Francine Gardner - Art de Vivre: dreams

Welcome to my dreams...

My first time being part of Marsha's group of gifted writers... Marsha as you may know is the incredibly talented blogger known as Splenderosa. It's early Saturday morning, coffee on my nightstand, sitting in bed, computer on my lap, I feel very intimidated to be part of such accomplished writers... Tish Jett, Greet, Vicky, Deborah..to name a few.

The subject is very dear to me ..."tell the world what you have always wanted to do or wish you could do, but just haven't done it yet "

I have reached the age of reflection, a time when I can look honestly at my life. I have been a very tough self critic, but with enough years behind me now, I am trying to be a little kinder to myself. This subject is touching a sore chord, very deep inside all the mixed emotions .

Frankly, I have wanted to do everything (except politics) ... see the world, fly airplanes, climb mountains, write a book, build my dream houses.... (yes, that's right, its Houses, not a typo) but feel that I have accomplished so little... My bucket list keeps growing and I can never hope to catch up!

My heroine Emilia Earhart...while flying my small Cessna, I would dream of her adventures

Photo: aviation-history.com

Let's be a little wild and as Marsha suggested, forget about time, money, obligations.

Everest through my lens

I have a vision... following months if not years of preparations and training, I reached the summit of Everest. I feel the pain of breathing, every muscle screaming, the burning fear of the descent, the tears of joy, and the purest love of life. I would have survived the harshest conditions where life is so fragile that the wrong step, the slightest mistake, or simply bad luck will kill you.
I must have read nearly every mountaineering book, watched so many documentaries and lived vicariously through the great climbers. Listening to stories told by Peter Hillary during the evenings following our days trekking in Tibet, I would block out the world and live through his words, sometimes brutal,describing with such precision the harsh realities of mountain climbing.

This is actually a smile of pure joy with Mount Everest in the background

With Peter Hillary following in his father footsteps as the greatest mountaineer ever...

A fabulous story teller as well

Wake up! this is just a dream but isn't it fun to dream...

I feel so fortunate and thankful as I live my life fully, never looking back. As a young girl, I flew my airplanes, skied as if the devil was in me, and dreamed of America (Please keep in mind I was born in a village with fewer than 500 inhabitants in a remote beautiful part of France, Lot et Garonne)

My small village of Clermont Dessous

I made it to America and many of my dreams and wishes have been fulfilled! I am blessed with a wonderful family and amazing friends. I love designing, gardening,hiking, skiing,reading... but most of all, love showing the world to my two sons. (now worry to death as my younger son is becoming passionate about.... roped mountain climbing!)

I have yet to build my dream mountain house, or my hut on some deserted island or write that book about life, design, travel and adventures, get back into the pilot seat, and still need to visit 147 out 195 countries !!

Found "my" island in the Indian ocean, off the coast of Zanzibar

Found "my" hut

Go and live your dreams...

A bientot,

Francine

Please, visit Marsha at By Invitation Only and read about these bloggers dreams

Marsha Harris
http://splenderosa.blogspot.com/

Members of "By invitation only"

TISH JETT

http://afemmeduncertainage.blogspot.com/

YVONNE PRATT

http://stonegable.blogspot.com/

CHARLOTTA WARD

http://spaceforinspiration.blogspot.com/

GREET LEFEVRE

http://belgianpearls.blogspot.com/

CATHERINE ROBINSON

http://www.catherinerobinsoncashmere.com/

ANNIE BOUTERSE

http://plumsiena.blogspot.com/