People-watching therapy

In our complex society, nearly everyone could benefit from some people-watching therapy. However, treatment can be expensive and out of reach for many people. Faced with this challenge, you have two choices: endure the problem or find a way to lessen your discomfort. Opting for the latter doesn’t have to be costly, but it will require some training to get the full benefit from the treatment.

Americans, unfortunately, are not a contemplative breed. They often prefer action over reflection, sometimes with unfortunate results. Personally, I lean towards the philosophy of “look before you leap.”

When troubled by an event, you can either sink into desperation or seek a viable alternative to your problem. My way of coping with the blues is to sit at a café and watch the people strolling by. With the proper training, this can be highly entertaining and therapeutic—and far superior to any numbing television fare.

The art of people-watching consists of making quick, candid assessments of passersby. Articulating freely thoughts that one would never say in polite society but might share with a like-minded wicked friend.

For instance, here comes a partially bald, pot-bellied elderly man sporting a ponytail. I generally like ponytails, but on this fellow, it doesn’t look very smart. Bald men don’t wear ponytails; it is like fat people wearing bikinis. Nevertheless, it’s still a free country, so enjoy the freedom before a more rigid dress code is imposed on us.

Here, is a chubby girl wearing very short shorts. On a slender person, this might look graceful, but on her, it looks grotesque. Sorry, young lady, but it’s best to dress according to your body type rather than what might look good on Kim Kardashian.

A group of cyclists clad in shiny, tight-fitting uniforms suddenly appears. They all look elderly, past sixty, walking slightly stooped like geriatric patients. They look silly but somehow praiseworthy.

A young woman tightly wrapped in black yoga pants shows up. Nice buns, likely eliciting jealous looks from less fortunate women, but pleasing to the eye. Always be thankful for what the gods gifted you… and yes, if you’ve got it, you’re allowed to display your wares.

Suddenly, a sexy-looking middle-aged woman with alluring, swaying curves floats by. Praise the Lord! Candy for the eyes and balm for the soul. Stimulating and well worth a front-row seat and a cup of coffee.

In conclusion, I guarantee that a regular session of people-watching is more beneficial and less costly than a single seance with any shrink. For the sake of your sanity, keep looking and laughing at people whoever they are, and whatever they are. When you stop laughing, it is too late.

Alain

Sonoma, July 14, 2024

July 14th, a famous date in history, when the Parisians stormed the Bastille, liberated 7 prisoners, and did away (temporarily) with the French monarchy.

The good people of Paris celebrated this event by chopping the heads of all the aristocrats at hand. Eventually, King Louis XVI and his wife Marie-Antoinette were also led to the scaffold and beheaded, accompanied by the jeers of the “tricoteuses”.

Since then, July 14th has become a national holiday, and the French people usually celebrate with parades, fireworks, and street dancing.

We had none of this yesterday in Sonoma, but fortunately, we had among us, the embodiment of the French spirit in the body and voice of Jean-Michel Poulnot.

Every year Jean-Michel dons his tricolor outfit (including the French béret) to call all the citizens to arms, with an enthusiastic version of La Marseillaise.

It feels so genuine, that we almost feel that we have to grab our muskets, and erect barricades (which in the future doesn’t seem too far-fetched.) Fortunately, we are not there yet, but a mob (any mob) is always unpredictable.

Otherwise, there was just a regular tournament with 18 “triplettes” competing for the big loot. Considering my venerable age, I chose to abstain from the competition and strolled on the field around 11:00 am, accompanied by my regular entourage of assistants.

We didn’t linger too long, due to some unexpected fatigue experienced by our junior set. I still managed to take a few pictures to share with you, and you can watch them by clicking on the link called “My photos”.

Later, at home, I received a message indicating who won the Concours. So here it is:

Concours:

1st place: Duncan,  Jean-Michel, and Bernard P.

Congratulations fellow gunslingers, on another notch on your respective pistols!

Alain

Objectivity

A person is considered objective when he/she is not influenced by personal feelings or opinions when considering facts.

However, true objectivity is almost impossible to achieve. When evaluating facts, we are almost always unconsciously influenced by biases: she is a woman, he is Black, she is Jewish, he is wealthy, he is poor, he is too young, he is too old, he is too rich, he is gay, etc.

So, regardless of the issues, nobody is truly objective. This brings us to the question of the day: is Joe Biden too old for a second term as President of the United States?
Advancing age has nothing to do with it. In the age of broadcasting, it is the appearance that matters most. And this is why some aging performers are rightfully turned down for roles requiring youth and vitality.

Some people look extraordinarily fit at 80, but if you appear old, you are considered old, regardless of your actual age, and therefore unfit for the part.

When I was around 22, I served in the French Army, and one of the men in my unit was nicknamed “Pépère.” In French, old men are often called “pépères,” a term which can be friendly or derogatory depending on the intention. This fellow was about my age, but he was already married, wore a large mustache, smoked a pipe, wore slippers when off-duty, and was forever concocting some brew on a portable stove. He was therefore considered odd, and out of step with the rest of us.

As a leader, you must appear dynamic and speak forcefully when the situation demands it. Unfortunately, this is not the image that candidate Joe Biden projects. He shuffles, stumbles, and speaks with a tenuous, whispering voice. This is not the leader the public wishes to see, especially someone who has to handle bullies of all shapes and colors.

The common man often yearns for a strong leader, a law-and-order man… even someone with glaring flaws. But a leopard cannot change his spots, and when the public plebiscites a “strong man” their honeymoon can be brutally short.

I believe Joe Biden to be a decent, honest man who cares about common folks. But for the good of the nation (and the world), he ought to pass the baton to a younger, more dynamic-looking individual. Too much is at stake in this election, and allowing a known bully to reoccupy the White House would be dicey.

People ought to remember what happened when they allowed vain, old foggies (Hindenburg, Pétain) to continue meddling with the affairs of the state after their prime.

This year, Republicans and Democrats picked unsuitable candidates to lead the country. Both sides are wrong, and if worse comes to worst, I will stick with the candidate who still believes in democracy and doesn’t seek immunity for all  his past and forthcoming contentious deeds.

Alain