In the gardens of the palace at St-Germain
St-Germain-en-Laye, a city to the west of Paris, takes itself seriously in a very bourgeois sort of way. It abounds in artisan shops featuring expensive foodstuff and the clothing stores are markedly upscale. Its castle was one of the principal residences of the kings of France until Versailles was built (Louis XIV was born there). Now housing the Musée d’archéologie nationale, it has retained its stiff look.
The triweekly street markets are lush with gorgeous produce. Beyond the humongous and perfectly spherical globe artichokes, the glistening fish, the fantastic variety of cheeses and the faux-provençal table linen, numerous merchants cater to a bargain-hunting yet stylish crowd and it is fun to just look around. Still the streets are full of sternly coiffed matrons in camel-hair coats wielding fierce umbrellas and I wouldn’t call St-Ger (as it is familiarly referred to locally) the land of fantasy.
So imagine my surprise when, a couple of years ago, I glimpsed a canopy bed peacefully floating on one of the basins in the gardens surrounding the palace. It was so unexpected that I couldn’t take my eyes off it. (I later learned that it was part of a contemporary art exhibit).
The weather was cold but beautiful. The sky was a painter’s dream and I thought to myself, well, if it can happen here, anything can happen anywhere.
I have heard people say that there are too many guns in this country for gun violence ever to abate. There is no single and swift solution, true. But together we can implement a wide variety of measures that will start to make a difference.
My dream is that in 2016 there will be fewer empty chairs due to gun violence around our holiday tables. We owe it to all the innocents our country lost to gun violence over the years, including those killed in a mass shooting since last year’s New Year’s Eve. I believe that together we can do it.
Keep in mind that the empty chair could be your child’s or grandchild’s, your significant other’s, your mom’s or dad’s, your friend’s, or even yours. What could be more important?
Let it be our country’s first and foremost resolution for 2016.
The sky over Saint-Germain-en-Laye
Hi Farine
Beautiful words, I truelly hope 2016 is such a year.
From my family to yours have a Happy and Healthy New Year
Al
My turn to wish you and yours the best for 2016, Al!
Change is coming, in small steps but it is coming. Today I feel is a turning point. Blessings….
I’m so happy to have found your blog! I am a new baker and learning so much, especially from your “Artisans” section. How inspiring. I’ve found my tribe. Also, many years ago I lost my tennis coach (and his wife and unborn child) in a horrible act of violence and my heart is with you and your wishes for our world this year and always. Fondly, sue
I am very glad you joined our tribe, Sue, but terribly sorry about your loss. My heart goes out to you as I know from experience life is never the same afterwards. It is as if Time had been interrupted. We can knot some of the threads together again but we can never repair the hole.