What’s not to love about a golf course that places a sculpture at its first tee saying (in french of course) OUI or YES . After Christmas and before New Years, we drove two short hours to the southeast from Aix to try out Golf Opio Valbonne. Situated between Nice and Grasse, it gave us a good opportunity to combine sport and culture.
- positive golf
Before settling in to play some golf, we explored the Chagall National Museum in a beautiful residential section of Nice, high on the hill above the Mediterranean. We paused first on the terrasse to have a cappucino and a snack, where we were entertained by a puppy running at full tilt on the grass beside us, carrying a precious stolen object (perhaps a chestnut), playing keep-away from his owner. This set the perfect tone for entering the world of Chagall who seduces one into a world upside down, swirling with color, and full of irrepressible life. I have always admired Chagall, and I felt a personal sadness when he died in 1985 at the age of 98 years. Many years ago, at the Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem, I was able to see his famous stained glass windows that miraculously survived the 1967 war. And now, in Nice, I could stand again in front of his stained glass art in wonder.
- Chagall window
Having faced many losses and dislocations in his life, Chagall’s art resists stasis, rejects the limits of the “orthogonal” world of logic, and invites the viewer into a dance that moves more like a waltz than a foxtrot.
I’m grateful this new year for every expression of YES that enters my life. Chagall is a painter who speaks YES in a thousand ways. My Aunt Ginny in Pennsylvania has been and continues to be my guide and my mentor. Very early in my life she taught me the value of greeting life with YES. Now, at the age of 92, she embraces a life whose edges are softened by a fragile memory. She is full of wonder and often is delighted by the unexpected.
- Loving life
This business of navigating the customs, mores and language of a new country definitely requires a positive attitude – aided by a good sense of humor. It’s easy to sometimes feel quite lost, or embarrassed, or downright stupid. Lately we have had to learn the complicated vocabulary of dentisty (lost fillings, broken crowns) and of veterinary care (gastrointestinal upsets of the newly-minted city-street-urchin, SweetPea). In dental jargon, temporary fillings are called band-aids. The veterinarians we have met are miracle workers who even opened their doors to see us New Year’s day. Within a few hours SweetPea was already on the mend.
- SweetPea on the mend
Despite our difficulties with speaking french, we are embraced, assisted, and appreciated by the people who live here. For this I am immensely grateful.
Ken finds admiring golf partners near and far as he explores new courses. And these golf journeys take us to some very beautiful places rich with history. He may soon be setting off for Portugal to play in tournaments that could enable him to enter the professional world of golf here in Europe. He has received much encouragement to take this big step.
- golf and history
Ken, SweetPea and I begin the New Year with lots of optimism. Our experiences here in Aix en Provence, and in our travels through France, have brought us new friends, a good dose of humility, and an eagerness to see what the next day will bring. Are we grateful to be here? YES! Are we grateful to you for following our adventures? YES!
Best wishes for 2013.
