On France: carpe diem

From Gregory Edmont’s Spotted in France, the story of the author and his dalmatian who travel by Vespa to the south of France in order to stud.  A lightweight read, sometimes cloying and frequently annoying due to the regal deference granted this spotted dog.

“Through JP [the author’s dalmatian], I learned that the French pride themselves on their ability to live in harmony with nature:  her cycles, her seasons, and her animals (even the ones they eat); it is a fundamental part of their culture.  And that what can be seen as arrogance is often nothing more than shyness.  The French are threatened by the power of man, especially the non-French man; perhaps after centuries of war and bloodshed, it’s bred into them.  It is true that while some French consider themselves superior, culturally at least, to other nations, they are humbled by and respectful of nature.  Man they buck, nature they don’t–they revere and are grateful ther.  It somehow seems fair that the most fertile land on the European continent should belong to France, and that it should extend to some of the most exquisite shores of thee Mediterranean.” (p. ix-x)

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“A rather large woman who must have been nearing eighty years of age opened the door, exiting with much difficulty because of her swollen legs.  ‘Quel amour!’ she said of JP [the dog], and then added politely to me, realizing she should greet me as well, ‘Pardon.  Bonjour, Monsieur.’ She looked at me closely.  ‘Are you from here?’

‘No, I wish I were,’ I said.

‘Well, why aren’t you, then?  Take it from me:  Life’s too short to not be where you want to be.’ (p 139)