The best thing about church

[_Meadowchik]

Sounds so beautiful...envy you...but hey...I am a hick from the sticks...what is a tabac???

It's where you can pick up cigarettes, magazines, and lottery tickets. There are three tabacs in that one small town center.

[_Jesse Pinkman]

When I was married to my ex, I hated the drive to Church. It always took me forever to get the kids and myself ready to go, and we were usually running late. My ex was always seething in the car the whole way to Church. I was normally both exhausted and worried about what his wrath would be like later. Not a very Churchlike mood to be in.

Strangely enough, after the divorce, when it was just my son and I getting ready, there was no worry about my ex’s wrath, so the drive was actually kind of nice. Like you, Meadowchik, we live in an area where there are a lot of pretty churches and cathedrals. I could actually enjoy looking at some of those things. I had no idea that the emotional abuse I was suffering while married to my ex was such a distraction from actually enjoying going places.

I hope you can enjoy those things more now.

I stayed in a toxic relationship (boyfriend at BYU) for two years. Shortly after, I married someone else, but I could still hear his rants play like tapes in my head whenever something in my life would be inviting his criticism if he had been there. Eventually, the tapes stopped.

Thanks for that reassurance. Those “tapes” of my ex still play but it’s better than it used to be. I’m glad you got out of a toxic relationship as well. My fiancé is completely different. He is so kind and understanding. I’m so happy to be with him. The difference is like night and day. And, what’s funny is, I’m very rarely late with him. He is so helpful that I don’t have to spend as much time getting things together. Lateness is also an issue that I have personally tried to overcome and he has helped me overcome that problem by working with me in a positive way.

[_Meadowchik]

Thanks for that reassurance. Those “tapes” of my ex still play but it’s better than it used to be. I’m glad you got out of a toxic relationship as well. My fiancé is completely different. He is so kind and understanding. I’m so happy to be with him. The difference is like night and day. And, what’s funny is, I’m very rarely late with him. He is so helpful that I don’t have to spend as much time getting things together. Lateness is also an issue that I have personally tried to overcome and he has helped me overcome that problem by working with me in a positive way.

Sounds like a rewarding partnership! What a difference it makes to be a team.

[_Tuna_Surprise]

What a lovely description of this part of the world! Every summer I try to spend a few days following the Tour de France. People always ask me why I go. A few minutes of a race zipping by is just a small treat following the hours spent in the car meandering through the French countryside.

I haven't actually seen the Tour in Alsace. Usually when it's in that area it's up in the mountains and unfortunately rarely on the weekends. Hopefully someday I'll make it out.

[_candygal]

Sounds so beautiful...envy you...but hey...I am a hick from the sticks...what is a tabac???

It's where you can pick up cigarettes, magazines, and lottery tickets. There are three tabacs in that one small town center.

OH....okay..kind of sounds like 7-11 (outside of Utah)

[_Meadowchik]

What a lovely description of this part of the world! Every summer I try to spend a few days following the Tour de France. People always ask me why I go. A few minutes of a race zipping by is just a small treat following the hours spent in the car meandering through the French countryside.

I haven't actually seen the Tour in Alsace. Usually when it's in that area it's up in the mountains and unfortunately rarely on the weekends. Hopefully someday I'll make it out.

Yes, they take it up to the mountains, I think. There are some great Auberges, inaccessible by car, where you pay for a bed, breakfast, and dinner, and it's all from their farm or one of their neighbors.

If I remember correctly, the Tour has gone right past our house once since we've lived here. There's the local race, Tour d'Alsace, as well.

Something also interesting is the marina. It is full of houseboats which people live on as they float around Europe's system of canals.

[_moksha]

I've been in some grand churches and they were indeed impressive buildings, not what you would call the world's only true buildings but they were still a sight to behold.

My own local church building is Mormon generic from the 1960s, which is far from a world's true building format. Since it is just around the corner, all there is to see in the intervening travel are houses. In the winter any walking to church is cold and miserable (and potentially slippery).

The thing I like best about my local church is the people in the congregation. Salt of the earth type people. The only thing I would change would be to render some of them non-political. Politics can make them into mean girls in a setting where it seems inappropriate.

[_Meadowchik]

I've been in some grand churches and they were indeed impressive buildings, not what you would call the world's only true buildings but they were still a sight to behold.

My own local church building is Mormon generic from the 1960s, which is far from a world's true building format. Since it is just around the corner, all there is to see in the intervening travel are houses. In the winter any walking to church is cold and miserable (and potentially slippery).

The thing I like best about my local church is the people in the congregation. Salt of the earth type people. The only thing I would change would be to render some of them non-political. Politics can make them into mean girls in a setting where it seems inappropriate.

Tis true, the people can make a world of difference! I am very grateful for the welcome of most of the people at the ward. Except today I am dealing with a bunch of intrusive anxiety, probably due to yesterday seeing the person who inflicted trauma on our family. (It's hard to get over abuse.)

I should state, for the record, that after writing my OP I realized that what I called "cathedrals" are not technically cathedrals, ie., the seat of the acting Bishop, nor are they grand like the Notre Dames in Strasbourg, Paris, etc... They are just very visible and relatively grand, the highest artificial points on the paysan landscapes. Chalk it up to my own ignorance, please! ;)

[_Jesse Pinkman]

Thanks for that reassurance. Those “tapes” of my ex still play but it’s better than it used to be. I’m glad you got out of a toxic relationship as well. My fiancé is completely different. He is so kind and understanding. I’m so happy to be with him. The difference is like night and day. And, what’s funny is, I’m very rarely late with him. He is so helpful that I don’t have to spend as much time getting things together. Lateness is also an issue that I have personally tried to overcome and he has helped me overcome that problem by working with me in a positive way.

Sounds like a rewarding partnership! What a difference it makes to be a team.

It really does make a difference. I'm so grateful to have someone in my life now who works WITH me instead of someone who thinks I'm supposed to be working for him.

[_moksha]

Chalk it up to my own ignorance, please! ;)

Not to be overly competitive, but I bet my ignorance is bigger than your ignorance.