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A Poem Pondering Food in France versus America
From:
Gail Rubin, The Doyenne of Death, Funeral Expert Gail Rubin, The Doyenne of Death, Funeral Expert
For Immediate Release:
Dateline: Albuquerque, NM
Sunday, July 19, 2026

 

A poem about what you might see in the grocery store. As part of the creative nonfiction writing class I took at the American University of Paris this summer, we had several writing assignments. The prompt for this piece was to create a list of what you would see at a grocery store.

Grocery List by Gail Rubin

Eggs are not refrigerated in grocery stores in France.

The music played for shoppers makes me want to dance.

Strawberries, so red and sweet.

So much wine, what a treat!

Crunchy baguettes and crispy croissants,

Chocolate pastries – I want, I want, I want.

Sweet butter and jam to go a la loaf,

Cheese and prosciutto – I’ll walk it off.

Coffee and milk, my American drink.

Although espresso is more French, I think.

Crème fraiche had me stumped, had to ask Google.

It’s like sour cream – perhaps great on noodles?

Pickles are called cornichons, who knew?

Olives are olives in French and English too.

Heinz ketchup and mustard have their regular names.

But mayo is used in ways not the same.

You dip your pomme frites in white sauce, not red.

Bon appetit! Enjoy your food before you’re dead.

(Subscribe to Gail’s Substack, Mortality Movies with The Doyenne of Death®)

American breakfast in Paris

American breakfast in Paris

Gail Rubin, CT, is author and host of the award-winning book and television series, A Good Goodbye: Funeral Planning for Those Who Don’t Plan to Die, Hail and Farewell: Cremation Ceremonies, Templates and Tips, KICKING THE BUCKET LIST: 100 Downsizing and Organizing Things to Do Before You Die and The Before I Die Festival in a Box™.

Rubin is a Certified Thanatologist (that's a death educator) and a popular speaker who uses humor and films to get the end-of-life and funeral planning conversation started. She "knocked 'em dead" with her TEDx talk, A Good Goodbye. She provides continuing education credit classes for attorneys, doctors, nurses, social workers, hospice workers, financial planners, funeral directors and other professionals. She's a Certified Funeral Celebrant and funeral planning consultant who has been interviewed in national and local print, broadcast and online media.

Known as The Doyenne of Death®, she is the event coordinator of the Before I Die New Mexico Festival and author of a guide to holding such festivals. Her podcast is also called The Doyenne of Death®. She produces videos about the funeral business and related topics. Her YouTube Channel features hundreds of videos!

Rubin is a member of the Association for Death Education and Counseling, the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association, Toastmasters International and the National Speakers Association. Her speaking profile is available at eSpeakers.com.

Gail Rubin has been interviewed about funeral planning issues in national and local broadcast, print and online media. Outlets include The Huffington Post, Money Magazine, Kiplinger, CBS Radio News, WGN-TV,  and local affiliates for NPR, PBS, FOX, ABC-TV, CBS-TV and NBC-TV. Albuquerque Business First named her as one of their 2019 Women of Influence.

Sign up for a free planning form and occasional informative newsletter at her website, AGoodGoodbye.com.
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News Media Interview Contact
Name: Gail Rubin
Group: A Good Goodbye
Dateline: Albuquerque, NM United States
Direct Phone: 505-265-7215
Cell Phone: 505-363-7514
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