« Aux âmes bien nées la valeur n’attend point le nombre des années. » Pierre Corneille
“For souls nobly born, valor doesn’t await the passing of years”
I could not have said it better. You don’t have to belong to a specific age bracket to show talent.
Yesterday, on the pétanque field, I played with an amazing little girl. She is only 10 years old, but she is oozing brilliance.
My talent-detecting radar started to buzz just a few minutes after I started to play with her. The first time that she shot and hit her target, I registered this as a lucky happening. The second time she did this, I continued to believe that she was extremely lucky. The third time though, I had to stop and recognize that this was unusual.
She is still young and plays a little too fast, but by George she sure is gifted.
If I were a talent scout, I would take her under my wing right away, before anybody realizes how good she is. I predict that if she keeps it up, in a few short years she is going to be a dominating force on our court(s).
A while ago, I was starting to despair about our club’s “relève” (taking over from somebody), but now, I am convinced that someone will be there when we are gone.
Pétanque does not discriminate. You don’t have to be of any specific gender to participate and be good at it. As long as you have the will and the dexterity, the field is open to you.
And this little girl (her name is Tait) seems to have both. She has a good lineage. Her entire family is athletic and sports-minded and it must have something to do with it.
My dream is to have this little girl play with us regularly, AND bring her little friends with her. We need to have youngsters playing with us, challenging us and beating the crap of us. I always said that pétanque keeps you humble; the minute you start thinking that you are hot stuff, some kid will show up and shatter your fragile image.
Pétanque is not an old man’s sole domain. Everybody can play and be good at it. The only thing that you need is practice.
Science is the captain, and practice the soldiers. Leonardo da Vinci
Like Charlie Brown, I long to play with the little red-haired girl again. Brigitte, I want to play Tait à tête!
You must bring her back… or I will send my goons to do that.
Alain