By Amy Capron

Carla met the love of her life Nicholas when abroad for a year studying the great museums of Europe and traveling on a Eurorail pass . One sunny crisp afternoon , she was sketching in the Tuileries gardens after visiting the Louvre . It was perfect fall weather , soon to change as the leaves were turning red , orange and yellow .

Stopping to admire her sketches , Nicholas flirted with her in such an obvious manner . “ Quelle beauté ,” he exclaimed , although it wasn ’ t clear if he

was referring to Carla or her drawings .

Neither of them would speak the same language for some time . Their language of love needed no words - they got by on gestures and drawings used as hieroglyphics . Eventually , after months of pillow talk , by far the best total-immersion language course available , they both became fluent in each other ’ s native tongue .

When Carla had enough of Paris , and warmer geography beckoned , she moved on to museums of Naples , hoping to improve her drawing technique by sketching ancient sculptures and nudes . Nic just came along . After which , he never left her side .

In Naples , they celebrated Christmas , followed by New Year ’ s . They stayed in hostels and met other young people from around the world . They ate lentil soup , an Italian tradition to ring in the New Year as it symbolizes good luck , fortune and prosperity , the lentils being seen like coins .

They were told to be careful of walking too close to open windows on the 31st , La Festa di San Silvestro . The Italians have a dangerous way of celebrating by throwing whatever they can get their hands

on out the windows . Sometimes this might be small appliances and even furniture ! The act of getting rid of unwanted items through the window is a metaphor for moving onto the new and out with the old , all made the more hazardous by how difficult it was to navigate on the streets as the atmosphere was thick with smoke from the fireworks .

Nic would follow Carla to her sleepy little Southern California coastal paradise , Laguna Beach , reminiscent of the Amalfi Coast . She would always say “ French lover ” even after marriage and living decades together . It was very European of her to keep their relationship spicy and romantic .

Traditionally , they would go out for a local Italian meal for New Year ’ s . Salerno ’ s or Ristorante Rumari to Alessa and sometimes Romeo Cucina . Later , when they were really feeling festive , they dined at Oliver ’ s Osteria . Afterward , they would snuggle at Main Beach to watch fireworks .

Carla made modest sales as a plein air artist . She could often be seen at Heisler Park or Woods Cove with her portable easel , her paint smudged clothing and her hair up in

an old-fashioned chignon to keep it from her face .

After many years together , Nicholas passed away from Covid- 19 . Grieving , Carla threw herself into her painting with fervor . Her art was the only thing that made sense and kept her going . Unfortunately , money was running out , and the small savings they had managed to put aside dwindled . She downsized to a tiny house in the canyon on Fairywood Lane where the prices were slightly more affordable .

At Christmas , she was feeling quite desperate seeing her bank account decrease . With the recession , the local galleries were struggling . Collectors were no longer buying as before .

Carla hopelessly scanned her emails , noticing one from a French insurance company she didn ’ t recognize . It stated Nic had taken out a policy decades ago . They had been looking for her for a while . It would be her New Year ’ s miracle , just in the nick of time .

Amy Schwarzstein-Capron is a Lagunatic and francophile who loves to read , cook and lawn bowl while enjoying her family and friends .