Mais la vie sépare ceux qui s’aiment
Tout doucement, sans faire de bruit…
But life separates those who love each other
Very slowly, very quietly …
In 1945 Jacques Prévert wrote a beautiful poem called “les feuilles mortes” (the dead leaves) in which he laments the passage of time and the pain of lost love.
In life, this is a recurring theme. With the advent of globalization, people are more prone to leave friends and lovers behind to resettle in another state or even another country.
Those that were once close to you are suddenly living in the foggy beyond of the universe and you might not hear from them for a long time. Out of sight, out of heart, goes a French saying, and it is sadly true.
You tend to dismiss people you don’t see on a regular basis.
But should old friends be disposable items? I think not.
New friends are good, but old friends, like old sweaters, are more comfortable to wear. You know their qualities and their flaws, and you are less likely to be offended by their antics, for it is often the memory of youthful stunts that binds you together. A little bit like cellmates or army buddies.
But at the core of any friendship, there has got to be a mutual desire to keep memories and old bonds alive. And this requires work, and very often a “locomotive”, a dedicated individual who can put into motion and propel forward a group or a project.
One needs to remember that most friendships are made during our formative years. The older you get and the less likely you are to find kindred spirits. This is why you should nurture comradeships like old vine stocks.
Properly cared for, they will keep producing enjoyable clarets that will delight you and keep you warm in your advancing age.
Alain