Language Matters

Words matter. Or at least they used to. Not only in political discourse, honest journalism and proper education, but apparently, they once were a vital part of wooing one’s future love. At least according to Cyrano de Bergerac, that inspired poet whose large nose made courting actual women a challenge. So he offered his talents to his dull-witted friend Christian and seduced Roxanne into falling in love with him (Christian), both speaking hidden under her balcony and writing her letter after letter.  Without giving too much away, she thinks she’s in love with the man but in reality is in love with the person who could speak such an eloquent love-language. 

 

We went to an interesting presentation of this play in the perfect place —Bergerac!! Then took a lovely boat ride on the town’s river in perfect temperature. Strolled back to the hotel peeking into the various stores with their beautiful wooden toys, hand-crafted kitchen ware, affordable luxuriant wine and of course, an afternoon ice cream. Took a cold plunge into the swimming pool, sipped the wine and met with the organizers of our bike tour to meet our bikes and get everything ready for the first day of riding tomorrow. 

 

Earlier in the day, we went to a Farmer’s Market, always so heartening to wander between the booths with the fresh fruits and vegetables, breads and pastries, cheeses, nougat, 15 different kinds of honey and more. We bought some bread, cheese and tomatoes for a picnic lunch. But first walked past the kora harp player from Senegal playing his fabulous music in front of the church and then entered the church serenaded by the organ. Between the instrument that I first studied when I was six years old and the cathedral feeling that brought me back to that most marvelous first trip to Europe with my college chorus, it was like crossing several bridges back to my younger years and each one reminding me of those magical landscapes. 

 

Dinner awaits. Stay tuned for another look at the power of language in The French Connection III that will look at just some of the thousands of words we use in English that are of French origin. Look forward to seeing you at that rendezvous. But first a walk past the carousel on the way to the restaurant hoping for some tasty hors d’oeuvres suggested by the maître d. Maybe a soufflé?