Singles, March 9, 2024

So, how was it in Marin, will you certainly ask? In a single word, it was cold! It was so cold (to me) that the polar bears would’ve begged for a blanket.

Hastings Adair, Dylan Maringolo, Kevin Evoy

I elected to not play… or rather, I didn’t feel like playing. My superbly engineered machine works optimally only under clement conditions, and so, I abstained from this event. My Siberian-born mate, on the other hand, stated that rain or shine she would play, and she did.

Armed with long johns and five layers of clothing, I didn’t show up on the field until 10:00 am while the contest was already underway. The temperature was still hovering around 55 degrees and I was gratified to see that most everybody was wearing solid winter clothes… no shorts or sandals!

Twenty-four people showed up to compete including a few individuals from Sonoma and even Sacramento.

Three timed games were played in the morning, and Concours and Consolante were played in the afternoon. The weather was gloomy most of the day with a small shower around noon which prompted me to retreat home. But after seeing a gleam of sunshine I returned around 2:00 PM to watch the completion of the event.

To be true to my profession as a war photographer, I tried to cover every situation and every foxhole. I am not sure that I succeeded, but I tried.

The interesting part of the contest took place in the afternoon when finalists played in the Concours and Consolante.

In the Concours, Kevin Evoy faced a young lad called Dylan Maringolo and it proved to be a very interesting match. Dylan is a fluid, natural shooter, and given his past effortless and accurate shooting, I would have placed my money on him. But wily old Kevin didn’t let this happen.

He took his time and pondered every shot, while young Dylan was more impulsive and opted to shoot almost every time instead of occasionally pointing. It is the true mark of a champion, but unfortunately, he missed a few crucial shots and fell behind.

By the way, the field was still wet, and the game consisted almost entirely of shooting and plumbing maneuvers, a discipline that both players accomplished very well.

Eventually, Kevin won this very interesting match by a score of 13 to 6. Congratulations fearless fisherman!

Concours:
1st place: Kevin Evoy $80.00
2nd place: Dylan Maringolo $67.00
3rd place: Hastings Adair $52.00

Consolante:
1st place: Bleys Rose $39.00
2nd place: Ron Rohlfes  $26.00

And that was the way it was.

Alain

Please watch the accompanying photo album. For best results, look at it on an iPad or a computer. Thank you.

Shortage of proficient doctors

I don’t know about you, but my relationships with (insurance-provided) doctors have always been a source of discomfort for me. Office visits rarely bring total satisfaction, often leaving me with feelings of unfinished business.

A visit to the doctor often feels like an awkward encounter with an ex-girlfriend. You’d rather avoid the situation altogether, yet your common past necessitates maintaining a civil relationship.

This love-hate dynamic with our physicians seems all too common. Despite vowing never to return, we inevitably find ourselves back in their care, trapped in a cycle resembling a bad dependency.

Initially, your first visit feels very promising. The doctor appears dedicated to your well-being and intends to alleviate your concerns whenever you call.

However, as time progresses, this relationship gets a little rockier. Your doctor does not seem too eager to see you anymore, and scheduling appointments becomes a challenge, with wait times stretching up to a month. The term “doctor” by the way, never guaranteed quality service; today practitioners seem more inclined to prescribe multi-colored pills than to provide comprehensive care.

Benjamin Franklin stated, “The best doctor gives the least medicines.” Yet, today’s medical landscape reflects outdated practices like bloodletting, when regardless of the ailment, doctors favored drawing blood. Thankfully, this practice has disappeared… to be replaced by pill-pushing, a more colorful and more profitable alternative.

The decline in the quality of healthcare in America is now palpable. Today, securing a doctor’s appointment feels like winning a lottery prize, while all you get is a chance to spend a few minutes with somebody who will check your pulse and temperature.

If you yearn for a great healthcare system, buy a plane ticket to Northern Europe, particularly Sweden or Finland.

My doctor gave me six months to live but when I couldn’t pay the bill, he gave me six months more. – Matthau

Alain

The clock is ticking

The Big Clock in the sky is always ticking and never slows down for anyone. Fidgety old Chronos makes sure of it; no ifs or buts, and no exceptions.

“Time takes it all, whether you want it to or not.” — Stephen King

When you are young the clock’s ticking is barely perceptible, but it grows noticeably louder as you age. That’s probably why older folks pretend to be hard of hearing. They don’t want to hear the growing noise of the doomsday machine anymore.

In youth, speed is of the essence, and you are in a hurry to go places; you want everything to happen fast. When you age though, you start to realize that speed could be hazardous to your health, and you try to slow down. But Chronos wants none of this. He said that just like Big Ben, his clock will keep ticking precisely, no slower and no faster, till the end of (your) time.

Despite the sunny depictions of smiling seniors frolicking on the beach, growing old is no carnival. It is a grand masquerade, a monumental deception, a big lie.

Your body, once a superb machine, does not run as well as it used to. Why not? might you ask? I took good care of it, I brought it to the car wash regularly, I changed the oil religiously, and I didn’t let anybody else abuse it. It is not fair. Like a well-taken care-of product, it should run flawlessly, forever.

No, no, no. You didn’t read the fine lines of the contract my friend, and your money is not refundable. On page 269, it says very clearly that the Time Express does not slow down or stop for anybody. It is like a driverless train rushing madly toward a mined bridge… And no lawyer will ever be able to amend that contract.

But you can prevent a spectacular crash by living more modestly. Very modestly. Watch what you eat and don’t exert yourself. No big drinking, eating, or sexual binges anymore. If you want to remain on this planet for a while longer, it probably would be a good idea to join a monastery and curb your wicked appetites.

Then, just then, and if you follow the above instructions, Chronos might slow down his train in a bend and allow you to temporarily escape.

It is worth a try but keep in mind the fate of those who sought to break free in the Great Escape.

And doggone, stop that ticking noise!

Alain