Au Cochonnet Marin

It is said that “Travel broadens the mind” so, always wishing to be enlightened, yesterday, accompanied by my mate, I journeyed to fabled Lamorinda.

For those of you not quite familiar with that word, it is the portmanteau from 3 adjacent cities:  Lafayette, Moraga , and Orinda. From Marin, it is a rather tortuous expedition, but nothing is too hard for a true believer.

The first thing that you should know about the Lamorinda Pétanque Club is that it is a very welcoming place. Just show up with your boules and very soon you will be included in a game. This has a lot to do with delightful Jackie Hackett; if I am not mistaken, she is the president of the club and she is endowed with a great personality. She always warmly greets newcomers and makes them feel immediately comfortable. She is an excellent player to boot.

Lamorinda, I believe, attracts many people by the caliber of its players. Many people will travel rather long distances for the privilege of measuring with worthwhile competitors, particularly shooters. Among those, Brennan, Pete Hackett, Eric Thiebault, Max, Sebastian, Antoine Lofaro, and a few more that I am not familiar with.

Did I forget to mention Ann Krilanovich? She was there, also shooting her heart away.

I came to Lamorinda to play a few games, but my !%&#*$ back did not allow me to proceed as intended. After two rounds I had to quit. But I still had the opportunity to play with Brennan and Pete Hackett and it was quite an experience. Both are great shooters and a joy to play with. In a game where I teamed up with a certain Ken (?) and Tamara paired with Pete, Pete scored many direct hits that blew the cochonnet to a great distance. There were at least 4 or 5 occasions when the cochonnet ended up about 20 meters from the starting circle and when we labored to finish the round.

Pete, like his wife Jackie, is also a very pleasant and industrious fellow. Since (like many Tamalous) he is also afflicted with a troublesome back, he came up with a little trick to pick up a wooden cochonnet and a plastic circle with a magnet. It is a great idea that I will definitely adopt and use whenever I am playing.

As I previously said, pétanque is a sport, but it is also a great occasion to keep in touch and socialize with your friends. You don’t even have to play; just show up and enjoy the companionship… and many do.

After quitting the game, I managed to take a few quick shots that you can view in the album called “Lamorinda”. Due to the harsh lighting conditions, they are not great but reflect the atmosphere of the event.

It was a great day, and since I still have a lot to learn, I will do my best to return.

Thank you again Jackie and Pete for your warm embrace.

Alain

Watch the pictures in “My photos

Erratum: Thank you to Gilbert Sonet for setting me straight. Pascal Gravier is the President of the Lamorinda club and Jackie is the secretary. My apologies to both for this error.

 

With the pandemic showing signs of ebbing, will kisses and hugs soon return? It is a little early to tell, but I am confident that they will be back very soon, especially among the Centennials. After a year of forced abstinence, the lads and lassies are eager to resume lips-locking.

Some people, especially the Silent Generation, are not in such a hurry and might resume full smooching at a later date. They would rather start with a “baisemain” which might be less hazardous (but no less thrilling) than a kiss.

I am in favor of preserving the French habit of kissing the hands of ladies. After all one must start somewhere. Sacha Guitry

If you agree, keep in mind that the baisemain needs to be executed correctly to be well received. No prior sanitizing or slobbering on the extended hand. A short inclination of the bust and a butterfly kiss on the offered extremity is the way to do it. To be proper, the gesture has to be short and elegant. If you are not too confident, you might want to practice with your siter, mother or grandma…

But what about kissing between strangers? It is a little more complicated… A protocol might have to be established and endorsed by both parties before restarting this activity…

-Bonjour mademoiselle, can I kiss you?
-Well… maybe after showing me proof of vaccination…
-All right, here it is. Can I also see yours?
-Of course… then can I check your body temperature?
-It is moving up, but yes… can I also check your pulse?
-Yes, and it also seems to be rising…
-I am delighted to hear this…

Then, “Que la fête commence” (Let the festivities begin).

For the faint-hearted, a prudent kissing technique could be “kiss blowing”. Long dormant, almost forgotten, this practice might become popular again. It is quick, easy, and sanitary, and you can do some mass-kissing whenever needed.

After our last draught, you might long to be kissed again. If the urge is overwhelming you could wear a badge saying something like “kisses wanted”. I am pretty sure that eventually, you will find some candidates.

Speaking for myself, if you want to exchange kisses with me, send me a recent picture and a brief resumé detailing your reasons and qualifications. An impartial jury will decide if you fit the bill.

Bisous,

Alain

Vigils, prayers, flowers, candles, speeches, tears… these images of grief show up on our tellies with a dull regularity… and it is a pathetic waste of time. Despite the ongoing gun carnage, nothing of substance is being done to stop this horrendous loss of lives.

Mass shooting in America is endemic, and it will continue until comprehensive laws are passed to restrict the ridiculous availability of firearms. Unfortunately, some politicos are (for very dubious reasons) promoting and allowing the unregulated sale of guns in their states.

Guns are not toys; they are devices specifically designed to kill and they are extremely dangerous. Especially the so-called “assault weapons” (with high-capacity magazines) which should never be sold to anybody but the military.

Before being allowed to purchase a firearm, any individual should provide written proof that he is sound of mind and free of any mental disorder. This is not an outlandish idea. Today, many corporations are routinely asking candidates to take a psychological test before hiring them, and this practice should also apply to any potential gun buyer. You need a license to go fishing, and you should definitely get one to buy a firearm.

Despite the fact that “60% of Americans say gun laws should be tougher” the GOP continues to block any resolution making it more difficult to buy guns.

And why is that? As usual, money is a big factor. Gun sale is a very profitable business that provides a steady income for a multitude of people, including some of our darling Congress representatives.

Lawmakers are not saints, and their integrity is often highly questionable. Being chosen for a position does not mean that the contender is an upstanding citizen. He is often a loudmouth individual backed and financed by an organization that is more interested to promote its causes than seeking public safety.

There are many despicable characters (hello sweet Marjorie) in Congress, and they are an embarrassment to everybody, including their leaders. But as in many other areas, money trumps anything else.

To stop the flow of guns, and the senseless killings, we must pressure balking Congressmen and stigmatize them loudly for their inaction. It would also be a good idea for journalists to investigate who profits from the gun trade and expose them to the public at large. Public shaming works amazingly well to root out and expel stinkers from their lofty positions. It is a very powerful weapon and should be used for the public good whenever necessary.

“Take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim.” ~ Elie Wiesel

 Alain