Sunday, April 17, 2011

The wedding.





One of the old ladies of the village marries an equally old farmer. The Salle de Fetes thronged with children, grand children, great grand children , family friends and guests. The combined age of bride and groom 171. We stop by to pay our regards but decide not to linger. The groom has made the wine and Madame Bay and the ladies of the Beautiful Byeways Committee are responsible for the catering. A combination that spells dyspepsia. The bride smiles, kisses me on the cheek and says " when you get to my age you don't want to spend a moment alone. Anyway, he's quite a catch ". Three in the morning. Out for a pit stop with Wilf. The sound of techno rave echoes from the village hall and the night sky is speckled with the rainbow colours of the disco ball. Age does not weary these farming folk.

Morning walk done and fire hydrant christened,Wilf settles down under the shade of the chesnut trees on the village green. For him a chance to doze, for me a chance to listen to the sounds of French country life. The hum of the bees on the ceanothus , fidgety pigeons flapping on the belfry, frogs rasping in the pond, exotically plummed hoopoes whittering in the branches. The constant chatter of the redstarts. A year ago I'd have said that this was a world where silence reigned. Now with an old blind dog by my side there's time aplenty to hear creation in all its glory. Nature never takes away without giving something back in compensation. Where sight is gone, sounds console. Wilf sleeps contentedly on.

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23 comments:

  1. JacksDadApril 17, 2011 at 8:43 AM

    You sure do talk pretty! :)
    I've never heard of whittering hoopoes, so I'll have to rely n the Google for enlightenment!

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  2. KateApril 17, 2011 at 9:31 AM

    For a moment I thought those top two photos were of Wilf partaking of a celebratory cigar. Nice to hear love, or at least the need for companionship, still reigns supreme regardless of age :-)

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  3. Bella Roxy & MacduiApril 17, 2011 at 9:36 AM

    So eventually the wedding party ended, leaving a relaxing quiet to early risers.

    XXXOOO Daisy, kendra & Bella

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  4. JeanApril 17, 2011 at 10:17 AM

    How wonderful that two old people still have the energy to find happiness of sorts.
    Having an old dog and taking life at a steadier pace is also wonderful at times.

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  5. AnonymousApril 17, 2011 at 11:11 AM

    First thought - the wedding? Kelly? Then why is Wilf smoking a cigarette (photo 1) - well as it turns out - another charming chapter in the French Country Tales - I am sure, Wilf is also quite a catch... ha,ha... 175 hard to believe as romance strikes. Wishing you a blissfull day from Southern Italy - it is so clean where you are. Italians... I do not have to go further on that subject.

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  6. Concrete JungleApril 17, 2011 at 12:26 PM

    ah... the joys in the unexpected!

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  7. D.K. WallApril 17, 2011 at 1:14 PM

    We love all of the noise that nature creates - if only we would turn off our on human created noise and just listen.

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  8. UnknownApril 17, 2011 at 2:37 PM

    I agree with earlier posts--Wilf looked like the proud father-of-the-bride, indulging in a cigar at the reception! How lovely for two souls to fall in love at an age where so many face dark days and long nights all alone. Best wishes to the happy couple. And I must agree, having a male dog who must sniff each and every vertical object in case a pee-mail must be sent, gives the person at the other end of the leash plenty of time to notice things that would normally be passed by in a hurried blur.

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  9. CamilleApril 17, 2011 at 3:09 PM

    Wilf looks so very handsome today and your village is beautiful. I'm off to Google hoopoes, redstarts AND ceanothus. All strangers to this part of the world. You're keeping me busy this morning Angus!

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  10. CamilleApril 17, 2011 at 3:17 PM

    Oh! Ceanothus = Lilacs

    Got those by the truck load. But the beautiful birds...I'd have to fly across to see. Ah well.

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  11. Narrative jewelryApril 17, 2011 at 3:43 PM

    Techno rave echoes at three...arghhhhh ! Poor Angus, how can you keep your calm, and find such beautiful words at the same time ? You really are a poet.
    Fortunately, we have nature and the sound of silence, to forget the foolishness of human.
    Wishing you a beautiful Sunday. Cuddles and bisous to my beloved Wilfee. Amitiés to you Angus and the Font.

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  12. Ina in AlaskaApril 17, 2011 at 3:59 PM

    Lovely scenery. A techno-rave for the over-80 crowd? Amazing.

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  13. WyattApril 17, 2011 at 5:23 PM

    I just love the first picture of Wilf. It looks like he is smoking a cigar. The wisteria on the wall is lovely :)

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  14. Pamela Terry and EdwardApril 17, 2011 at 5:54 PM

    You paint a picture of paradise.

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  15. AnonymousApril 17, 2011 at 6:56 PM

    Wilf looks so wonderfully contented in the pictures and hopefully that eye is busy healing. Lovely environment for the three of you to be spending your days on this life journey. DBH

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  16. MaxmomApril 17, 2011 at 7:01 PM

    Mmm...everyone enjoys a Royal wedding!
    May each moment be a blessed one for you.
    Sending lotsaluv
    MAXMOM IN SOUTH AFRICA

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  17. houndstoothApril 17, 2011 at 7:40 PM

    There's nothing like a wedding to make you appreciate the promise in the world! How sweet that they got married and will continue life's journey together.

    Your description of the sounds reminded me about my favorite thing about visiting my grandma. She lived in the South and my sister and I traveled there to visit her almost every summer, up until we were in college and able to drive there ourselves and not rely on being driven there or riding on the train. But I loved sitting on the porch and just listening to the forest around her house. It's still one of my favorite memories of childhood and summer!

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  18. rottroverApril 17, 2011 at 7:44 PM

    Your villiage is so lovely; as are the sounds of nature all around us...

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  19. Piappies WorldApril 17, 2011 at 8:48 PM

    It would be good to listen to what nature says though it can be a challenge when you are in the city.

    The photos are beautiful and we can almost feel how lovely to go there for walkies.

    Love,
    Piappies Fudgie, Princess, Frappie, Mocha, Sugar, Wai-Pai, Wai-Max & Forgie

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  20. KariApril 17, 2011 at 9:33 PM

    We agree with Petey. We send our best wishes along to the happy couple

    Wilf has taught you to hear sounds of nature around you ...how wonderful! He has given you yet another of his special gifts.

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  21. Maggie Mae and MaxApril 18, 2011 at 4:16 AM

    Couldn't let my day end without stopping by to check in on all of you. What a wonderful day you had. :)

    Blessings and Love,
    Janelle and Maggie Mae

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  22. PipApril 18, 2011 at 11:32 PM

    Your prose made me feel I was there with you. A magnificent morning.

    I love what Kari wrote too... yet another gift from your boy.

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  23. sprinklesApril 23, 2011 at 5:07 AM

    Wow, I wonder if the bride and groom were still up at 3 AM dancing to disco.

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