Jacques Gautier

« Connais-tu bien Don Diègue ? Sais-tu que ce vieillard fut la même vertu, la vaillance et l’honneur de son temps, le sais-tu ? » (Le Cid, acte II scène 2)

To paraphrase Pierre Corneille “Do you know Jacques Gautier? Do you know that this old man embodied the virtue, the valor, and the honor of his time, do you know that?”

We often know very little about individuals we see often, and Jacques was a good example of this reality. Unlike our extroverted friend Jean-Michel, Jacques tends to keep to himself, rarely engaging in conversations with strangers.

But never judge a book by its cover. I’ve had the privilege of knowing Jacques Marcel Gautier for quite some time and the man you see today is vastly different from the man I have known.

Jacques has been a steadfast companion in picnics, social gatherings, pétanque matches, and card games. Born on January 4, 1943, in the south of France, he grew up amidst the backdrop immortalized by Alexandre Dumas‘ tales of musketeers and swashbuckling.

Beneath a reserved demeanor, Jacques possesses a kind heart, often displaying affection for creatures large and small. Throughout his life, he owned several dogs and frequently looked after pets belonging to his friends.
“We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals.” ~ Immanuel Kant.
Jacques without any doubt possesses a big heart.

Despite the limitations imposed by his nightly employment and his limited exposure to English-speaking environments, Jacques’ innate kindness has always shone through. Beneath his reserved exterior lies a big heart, as evidenced by his fondness for animals.

In his prime, Jacques excelled not only in baking goods but also in various sports. A skilled cyclist and rugby player, he was also known for his pétanque shooting skills.

For years, he lived on a boat in Emeryville, but as age caught up with him, the challenges of that lifestyle became apparent. Despite numerous suggestions to settle on land, Jacques always remained steadfast in his attachment to his floating home.

Unfortunately, his health is now failing him, and he is presently residing in a rehab center in the East Bay. If you feel so inclined, he would appreciate hearing from you.

In short, Jacques Gautier embodies the complexity hidden within every individual. His life story serves as a reminder to look beyond first impressions, and appreciate a person regardless of the projected image.

Alain

Please watch a photo album dedicated to Jacques and let me know if you would like to get in touch with him.

The rise of sneaky fees

I don’t know if you have yet noticed, but “sneaky fees” have landed and are rapidly spreading, appearing in nearly every restaurant located in our area. Unless we loudly voice our opposition, this deceitful practice will soon become “un fait accompli”.

Once, a 15% restaurant tip was customary, but now it’s often pushed to 22% or even 25% if one isn’t vigilant. Adding insult to injury, restaurants now tack on various “sneaky fees” to their bills, disguising them as “appreciation,” “supplemental fees,” or even “taxes.” It’s a sly and underhanded tactic to boost their profits.

I find this practice not only outrageous but also on the brink of illegality.

While the affluents may continue to make merry, many of us are beginning to feel the financial strain. These “fees” feel like persistent mosquito bites every time the restaurant bill lands on your table.

If restaurants need to make more money, let them openly increase the fares on their menu and not ape “third countries” practices. (In modern terms, these countries would be less developed or still developing countries, or nations without stable governments or ways of life.”

America no longer embodies the mythical Land of Cockaigne; now, the Statue of Liberty is holding a sign reading “closed.” It no longer welcomes “your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free” … unless you are willing to “donate” some “hospitality fee”.

To me, this practice is akin to inviting some friends for dinner, and when presenting the Tiramisu, tacking some “appreciation fee” to the invitation for contributing to the welfare of our establishment.

Miss Manners strongly disapproves of this low-class ploy.

Alain

You can’t go on being what you have been

Yesterday, Saturday, February 10th, unfolded as a great day, bathing in sunshine, and eventually warming up. However, the turnout didn’t match the weather’s cheerfulness, as many people chose to remain indoors. Consequently, only 26 players, predominantly from our club, graced our field for this first tournament of the year.

Handling the registration process and overseeing the tournament’s proceedings were Christine Cragg and Shama, launching the event around 10:00 am. The day’s schedule comprised five games, three in the morning and two in the afternoon.

Despite the bright sunshine, the field retained some of its previous dampness, presenting an extra challenge for most of the players. Extra effort was required to propel the boules toward their targets, putting additional strain, especially on aging bodies.

Fortune favored me with Eddy Pay (a good shooter) as my partner. Our first match pitted us against, Jean-Michel Poulnot and Jean-Claude Bunand. Despite Jean-Michel’s great form and initial dominance, we managed to mount a good comeback and clinched victory with a score of 13/11.

Our second encounter saw us facing off against Delio, and Rick Z. They chose to play on the far right of the pétanque court (near the registration desk) where the is a notable incline. They also opted to play long, where negotiating uphill shots demanded extra exertion.

It proved to be a strenuous battle, teetering on the edge throughout. Although victory seemed within grasp at times, our opponents ultimately clinched to win by an extra narrow margin of 13/12.

As the French adage goes, “On ne peut être après avoir été” (You can’t go on being what you have been), a sobering reminder for me of the aging process. Regrettably, my back pain became so unbearable after the last game that it compelled me to withdraw from the tournament.

Thankfully, Ben Pierce was present on the field and graciously agreed to take my place. I retreated shortly after 2:00 PM and headed home to give my back a much-needed respite.

Additional information provided by Christine Cragg:

1st place: Mark Shirkey & Kurt Lundblad: $65.00 ea
2nd place: Bernard Passemar & Loël McPhee
3rd place: Rick Zieke & Delio Cuneo: $26.00 ea

Before leaving the field though, I also managed to take a few pictures to give you an idea of what happened. Please watch.

Alain