Life
I was going to write about soccer. After all, it is the number one subject in France right now. A month ago, it seemed as if the French team would have been long gone, but here we are, ready to watch them play against Italy for the Cup tomorrow.
I wish I COULD write about soccer and how excited we all are about it. But, somehow, life has a way of interfering with summer, soccer and all the pleasurable silly things we'd like to think about.
Our friends Jacques and Muriel have taken the place of all those things in our hearts and minds. Jacques has spent most of his life working as a roofer, but last January, he and Muriel decided to follow their dream and bought the El Chupito, which is one of the two village cafés. They've been doing very well, have started serving food (which neither café did before) and I'm happy to say that both village cafés seem to have benefited from this, as the Café de la Paix now also serves breakfast, ice cream and waffles. It has been good for the village.
But, Jacques has been feeling tired. Okay, he works hard and it has been hot. But that isn't the reason: he was diagnosed this week with Leukemia. If there were ever a man you would look at and say: "Gee, he looks healthy," it would be Jacques. But he's in the hospital undergoing massive chemo to be followed by a bone marrow transplant. I understand that the night he went into the hospital, it was touch and go as to whether he would even make it to morning.
Luckily, Jacques is a fighter, and he won't give up easily. It's probably harder for Muriel in many ways, as she needs to be there for him, acting strong. She's a little tiny thing, and somewhere from within herself, she's managing to pull it together; keeping the café running and being there for Jacques.
This is where living in a village like ours becomes important. Everyone is in shock over this, but we've all come together to offer our support to Jacques and Muriel. Okay, there's not much that most of us can provide, but they know that they are not alone. Muriel doesn't have to drive herself to Toulouse to visit the hospital, because there is always someone there who will be happy to take her. There are friends who are helping with the café, and, perhaps most important for her, there are plenty of shoulders being offered for tears and sympathy.
The medical establishment will do whatever is in its power for that side of the equation; and the village will do what it can for the emotional side. Yes, we'll all watch the match tomorrow night and we'll all be happy and celebrating if Les Bleus bring home the cup; but our hearts will be with Jacques and Muriel as will our prayers of support.
Ciao for now.
Randy
I wish I COULD write about soccer and how excited we all are about it. But, somehow, life has a way of interfering with summer, soccer and all the pleasurable silly things we'd like to think about.
Our friends Jacques and Muriel have taken the place of all those things in our hearts and minds. Jacques has spent most of his life working as a roofer, but last January, he and Muriel decided to follow their dream and bought the El Chupito, which is one of the two village cafés. They've been doing very well, have started serving food (which neither café did before) and I'm happy to say that both village cafés seem to have benefited from this, as the Café de la Paix now also serves breakfast, ice cream and waffles. It has been good for the village.
But, Jacques has been feeling tired. Okay, he works hard and it has been hot. But that isn't the reason: he was diagnosed this week with Leukemia. If there were ever a man you would look at and say: "Gee, he looks healthy," it would be Jacques. But he's in the hospital undergoing massive chemo to be followed by a bone marrow transplant. I understand that the night he went into the hospital, it was touch and go as to whether he would even make it to morning.
Luckily, Jacques is a fighter, and he won't give up easily. It's probably harder for Muriel in many ways, as she needs to be there for him, acting strong. She's a little tiny thing, and somewhere from within herself, she's managing to pull it together; keeping the café running and being there for Jacques.
This is where living in a village like ours becomes important. Everyone is in shock over this, but we've all come together to offer our support to Jacques and Muriel. Okay, there's not much that most of us can provide, but they know that they are not alone. Muriel doesn't have to drive herself to Toulouse to visit the hospital, because there is always someone there who will be happy to take her. There are friends who are helping with the café, and, perhaps most important for her, there are plenty of shoulders being offered for tears and sympathy.
The medical establishment will do whatever is in its power for that side of the equation; and the village will do what it can for the emotional side. Yes, we'll all watch the match tomorrow night and we'll all be happy and celebrating if Les Bleus bring home the cup; but our hearts will be with Jacques and Muriel as will our prayers of support.
Ciao for now.
Randy
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