Monday, November 23, 2009

Nous nous sommes tres bien amusees . . .

See the highway across the divide.

What a wonderful time Mme G and I had at Le Foyer in Pawtucket, RI. We went to a conference sponsored by La Societe Historique Franco-Americaine based in Manchester, NH. A gentleman from Connecticut presented his dissertation in English about the "Danielson affair." It seems that in the late 1800's St. James parish didn't like the non-canadian priests being sent to them so they complained loudly and often, even getting to the Pope. Eventually they ended up with the La Sallette Fathers who still serve the parish to this day. What was so interesting was the discord in the parish between the Irish and "les Canadiens" even when the church was sent a pastor from France they were not happy! How great is that. It made the papers and eventually even the courts in the State of Connecticut got involved.

The second part of the afternoon was given to M. Gregoire Chabot a French-Canadian author and actor. He presented a monologue based on the changes many older French-Canadians have faced as their culture declines. He was an excellent actor and I must admit brought me to tears, which I held back, yes I did. On December 5 Mme G and I will go to Le Foyer once again to enjoy a French Canadian Christmas program, French Canadian music, bien sur. I'm so pleased that I can enjoy my French again. I've even been talking to myself in French just to see if I remember enough to get around! I'm not that great but certainly passable.

Will get Puppy's Pop to bring me to a new restaurant on 101 in Danielson for lunch. It's near Zip's Diner and was just opened by friends of Mme G.

Quote: Language is the amber in which a thousand precious thoughts have been safely embedded and preserved. It has arrested ten thousand lightning-flashes of genius, which, unless thus fixed and arrested, might have been as bright, but would have also been as quickly passing and perishing as the lightning. Words convey the mental treasures of one period to the generations that follow . . . ------Trench

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