Debbie Croft: Love story brings piece of France to Mariposa

The world’s best love stories often include opposite personalities, a romantic or exotic setting, and enough adversity to challenge and refine – all the while nudging memorable characters toward triumph.

This particular romance has all of the above. It started close to 50 years ago with a 5-year-old boy and a 2-year-old girl.

Their dads were students at Stanford University, and both families lived in housing for married students. Ron Halcrow’s mom enjoyed all things French, and went out of her way to make young Hélène (pronounced AY-len) Monbeig’s French family feel welcome on foreign soil.

Though the neighbors parted ways after a year, a bond developed that transcended distance, culture and time.

During Hélène’s teen years she traveled to America, spending summers with the Halcrows to improve her English. But when conversing with Ron, she spoke only French. He had no choice but to learn her language.

After graduating from high school he visited her in France. While in college, the two wrote letters and sent them via “air mail” across the Atlantic.

They were engaged at Christmas during Ron’s senior year, and married in Paris the following September. After the honeymoon, the couple moved to Southern California.

Within their story, though, are tangents of other stories, all of which eventually converge in a Sierra Nevada town: two daughters, fulfilling careers, regular trips to see relatives in Mariposa and unforeseen circumstances.

About 10 years ago, the Halcrows visited Europe again. Hélène’s uncle operates a small inn among the mountains of southern France.

While there, the thought occurred to Ron that owning an inn would be a great way of life.

He says, “It was sort of like wanting to win the Nobel Peace Prize – a great idea, but not likely to happen.”

Then the recession hit. Last December he lost his job as a software engineer. Hélène had spinal fusion surgery the same month. Fortunately, they were able to buy a relative’s house from the family estate, and moved to Mariposa shortly afterward.

Working in the yard one Saturday, their dog attracted the attention of Jon Pierre and Lois Moroni, who were at a neighborhood garage sale. Jon Pierre is French – an instant connection.

The couple owns a bed-and-breakfast inn, and suggested the Halcrows do the same, even though they only have one room available.

Hélène spent the rest of the weekend thinking and researching online. First thing Monday morning, she visited county offices. A prior remodeling of the home included a large master bedroom with a private bath and a modern kitchen that met county codes for commercial use.

Up to that point, Ron hadn’t been successful finding work locally. He wasn’t sure he was willing to sacrifice privacy and space. After Hélène presented her plan and proved she could fit their clothes into the smaller bedroom closet, he was convinced.

By mid-summer they opened the bed-and-breakfast, Yosemite Plaisance.

“I spent many summers at my grandparents’ house in southern France,” Hélène says. “They called their house ‘Plaisance.’”

It’s a French word meaning a pleasant rest or recreation place.

Ron, having paid his way through college by cooking at a Disneyland restaurant, passed the food manager certification course and began designing the website.

Hélène prepared the bedroom and handled marketing.

“This town has been wonderful to us,” she says. “No business has refused to accept our business cards.”

She also wrote the French version of the website. Her fluency in French and Spanish draws visitors from around the world.

During the first few months, the couple juggled responsibilities until they found their niche in running the operation.

Ron orchestrates the legal presence, cleans and helps with cooking. A few of his paintings hang on the walls, mid European antiques and local artwork.

Hélène plans menus, cooks and provides personal touches. Her delicious recipes are available at their website, www.yosemiteplaisance.com. Both enjoy opening their home and getting acquainted with guests. They have plans for expansion.

She’s considering teaching French cooking with wine tastings as an add-on to reservations.

She says, “I really don’t know where we’d be if we hadn’t moved, but we wouldn’t be living under our own roof.”

For a metropolitan couple who could have come to an unhappy end, starting over in Mariposa added a rewarding twist to this French-American love story.

This story was originally published November 14, 2014 at 3:35 PM with the headline "Debbie Croft: Love story brings piece of France to Mariposa."