I got an e-mail yesterday from one of Charles-Henry's nieces who sent new year's wishes and shared some news. It seems she and her sister went to Paris in November and spent most of a day in their uncle CHM's apartment doing an inventory of the contents to see what was to be kept, and by whom. Also to see what could be disposed of. They didn't finish the job. She said it was weird being there with so many strangers (including un notaire, un administrateur judiciaire, un commissaire priseur (an auctioneer), and several real estate agents...) going through her uncle's things . CHM was a very private person, but I guess privacy is no longer an issue when a person has left this world.
I miss going to see CHM in Paris frequently as I did between 2001 and 2017 to spend nights and to go touring around in Paris with him during the day. For example, a few years ago he asked me if I could come to Paris and accompany him to the Arc de Triomphe. There were things there that he remembered and wanted to see again.He was afraid to try to go there by himself, which would involve taking buses or the métro. For me, it was a privilege to spend time with him and to be able to help him. On another trip, we went to Notre Dame catheral. He said it had been years since he had seen the cathedral up close. RIP, CHM.
Oh dear Ken. This post got to me. You two were long-term friends. True friends. Every time we drive between LA and Phoenix, as you climb the hill on I-10 after leaving the Coachella Valley, you can see the Salton Sea in the distance. And I always look out and think fondly of chm, wishing he was still there. I guess his spirit still is.
ReplyDeleteCHM was 83 years old in this picture, which I took on the day we went to the Arc de Triomphe in September 2007.
DeleteThanks for posting that picture. hugs.
DeleteThat's a fine photo of CHM. You had some wonderful trips together. I get sad looking at photo like this.
ReplyDeleteThe artifacts of a long life, well lived. I wonder who will sort through this collection when we are gone.
ReplyDeleteevery time I go to the attic I hate to think of my children having to sort through all the stuff I have up there. I have tons of photographs from our life and the lives of parents & grandparents that I keep in a spare room. I can't throw photos out & it's so overwhelming to think of digitalizing everything....
ReplyDeleteI miss CHM's regular comments
Oh, that's one of the nicest photos I remember seeing of CHM. I've been looking around at Châteaux and towns in France, with December decorations, and I often think, "I wonder if this is one that Ken and CHM visited?" :)
ReplyDeleteAs for the apartment, every time I see an apartment in Paris advertised (comes across my feed quite often), I think of that apartment, and wonder if someone has emptied it, cleaned it, and re-done it yet, and put it up for sale. I guess this is my answer... not quite yet!
What Melinda said. Thinking of you! -- Chrissoup
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