Blessed with serendipity

Serendipity is when you find things you weren’t looking for because finding what you are looking for is so damned difficult.” ~ Erin McKean

A few weeks ago, I caught the Covid bug (rather it caught me) and I was sidelined for a few days. This incident reminded me that I ought to get a Covid booster shot as soon as possible. But at the time the vaccine was not available, and I relegated this matter to the back of my mind.

 Then yesterday I went to Kaiser Permanente to get a new pair of glasses. After I stepped out of the Optical Center, I noticed a long line of people across the hall.

I suddenly thought about what I once read about the old Soviet Union. In the “glory days” of the regime when everything was in short supply, people usually carried a bag with them. Just in case… when they saw a line anywhere, they automatically joined the queue without bothering to find out what the end product was. Better get a little bit of anything than nothing at all.

So, I approached the line and enquired what it was all about. Covid and flu booster shots I was told. It just happened to be a true case of serendipity; the occurrence, of something by chance in a happy or beneficial way. Without specifically looking for it, I came across what I was searching… and I ended up with two sore shoulders.

Famous cases of serendipity include Penicillin, radioactivity, X-rays, microwave

“It’s a bizarre but wonderful feeling, to arrive dead center of a target you didn’t even know you were aiming for.” ― Lois McMaster Bujold

Serendipity exists everywhere, even in pétanque. I have seen it a thousand times… maybe a little less. Your opponent tries to hit one of your boules… he grossly misses but serendipity intervenes, and he ends up gaining 3 undeserved points. The infernal luck!

Serendipity is around looking to make someone happy. If your heart is pure and if you are a true Democrat, it will find you.

Alain

Speech-impaired

One of my pet peeves (and with advancing age I harbor quite a few) is that too many people are unable to express any concern clearly and succinctly. You must go through a litany of questions to ultimately comprehend what they are trying to say. It is annoying and it raises your blood pressure unnecessarily.

In the 17th century, Nicolas Boileau famously said:
« Ce qui se conçoit bien s’énonce clairement, et les mots pour le dire arrivent aisément. » (What we understand well can be clearly stated, and the words to say it come easily.)

It is an ancient saying, but it still holds true today. Unfortunately, most people are still unable to enunciate clearly what is on their minds. They speak too fast, they mumble, they stutter, and they make it impossible to be understood. To add insult to injury, they often use bizarre expressions unknown to most of the academic world.

When I was young, I could hear a fly fart, but today my hearing is a little rusty, and if you don’t speak clearly, your message will never get through. You might get annoyed if I ask you to repeat, but I feel that the burden is mostly on you and not on my shoulders.

Don’t be offended, speech delinquents, it is not entirely your fault… but it is never too late to improve your image. Repeat slowly after me:
“The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain!”

And keep doing it until I say, by George, you got it!

You might not be a “looker” but if, like Cyrano de Bergerac you acquire a gift for gab, all previously closed doors will suddenly magically open for you.

“And why not? If you love her, tell her so!”

 Alain Continue reading “Speech-impaired”

3rd Annual Women’s Pétanque Day

Yesterday, I went to the field to play a little pétanque, but mainly to cover the 3rd Annual Women’s Pétanque Day.

Driven by my (adopted) sister Ann Krilanovich, this event proved very popular and was very successful. Ultimately, about 20 ladies responded to Ann’s call to arms and came to compete and enjoy the day. And enjoyed they did.

Entirely organized and run by women, this event is here to stay and will become even more popular as time goes by. I believe that yesterday, women outnumbered men almost by 2 to 1, and men prudently chose to remain aside to mind their own business.

However, the women proved to be unselfish and graciously offered to share their goods with the male population. The mood was very festive, but I refused to kiss or embrace anybody. A recent little bout with COVID made me a little skittish, and for a while, I will avoid all unnecessary close contact with my fellow pétanquers. Sorry ladies, but I am temporarily off-limits.

Besides fulfilling my duties as a highly paid-paparazzo, I also played a few games with the guys. I ended up teaming up with Eddy and facing John-Philip and Antoine, both excellent players. Antoine is as everybody knows an excellent shooter, but he was greatly helped by John-Philip who despite an injury to his right arm played amazingly well with his left arm. I certainly couldn’t do this. I am a strict righthander and am not allowed to use the left side of my body under any circumstances.

As I previously said, I played with Eddy who proved to be a deadly accurate shooter. We lost 2 games against John-Philip and Antoine but managed to win the 3rd game. Nothing my friends tastes better than success.

To sum it up, it was an excellent day, enjoyed without a doubt by everybody present. Thank you, Ann (and Christine) for putting together such a great event.

Alain

PS: be sure to watch the pictures, on a full screen if possible.