Au Cochonnet Marin

I am always grateful when people send me some feedback about my weekly ramblings or inspire me to write about new subjects. Last week, a friend named Danielle mailed me a link about an interesting story published in the New Yorker.

It is about 2 people, Natalie K. Levant and George Saltz who, after their spouses passed away, started to do standup comedy… while in their eighties. Their schticks are often about old age and how they feel and deal with it. It is rather uncommon… and in my opinion, laudable.

When I write about a certain subject, I am in the habit of looking up quotations by famous people, and I found out that more has been written about old age than about Jesus Christ and the Apostles. So, I will use a few of them to buttress my case.

A few years ago, we had a club member (already in his eighties) who used to say with a straight face, “I don’t play with old people.” He was probably influenced by Victor Hugo who wrote:

“I believe that old age comes through the eyes and that you age faster by always seeing old people!”

This might explain why many old people don’t like retirement institutions crawling with living dead. It is certainly not inspiring. To keep your élan, you must mingle with young, pretty things.

Another quotation that rings true:
« La vieillesse serait vraiment trop triste si le rose essaim des pensées polissonnes ne venait parfois la consoler. » Anatole France

 “Old age would be really too sad if the pink swarm of naughty thoughts did not sometimes come to console it. »

Naughty thoughts we must have and keep.

 We all get old (except Jane Fonda) and we must deal with it the best we can. The best antidote against melancholy so far is a good sense of humor. If you laugh, you will keep going a little longer. And as far as I know, nobody crossed the Styx laughing… So, regardless of your age, keep thinking young and dirty.

“Old age is not bearable without an ideal or a vice.” Antoine de Rivarol

True Antoine. At my age, I don’t care much for ideals anymore… I am just looking for a good solid vice to sustain me for a little while longer. Any suggestions?

Alain

“It has been my experience that those with no vices
have very few virtues.” Lincoln

San Rafael, July 10, 2022

So, how was it, are you going to ask? Well, it was freezing cold in the morning and hellish hot in the afternoon. This didn’t stop 40 people from coming to our field and locking horns.

Due to persistent back pain, I regretfully chose to abstain from playing and instead concentrate on documenting the event with images.

I like to take pictures, but there is nothing more frustrating for a shutterbug than a combination of bright sun and dark shadows. Most of the time, it spoils the contrast and clarity of many shots. But I had to cope with this, and I did my best.

For as long as I remember, I want to warmly thank Hans Kurz for letting a little boy named Daniel borrow his dog Boomer for a good solid hour and get him out of my few remaining hairs. I don’t know how Boomer felt about this, but Daniel was pleased like punch about this turn of events. Thank you again, Hans!

I took pictures most of the day without paying much attention to the winners or losers, but I followed the Consolante and the Concours finals more closely.

In the Consolante finals, Mike Menefee and Erin McTaggart faced Jean-Michel Poulnot and Kevin Evoy. Two good teams with good shooters and good pointers. It started very badly for Jean-Michel and Kevin. At one point, Erin and Mike were leading 7/0. Then they reached 12, with Jean-Michel and Kevin lagging behind. Everybody thought that their goose was cooked, but the cooking was suddenly interrupted by the dynamic duo who managed to come back and win the game by a dramatic finish of 13/12.
Morale of the story: a game is never lost until the fat lady sings.

Now, for the Concours. Paulo Custred and Philippe Arnaud took on Philippe Guerit and Serge Hanne. Two good teams again with excellent shooters and good pointers. I thought that it would be a good seesaw fight with many developments. To everybody surprise, Paulo and Philippe executed the other Philippe and Serge, almost in a matter of minutes. Final Concours score 13/0 in favor of Paulo and Philippe. Sacrebleu, a Fanny in a Concours game! Congratulations Philippe and Paulo!

And that was the way it was…

Concours
1^st place:        Philippe Arnaud & Paulo Custred             $72.00 ea
2^nd place:       Serge Hanne & Philippe Guerit                 $60.00 ea
3rd place:     Tom Lee & Tim Peppel                                   $48.00 ea

Consolante
1^st place:        Kevin Evoy & Jean-Michel Poulnot          $36.00 ea
2^nd place:       Mike Menefee & Erin McTaggart               $24.00 ea

Alain

 PS: Watch the pictures of this event by clicking on “My Photos” on the right side of your screen

If you are regularly exposed to your grandchildren, you might have noticed the hard-to-ignore generation gap.

 “We didn’t have a generation gap; we had a generation Grand Canyon.” ~ Mary Brave Bird

Indeed, there is a Grand Canyon gulf between the old and young, and through regular contact with the younger set, I have become acutely aware of the issue. Kids have become little encyclopedias, and they are savvier than the average adult.

Today, many grownups still struggle with computerese stuff while nippers (often still unable to read or write) are already fluent with it.  Nowadays, a child is practically born and raised with an electronic device in his hands, and by the time he is around six, he can already draw circles around his elders.
Grandma, do you want me to show you how to add a contact to your iPhone? Or to add it to your Favorites? It is very easy…

Shut up kid, you are getting on my nerves!

Some adults (probably deprived of grandchildren) struggle with basic messaging, while the whippersnappers are racing through the process with both thumbs. At 7, a kid is already a whiz with iPhones, iPads, PlayStations, and computers. And he has already experienced VR. What’s that will ask “les croulants” (doddering old fools)? Is that a new sex fad?

Yes, there is a big Generation Gap between grandparents and grandchildren. Like in any discipline, you need to start young to be proficient… while your mind is still unclogged with stressful grownup stuff. And this is what the kids are doing.

But, they, in turn, will have to compete with the next generation that is going to be even smarter than they are. Surprise!

“Each new generation born, is in effect an invasion of civilization by little barbarians, who must be civilized before it is too late.” ~ Thomas Sowell

The kids (apprentice sorcerers) might have the knowledge but still lack life’s practical experience…  and the Internet is full of pitfalls. Don’t believe everything you see my young friends, and don’t rush into questionable suggestions. All that glitters is not gold!

And that when, son of a gun, “les croulants” become astute again.

“When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years.” Mark Twain

 Yes, there is a Generation Gap, but with a little teamwork, it can be bridged.

Alain