Wow! This touched my heart. What a magical telling of your life/lives. And what courage it takes to move and be with your grandfather. Wishing you many blessings and joy!
I felt this so deeply because you put in words things I have contemplated as well. I left Cluj when I was 6 and often wonder what my life would have been like if we'd stayed. When I go back and visit I am also met with the ghosts of who I could have been...
Oh wow then you really get it!! Also I don't know about you but I don't know or meet that many Romanian immigrants my age who left so young/their parents left. I don't feel connected to the disapora either!
Oh totally! I'm not Romanian enough for most people because I never went to school there and don't speak the language fluently. I feel like I could talk/write about that forever!
This is a breathtakingly beautiful (and moving) piece of writing Anna. V visceral too and has me thinking of all those Other Lives I’m currently living. Xx
Beautifully written, Anna. At the end of a long day (long week... long life...) I was scrolling emails looking for confirmation of my take-away order (!) when this stopped me in my tracks - you had me from the opening line. My Mum left Ireland for England before I was born and I moved 'back' to the Northern-most tip almost 18 years ago, so this especially spoke to me. A move I never saw coming and yet felt perfectly inevitable. Home. I hope it all works out well.
That sounds like a heartfelt response to something truly special. Is this about a piece you read on Substack, or are you reflecting on a personal experience? Either way, stories of lives colliding in meaningful ways are always powerful.
I loved this!! My great grandparents immigrated from Romania (Bad) to the US & to my knowledge not a single family member has ever visited. I’m planning on going later this year!
I loved this piece both because it's beautiful writing, and because I've often had a similar feeling, and even started writing a book about it.
I have wanted to live in France since I was 8 years old. I have no real idea why - it was something that was just always there. I felt born and living in the wrong place. I went to a college that prioritized study abroad (Macalester), and the year I was 19 I was supposed to be in France, in Montpellier. I was accepted on a program that involved living in apartments with French students and attending classes in French at the University.
But I never got to go. My program wasn't approved by Macalester (I think mainly because I was a 100% scholarship student). Frustratingly the next year they changed the policy and went to blanket approval for all accredited programs, but it was too late for me. If I hadn't skipped a year of middle school and started college a year early I would have been able to go...
I first went to France at the age of 36, and I felt instantly at home, like I was finally where I belonged. I started spending time there every summer, and ten years later I met the man who became my French husband. But I have the feeling you were writing about a lot. I've always wondered what happened for the other Jean, the one who DID spend a year in Montpellier in 1991. Sometimes I have the feeling, like you, that I would have ended up exactly here anyway, living this life in Lyon. But more often I think that she's somewhere else, further south toward Montpellier, living with a different partner and different children.
What a beautiful and thought-provoking piece. There’s nothing like living between countries to make you wonder about roads not taken, but this sounds like fate, like who you are, or were always meant to be. And how wonderful to have more time with your beloved grandfather.
Anna, thank you for sharing this. It has some eerie parallels with the story of my father, who suddenly lost his sight at the age of 82. Unfortunately, we lived oceans apart and I was only able to make a flying visit at the time. Although he had some local care, his health deteriorated very rapidly - he had complex medical issues already, but I'm sure the sudden shock of blindness had a huge effect. I often wonder how different the outcome would have been, had I been able to love and support him on a daily basis following his vision loss. Your grandfather is lucky to have you, and I hope you both cherish this time that you have together. A journey well worth making.
What a beautiful metaphor of crossroads and choices! A bit like the butterfly effect, right? It made me wonder too how each of my post-crossroad versions would live today.
Wow fantastic!!! Let me know if you go see his childhood home!? Or recreate his walk by foot to emigrate to Paris!!! (That detail always blows my mind)
Wow! This touched my heart. What a magical telling of your life/lives. And what courage it takes to move and be with your grandfather. Wishing you many blessings and joy!
Thank you so much this so kind ❤️
I felt this so deeply because you put in words things I have contemplated as well. I left Cluj when I was 6 and often wonder what my life would have been like if we'd stayed. When I go back and visit I am also met with the ghosts of who I could have been...
Oh wow then you really get it!! Also I don't know about you but I don't know or meet that many Romanian immigrants my age who left so young/their parents left. I don't feel connected to the disapora either!
Oh totally! I'm not Romanian enough for most people because I never went to school there and don't speak the language fluently. I feel like I could talk/write about that forever!
This is a breathtakingly beautiful (and moving) piece of writing Anna. V visceral too and has me thinking of all those Other Lives I’m currently living. Xx
Thanks so much, Emma! 😌
Beautifully written, Anna. At the end of a long day (long week... long life...) I was scrolling emails looking for confirmation of my take-away order (!) when this stopped me in my tracks - you had me from the opening line. My Mum left Ireland for England before I was born and I moved 'back' to the Northern-most tip almost 18 years ago, so this especially spoke to me. A move I never saw coming and yet felt perfectly inevitable. Home. I hope it all works out well.
Very beautiful writing and a precious story. I love how your lives have collided
Thank you 🙏
That sounds like a heartfelt response to something truly special. Is this about a piece you read on Substack, or are you reflecting on a personal experience? Either way, stories of lives colliding in meaningful ways are always powerful.
I loved this!! My great grandparents immigrated from Romania (Bad) to the US & to my knowledge not a single family member has ever visited. I’m planning on going later this year!
Oh WOW. You should definitely visit. I can give you my guide to Cluj if you make it here 😊
I would love that!! Will let you know when I start planning!
I loved this piece both because it's beautiful writing, and because I've often had a similar feeling, and even started writing a book about it.
I have wanted to live in France since I was 8 years old. I have no real idea why - it was something that was just always there. I felt born and living in the wrong place. I went to a college that prioritized study abroad (Macalester), and the year I was 19 I was supposed to be in France, in Montpellier. I was accepted on a program that involved living in apartments with French students and attending classes in French at the University.
But I never got to go. My program wasn't approved by Macalester (I think mainly because I was a 100% scholarship student). Frustratingly the next year they changed the policy and went to blanket approval for all accredited programs, but it was too late for me. If I hadn't skipped a year of middle school and started college a year early I would have been able to go...
I first went to France at the age of 36, and I felt instantly at home, like I was finally where I belonged. I started spending time there every summer, and ten years later I met the man who became my French husband. But I have the feeling you were writing about a lot. I've always wondered what happened for the other Jean, the one who DID spend a year in Montpellier in 1991. Sometimes I have the feeling, like you, that I would have ended up exactly here anyway, living this life in Lyon. But more often I think that she's somewhere else, further south toward Montpellier, living with a different partner and different children.
Beautiful! I loved this piece. I loved hearing your story, your connection with your grandfather and this Romanian town. Beautiful writing!
Thanks so much, Khristee 🥹
Beautiful, and congratulations on your move xx
Thanks Natalie!! 😄
What a beautiful and thought-provoking piece. There’s nothing like living between countries to make you wonder about roads not taken, but this sounds like fate, like who you are, or were always meant to be. And how wonderful to have more time with your beloved grandfather.
Anna, thank you for sharing this. It has some eerie parallels with the story of my father, who suddenly lost his sight at the age of 82. Unfortunately, we lived oceans apart and I was only able to make a flying visit at the time. Although he had some local care, his health deteriorated very rapidly - he had complex medical issues already, but I'm sure the sudden shock of blindness had a huge effect. I often wonder how different the outcome would have been, had I been able to love and support him on a daily basis following his vision loss. Your grandfather is lucky to have you, and I hope you both cherish this time that you have together. A journey well worth making.
What a beautiful metaphor of crossroads and choices! A bit like the butterfly effect, right? It made me wonder too how each of my post-crossroad versions would live today.
This was beautiful. We read so much about people going away, and a lot less about them coming back.
Wow Anna what a beautifully shared story and also rad and meaningful life decision!! Good on you
Thanks so much, Bailey 😊 You'll also appreciate that the street with the good bakery (dog friendly) is named after Constantin Brâncuși!
Wow fantastic!!! Let me know if you go see his childhood home!? Or recreate his walk by foot to emigrate to Paris!!! (That detail always blows my mind)
Oh wow I didn't know he went ON FOOT
So powerful and moving. 🥹 the rain drop races were the best.
So beautiful, thank you for sharing it