“We will build a beautiful fence around the Pétanque field and make the Dog Park People pay for it.”
This is the persistent rumor that I heard last year in our club’s locker room. The purpose of this fence I was told, is to prevent thieving, drug dealing dogs to cross our field and go on a crime spree.
Some people did not believe that this would happen, but happen it will, very soon.
This fence (unlike another infamous barrier) will be built, and we owe it all to the dogged determination of the Davantes/Moran clan.
Charlie and his daughter Brigitte are not from the wood matchsticks are made of. They are determined and resourceful and they managed to raise the prerequisite amount of money demanded by the county.
Everything new is sometimes difficult to accept; but eventually, even the naysayers will grudgingly admit that this was a project worth pursuing.
Over a hundred years ago, when the Eiffel Tower was built in Paris, some famous detractors (Alexandre Dumas, Guy de Maupassant, Charles Gounod, etc.) called it a monstrosity. They clamored for its destruction and removal. The same ruckus was raised over the San Francisco Transamerica Pyramid. But both buildings are now proud, beloved symbols of their respective cities.
I am convinced that our pétanque field will become a shining example of what all American “boulodromes” should look like. Spacious, well groomed, attractive and free from party-crashing bow-wows.
Don’t get me wrong! I looove dogs, but not petanque roving mutts. To avoid futile conflicts, we need to keep the hounds and the swines (cochonnets) separated.
A dog often wags its tail to show his approval. I think many tails will soon start wagging.
In all likelihood, when the fence is completed, I am convinced that all our club members will definitely say, “well-done mates”.
Alain