Au Cochonnet Marin

I want to live in a “Commercial World” … like the one you observe every day on television.
In this enchanted tale, everybody is good looking, friendly, smiling, considerate, helpful, accommodating, color blind, politically correct, and every mother’s son unconditionally loves you.

It is my Holy Grail and I have been on a crusade to find it and to infiltrate this world. I know that it exists, but locating it has proved difficult. After much research, I have come to the conclusion that the Commercial World is a secret society, similar to the Freemasons.

Like every hush-hush organization, its members use a secret handshake to greet each other, and I have been on the lookout trying to spot that gesture. Why do you think that I always carry a camera?
But the damn pandemic has thrown a wrench in my plans. Nobody shakes hands anymore… Curse that virus!

In a Commercial World, there are no tears and no sorrow. There is not even a word to describe that. It is a Disneyworld for adults. Bankers will lend give you money, car dealers will beg you to accept a free car, and lawyers will put their lives on the line for you.

Like many secret societies, the Commercial World provides many perks. Some crucially important.
A long time ago I read a story dealing with this subject. The event took place during the 1870 Franco-German war. A French prisoner was about to be shot when he flashed the Freemason sign. The German officer in charge of the firing squad (who was himself a Freemason) immediately stopped the execution and released him.

Nothing has changed. Recently, some despicable felons were sentenced to lengthy prison terms. They repeatedly flashed the secret sign and the Grand Master of the Lodge instantly pardoned them.

The Commercial World is an arena where everything is easy. The arduous task of finding a suitable mate for instance is child play.
Boy meets girl. She flashes a wide smile showing gleaming teeth. The young man is instantly smitten. He falls on one knee and puts a ring on the girl’s finger. She accepts enthusiastically.
I have seen this happening a thousand times on TV and I absolutely believe that it is gospel truth.

I suspect that some of our club members belong to the Commercial World. They are polite, friendly and smile a lot… even when they lose. This is definite proof that they belong to a parallel world.

My search is not over. It might take time, but I am dedicating my life to penetrate the wondrous Commercial World.

Alain

True heroes do not beat their own drum… others do it for him. But sometimes they are so discreet that they need “un coup de pouce” (a helping hand) to inform the public at large.

I am using my own big thumb to let you know what happened today at our pétanque court. After my (semi) daily constitutional, I drove to the field to greet the numerous volunteers who were expected to come and help to clean our neglected courts.

The anticipated mob alas did not materialize, but 4 work heroes showed up to tackle the job. They were John-Philippe Wyek, Charles Davantes, Tamara Efron and Mike O’Leary.

They did a superb job on the frontcourts and it looks like they are ready to be played on. The backcourts need a little more work but unusual help has already been used and is expected again.

If you were caught jumping a subway turnstile, shoplifting, driving under the influence, or possessing marijuana. for instance, you might be sentenced to do some community service. And working in parks, planting flowers, or pulling weeds is an option.

So, I have been told that the County already agreed to such an arrangement, and that the rest of the cleaning is going to be done by the same people. A win-win situation for all. I think that pulling weeds is definitely more pleasant than spending a few days rotting in jail.

It looks like by Saturday or Sunday we will be able to come to the field and engage in some greatly needed social and physical activity.

Our president Christine Cragg has already communicated  the needed requirements to participate in any game to all.
Social distancing and mask wearing are not optional. They are mandatory!

“No hugging, kissing, or handshaking before or after games.
Players will sign once a “Conditions of Play Statement” before playing. (For acknowledgment of safety rules and contact information for contact tracing if necessary.)
They will also log the date each time they play.”

 Please let our heroes know how much you appreciate their help.

Alain

A few pictures are available at the regular spot.

J’ai lu quelque part que pour être relativement heureux, il faut toujours être en attente d’un événement agréable. Dans les conditions actuelles, c’est une chose assez difficile à imaginer.

Quand la pandémie de Covid-19 a débuté, beaucoup de gens ont pensé que ce ne serait qu’une crise passagère… une inflammation temporaire des fosses nasales.

C’est d’ailleurs ce qui avait été communiqué au public par notre Tartarin de Tarascon. Ne vous inquiétez pas, dans quinze jours tout cela sera terminé… Croyez-moi, il n’y a pas besoin de vous affoler ou même de porter des masques…

Quatre mois plus tard, dû à la conduite déplorable de certains individus, nous faisons face a une recrudescence du problème. Et cette fois-ci, on nous annonce en catimini que le virus se propage d’une façon aéroportée. C’est à dire que l’on n’a pas besoin d’être proche d’un autre individu pour être infecté.

Le virus, flotte sur un courant d’air et se dépose sur, vous ni vu ni connu. D’après un nombre croissant de scientifiques, vous pouvez maintenant être contaminé pratiquement n’importe où. Difficile d’être optimiste dans ces conditions.

Et puis, à quatre mois des élections présidentielles, existe maintenant aux États-Unis une situation politique explosive. Le résident de la Maison Blanche (qui ne pense qu’à être réélu) attise maintenant les passions par des discours incendiaires.

Nous n’avons plus d’États-Unis. Nous avons seulement un pays divisé par une politique extérieure incohérente, et une politique intérieure devastée par des luttes tribales.

Et il y a le confinement… Il ne faut pas oublier que l’être humain est un animal social qui a besoin de ses semblables pour s’épanouir. Coupé du monde, il ne pense plus qu’à jouer « la fille de l’air », au risque de mettre en danger tous ses proches.
L’espoir c’est le ciel bleu au-dessus des barbelés. Mais maintenant, le ciel bleu est obscurci par les barbelés.

Pour se divertir, certains cuisinent, d’autres lisent, beaucoup regardent la télé… Pour briser la monotonie, j’ai décidé d’écrire ce petit chapitre en français, chose que je n’ai pas fait depuis longtemps.

Quand je suis arrivé aux États-Unis, je pensais en français pour m’exprimer en anglais. Aujourd’hui, je réalise que je pense en anglais pour m’exprimer (plus difficilement) en français.

Tout change, sauf les imbéciles.

Globalisons les luttes pour globaliser l’espoir ! José Bové

 Alain

Ne dites plus « A bas les masques » mais « Haut les masques ! »