Au Cochonnet Marin

Few people ever consider that we all hold a “limited-term residence permit” for this planet. Even with “contacts,” obtaining a “permanent resident” permit is impossible—and perhaps that’s for the best.

Most of us don’t think about it until we’re confronted with the unexpected passing of a friend. How could this happen? This person was part of our lives, and we liked it that way. But he too, only held a “limited-term residence permit,” and we forgot it.

Life is not a long, quiet river. It is a meandering stream, prone to unexpected turbulence. In many ways, life resembles whitewater kayaking. Sometimes the stream is calm, allowing for relaxation, but other times you must paddle like crazy to stay afloat.

No one knows what the future holds, or how long we will live, until lightning strikes close to home. Then, your mortality comes into sharper focus. That long-forgotten reality, your earthly “residence permit,” slowly emerges from the fog and becomes more visible. We seldom think about it, but each time we lose a friend, we also lose a part of our own lives.

Your lifespan often depends on luck, or events happening on the other side of the planet. It would help if you had both luck and drive to propel you forward.

However, there is no need to worry excessively about this. Que sera, sera! No amount of worrying or crying will help. Yes, you could stop drinking, smoking, and overindulging yourself, but would it be worth living the rest of your life like a cloistered monk? No matter what, life goes on.

We will miss our friends, all of them, and like for special pets, there will always be a warm place in our hearts for them.

Farewell, Jean-Claude, we all have been lucky to know you. 💔

Alain

“Secrets are the jewel box of happiness” Alice Ferney

Recently, I came across an article in the New York Times Magazine discussing how simultaneous retirement for a married couple can often lead to friction. Too much togetherness, or “gemütlichkeit” as the Germans call it, can become burdensome even irritating.

Like a living plant, a human needs some space to blossom, and a suddenly cramped environment might bring discord to a couple. Everyone needs some “elbow room” or occasionally a different type of environment to feel contented.

Today it is not uncommon, to come across couples with a vastly different background. Sometimes, these people don’t speak or comprehend each other’s native language. To communicate, they must resort to a different but commonly understood language, and this curiously brings about some benefits… and some drawbacks.

The hidden benefits of speaking different languages stem paradoxically from the inability of each party to decipher their mate’s conversations. She doesn’t comprehend what you’re saying to your friends and vice versa. This allows for some privacy without the need for outright deception.

In any relationship, everybody benefits from the privacy of a secret garden.  Like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden…

The drawback is that it is sometimes difficult to overcome different cultural norms. Everybody is not quite ready to embrace “escargots” or borscht. For many people, whatever is foreign is better to be viewed with suspicion and wariness.

Morale of the story: you don’t have to know everything about each other to be as happy as a sandboy. It is said that absence makes the heart grow fonder. You feel more affection for those you love when momentarily parted from them.

Alain

PS: And, you need to remember that “A secret is to only tell one person… at a time.”

I was genuinely surprised and rather perplexed by the disappointing turnout for the May 11 mêlée in San Rafael. Despite expectations of a sunny, warm day, only 16 players showed up, to form just 8 teams. It left me wondering, where did everybody go to?

Such a dismal number was especially disheartening considering the promising weather forecast. We all had high hopes for a bustling event, but despite the odds, everything turned out pretty well.

Although I hadn’t planned to play due to my sprained left ankle—still painful after three weeks—I arrived early to cheer on the participants, engage in some gossip, and have a cup of coffee.

With our esteemed president gallivanting in France, Shama Kota-Gutheti and Sara Danielson took charge and organized the event like pros. Despite the low turnout, they managed to form 8 well-balanced teams. The festivities kicked off around 10:30 am, and despite the low attendance, it looked like everyone was having a good time.

Although the sun was shining, it wasn’t as warm as expected and after a light lunch, I decided to head home, satisfied with the 200 photos I had taken.

However, the main reason I left before the tournament ended, was concern for my cat. She went out early in the morning and hadn’t returned when I came home. Finally, around 7:30 PM, I located the beast (in my neighbor’s garden) through her Apple Tag and coaxed her back into the house. Young and foolish teenager!

Alain

Now, according to one of my spies, here are the tournament winners:

1^st place: Noël Marcovecchio and Joe Danielson
2^nd place : Jean-Michel Poulnot and Monique Bricca
3rd place: Stephanie Wilkinson & Bernard Passemar

Congratulations to the finalists and thank you to all the participants.