Guest Post Lana

 

This November my blog will be 16 years old. To celebrate I am asking you my readers to submit a Guest Post for my blog as a way of celebrating our connectedness as a community through social media. 

I hope you will send me your story or at least a glimpse into your life (please send your story and JPEG photos to my email then I will post them to my blog. This will introduce you to one another.

Many of you are feeling shy, or worse not worthy as if there is a prize for the best life lived. I hope, truly hope, you will take a leap of faith in telling me and my readers about yourself, a cherished memory, a recipe, a hobby, what inspires you, what you dream about, and more importantly how are you? What are you living with or through right now?

Your story, as all of our stories, are one, interconnected by the weaver, the river, the dreamer, the wind, the path as we are on moving forward to the light. Please consider sharing a bit of yourself with me.

Thank you in advance for being part of French la Vie / Tongue in Cheek. 

...

 

 

 

Corey and me in Oakland

 

 

French la Vie/ Tongue in Cheek has played such an important part in my journey I have followed Corey for years.

 

I found out early that we had a lot in common. Corey was raised in Willows, California and I was raised in Berkeley.  We have family in Willows and Corey's family knew them.

 

We would visit Willows often as my father's father lived there with his family and they owned a large supermarket in town. Their family name is Mock which is my maiden name.

 

 

My five sisters and me

 

 

My father had a meat market in Oakland. During WWII he entered and served when he was discharged, he re-opened the store. I have five sisters yes, six girls we worked at my father's market. Burning the feathers off of the chickens, cleaning and cutting them up for restaurants, stocking up the meat cases, and waiting on customers, we worked alongside ten other butchers.

 

After attending UC Berkeley studying classical archaeology, at a young age I was married for eight years when we divorced, I was devastated, I thought I would not put all my chickens in one basket again. I would have my own friends: both female and male and I would do what I like, instead of swallowing my personality to accommodate only the interests of another man. 

 

I decided to catch up for the lost time. I dated, partied, attended concerts, and thoroughly enjoyed myself.  I had a wonderful 4 yr relationship that I thought would last, but it ended sadly or maybe not.  I re-grouped and remarried a 2nd time this time to a lawyer it was definitely a case of rebound.  I divorced within the year.

 

My first husband was a major drug dealer who manufactured meth and sold cocaine internationally. This was unknown to me while we were married he later served thirteen years in federal prison in the USA and in England.

 

My second husband is currently serving seven years in jail for embezzling twenty four million dollars from clients' trusts and wooing women we had homes in Pebble Beach and Tiburon.

 

My husband Steve and me at Christmas

 

 

Then I met my third husband. We will be celebrating thirty eight years on October 29th. My husband Steve Kloch is a kind, helpful, supportive husband.  He supports my interest in my love of France and anything French.

 

 Corey and I connected when I visited my cousins in Willows, we started a beautiful relationship. She had arrived from France and was going to talk about her adventures at a well-known furniture store in Chico (Nantucket) my husband and I drove up and met her (again) and her husband Yann.

 

 

A corner in my home

 

Since then, I have bought treasures on her brocante site and was able to attend her French la Vie.  I was exposed to the best brocantes and artists.

 

More importantly, I discovered that Corey has, the best taste, designs, and eye for architecture, remodeling, staging, decor, and cooking. Her home in France and her apartment in Paris would make anyone feel like a princess. It's as if you were a millionaire paying millionaire prices for what she provides.

 

 

 

Chelsea, Dolores and me in Willows

 

When I stayed with Corey in Willows, I learned she got some of her beautiful attributes from her mother Dolores. The family traditions, the baking, making the home so beautiful was her hobby and love. She scattered so many collections throughout her home indoors and outdoors.

 

 

A peek at some of the "Sense and Nonsense" I have.

 

 

 

 

One of my first finds in Paris’s brocante 10 years ago, a metallic embroidered memoriam celebrating a wedding.

 

 

I am Seventy Seven years old now the last fifteen years or so I have been collecting / selling French ware. Aso I have published 2 magazines and started a business with the help of Wendy Addison, Theatre of Dreams my business is called: Stuff and Nonsense.

 

 

We hold classes in our home for teachers who need a safe space to teach and invite guests who appreciate these artists.  I am able to share my love of cooking at these events.. and my husband plays a large part in this too as he serves the coffee and refills and the champagne. He ensures the guests have a great time.

 

 

 

I also hold sales in the home and @ the theatre of dreams in Port Costa. Where I will be selling again the week, before Thanksgiving.

 

To be with Corey Amaro and share in her passions has made my life so remarkable.  I hope my friends are able to find their passion and make magic. Life is a gift. We can make it what we want, keep a positive attitude, and surround yourself with positive people.

 Life is a journey with many twists and turns I would not change a thing to become who I am today with the interests, friendships, and passions I have today. 

 

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Comments

[jackie]

Holy cow, what a life story! I'm happy to hear that it has a happy "ending." :)!

[RebeccaNYC]

I love a story with a happy ending!! Thank you for sharing yours!!

[Lil]

Wow, five sisters! That must be fun when you get together.
Thanks for sharing your story and photos and links to your site and the Theater of Dreams.

[Diogenes]

Classical archaeology major, Lana that's so interesting, no wonder you love brocante! Nice you were able to connect to Corey through family in Willows. And congratulations on 38 years of marriage!

[Jeanne]

Another wonderful posting.
Fabulous lives from all the guest bloggers.

Here's to Happily Ever After for us all
Thanks for the introductions to so many Corey.
Much love
Jeanne

[Carol]

Thank you for your beautiful post.

[Stephanie M]

Very interesting thoughts Lana. So enjoyed meeting you at Chateau Dumas-Bonne Fete with Anna! Happy Anniversary to you and Steve!🎊🥂

[I W Van Straaten]

Lovely reading. Thank you. Greetings from the Netherlands
Ingrid

[Ann of Avondale]

Hi Lana, Love the "corner in your house" photo, looks like a boutique. Thanks for sharing your interesting life with us.

[barbara willis]

Lana dear is a sweet friend of mine and to know her is to love her. She is generous to a fault, funny, kind and most of all cherished friend. I loved reading your story and I look forward to our next adventure with Corey hunting at the flea markets, driving in the French country side and just having a magical time.

Hugs to you Lana and hugs to you dear Corey---love you both.

[penni]

Although your life had quite a few surprises, the best ones seem more like fate; your families proximity to each other, the life experiences that led you teaching, hosting, enjoying and selling French antiques! I love that you are the perfect example of "third times a charm!" -you seem very happy and content, what a fun life! Thank you for sharing your adventure!