzo tripod, and the Tamron slots right into it (you don’t even need the mounting plate). That said it isn’t nearly as « smooth » as a Wimbley, and people do mention that on the reviews. Apparently you can replace the grease in the moveable joints (there’s YouTube videos on how to do it) which does improve the movement significantly. For me however, at least for now it feels perfectly fine. Maybe I’ll do the grease thing in the future, but it moves well enough for what I need for now. I’m really very happy with it.
Nina
The next 50 are even better, because you have the experience and maturity to enjoy them. But beware that the fifty may be only 40 or thirty, or some other unknown number. So don’t hesitate or delay in filling the days.
True words indeed, and ones that I feel quite deeply. Sadly I already know some friends who have passed (cancer, in both cases), both too young, around my age. It’s important to seize those years.
Nina
Well, first off, time marches on – but your youth doesn’t! It generally stops about a year or two before or after you assumed it would. I’m not as spry as my sisters but more so than my brother. My wife used to run rings around me now I can hobble faster than she – and I’m six years her elder! So I get the feisty dog and she gets the sedate one. I still have many of the interests as I did at 50 but the people I shared them with have either moved away, died or got sent to prison. Yeah, that latter was a surprise to me too. I was never interested in genealogy before but now that my grand parents, parents, aunts and uncles are all dead I’ve developed an interest. Go figure… Information that would have been free I now have to pay Ancestry and Newspapers! for so I can research that which my elders tried to tell me long ago. But I probably wouldn’t have been interested at all if I hadn’t got the RV bug and decided to roam the U.S. and Europe. (I don’t really roam Europe. I just visited a couple of times. But even that was a surprise to me as it was never on my long range radar.) I grew up in Michigan. My desire to roam was always pointed west not east. As of today, I’ve been to the Holy Land, England, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Switzerland, and Hungary. My favorite, however, has been visiting family and old friends in the United States. That’s why genealogy became important. I figured out that I was driving right past some cousins no matter where I went. I just didn’t know who they were! So climbing around the family tree has become a pastime. So when this pandemic thing ends, and my health allows, I’ll get a face-to-face on some “family” in just about every state in the union. THEN I’ll focus on Europe (the “old country”) a little more. I hope you enjoy your new creative tools and your future – one day at a time.
Ancestry is interesting. I too have recently started to take a renewed interest in my family tree, and of course most of the folks who could actually tell me have passed away. Go figure? I guess as we age we start to look backwards, and family history is part of that. It’s a great hobby to have, and wonderful for travel. Here’s hoping you lots of face-to-face soon.
Nina
Happy #50! I remember my 50th well. We lived in Melbourne, FL and I awoke to find a 4×8 ft piece of plywood painted with a birthday message in my front yard. Then I picked up my Orlando Sentinel newspaper and turned to my friend’s column. Alan Rose had never ever wrote/printed a birthday column in 25+ years. BUT, he made an exception for me and roasted me good! If you think 50 is bad, think of it from your dad’s point of view. That’s my view today with my kids (yes, kids!) who are 56, 50 and 47. Egads! I actually celebrated #81 last week. How? Damn if I know. Had polio as a kid, lived dangerously in my 20s, have worn hearing aids for 30 years and have smoked cigars and a pipe since I was 20. I just keep plugging along, one day at a time. Seems to work. For instance, two days ago, I mowed my yard in 80 degree heat in Florida.
Sounds like a life with plenty of adventure, and well spent…and here’s to many more years for you in the same vein!
Nina
Happy Belated Birthday!!!‼️‼️‼️
50‼️Years.
Enjoy every day… I just had my 70th in August and I dont look or feel different than I did at 50….. so that should cheer you up… 20 more years and you will still look and feel the same! REALLY!
Love your knew photos with the lens “ kit”
I guess I should get my camera and long lens out of the closet and use it again.
I bought it to take pro photos of my paintings to submit to galleries and competitions but then the iPhone camera has become handy—and galleries are closed… and I haven’t been painting much.
Cheer up… have your tearful bad days- stay in bed, then be okay again. Just think you are lucky not to be in the USA filled with Covid deniers, Crazed Trump supporters, people with Covid “fatigue” who will not take precautions. At least France is civilized and the people are being reasonable- for the most part. Plus you have quality wine and chocolate.
Cheers Nina— have a great week and take lots of photos.
Thanks for the supporting words Cynthia. I didn’t know you painted (how wonderful)! I’m always amazed by that talent, as it’s never one I’ve really had myself. Oh and I so agree. The iPhone is handy, and I still take lots of pictures with it. I just wish the camera on it was a smidgen better.
Nina
Those photos from your new “kit” are fabulous! share please more photos!
Thank you Terri. You’re so kind 🙂
Nina
I have not felt my age in years. I cannot believe our daughter is your age! I think I’m way too young for that to be true. Except for the days when I feel oh so old. 🙂
Feeling old, and young at the same time. I think I’ve had that feeling already lol.
Nina
I too never thought I would get the age I am now –15 beyond 50. But I am glad to be here and in good health. I hope you embrace all your birthdays and many more! Happy Birthday. I love your pictures and hope you get to travel again soon.
Nina, I hit 65 last week…that is a WOW moment for sure, but only because I am now on Medicare. Who would have even thought that would happen….LOL
LOVE your camera setup. –Dave
Happy Birthday.
Medicare for me this year and except for this dang knee and now my hip I’m not doing so bad. The Cowboy rolls right along at 75 working on this house 6-8 hours a day. Life is good. You were so young when we met and so young when you started the nomad existence!
A number of years ago a young teacher seated next to me was lamenting turning 25. I responded, I’ve turned 25 twice now and am working on the third time. It doesn’t get any easier.
Happy half birthday!
Cheers golden girl! For sure it is memorable not only for the milestone but for the events surrounding your big day. I am more than a decade ahead of you, but the aches and pains are starting to bother me. Nevertheless it is great to be on the other side of the equation.
Im drooling at your new set up.
Happy, Happy Birthday. I have been a ‘follower’ since 2016 when my husband and I retired and bought our first diesel pusher. We travel as much as we can when we can which has often been not enough. When you and Paul moved to France, I didn’t expect to keep following you but have found I look forward to seeing it every week. I read portions to my husband and insist he see all your beautiful pictures. The pictures with your new “kit” are fabulous. They are absolutely worth the cost. I love moody pictures like the ones you took. I was born in 1950 and John in 1948 so we’ve been around for just a while. We have been lucky with our health and hope it remains that way. I can’t say we feel much different then we did at fifty but you do find you think of life a bit differently. You treasure it more with each passing year. As someone else here said, look at your dad to see the future. My only surprise with you is that you or Paul haven’t come home with a new kitten … or two. We travel with three dogs one of which is over 15 years old, and two male cats who both enjoy traveling thank goodness. I have enjoyed (as much as you can enjoy 2020) traversing this year with you. Maybe next year you will have a proper celebration with your family.
Happy Birthday! You youngster!
I recall muttering some complaint about “getting old” at some point when I hit the half century mark, and was reminded by one of my long time friends that, “It’s better than the alternative”. I didn’t ask what that meant, but I suspect he was referring to death.
Always better to be alive.
Happy 50th Birthday Nina! And, what a lovely place to celebrate. I’m still focused on your market description from last share. And, I totally understand the photo wishlist. Mine has been the 18-200 mm Nikon lens except that it’s the same price as an I Phone 12 Max Pro. After all of my years, including professioanl work, with my Nikons, I am considering doing everything with the Smart Phone. They have special tripods for that as well. So…research is needed on my part, but the reality is I use the Smart phone for photos on everything I do these days including skiing, kayaking, biking, walking, etc, etc. So convenient! Such a modern dilemma.
Fifty years young! Congrats. I retired the first time at age 56 and then we built a dream house. It wasn’t until age 60, after fighting cancer that I really got in touch with every moment of every day. Fortunately, I survived and celebrated with a three month cross country bicycle trip self contained from Astoria, Oregon to Portland, Maine. It was one of the peak experiences of my life. Did the same in New Zealand at age 65. Then back to grad school aftet the trip at 65 to Teach ESL in the Middle East for my next career. That was also magical.
So I share these things to indicate that life, in a way, is beginning over again when there is time, money, the kids have flown the nest, and the mid-life crisis is handled, and for today, COVID has been conquered. Now at age 84, I am so thankful for our family, supportive spouse, and the fact that I did life my way instead of following the tried and normal itinerary. But…you are already doing it. So…Bravo and a super Happy 50th. It just gets better with age like a great wine!
Happy belated birthday, Nina! I remember turning 50 nearly a decade ago now and thinking “wow, am I old”. But now, looking back as I count down the months to the next decade’s milestone, 50 seems downright young to me! You asked for honesty, and if I being brutally honest, for many of us of the female persuasion the years between 50 and 60 seem to bring on accelerated aging, due to the change of life aka menopause. My husband seems to have weathered that decade much better than I. But everyone ages differently, and you may well be one of the lucky ones! I figure that wrinkles, thinning hair, and a thickening waistline are minor annoyances, when compared to serious illness or even worse, mental decline. So, I try to be thankful for my good overall health. It could always be worse, much worse. Thankful too that my family has so far remained COVID-free, and hoping we’ll be able to get vaccinated early in the New Year. Very glad you are able to take your > 1Km walks again. That would drive me batty!
Happy Happy Birthday Nina , as I sat here and read the responses to your post my mood seemed to change to WOW, maybe I’m not as old as I really am !!!
I’m the middle of 3 girls, the wild child, this next year I’ll turn 72 ( omg did I just say that ?), married to my high school sweet heart for almost 54 yrs and had 3 children, survived cancer and now enjoy feeling more like 40 at 71, go figure !
Happy, Happy Birthday to you!!! I already LOVE your pictures, so now it will be doubly so!!!??
Yes. life does go on… You will appreciate each day
I too celebrated my 50th in May during all this mess. It is a strange time to be going through such a life-changing event, isn’t it. Really makes you think about what’s to come. Happy birthday and congrats on the new gear. My gift was a cake baked by my kids. You are a lucky gal!
Happy Birthday Nina – can’t wait to see all the new perspectives you’ll be sharing! Thanks for the light you shine.
Happy Birthday Nina…..We wish we could have celebrated with you!
Time flies….sometimes that’s a good thing – sometimes it’s a bad thing.