GOOD BYE DEAR (FRIEND) FRIENDS

You left us on the last days of July, I do not know exactly the date but when you were found it seems you had been sleeping peacefully.

We had been first colleagues and acquaintances and then slowly we became friends, good friends. We shared quite a few things, such as our profession, our love for languages and our undiluted love for cats.  You were a few years older than I and had lived a very full life, with many interesting experiences some of which you shared with me during our talks.

You were born in Paris, your parents were, if I remember correctly, from the region of Odessa but had settled in France quite a few years before the WWII, they were dentists and therefore you never feared that profession or their doing, while I have always been scared stiff about anything to do with dentistry, which you found amusing.  As a child during the holidays and in the deepest points of the War you were sent to your cousins in the French countryside where you learned the life of hard work.  As you got older you studied Architecture in Paris and after got a scholarship, the prestigious Fulbright scholarship to study in a University in Texas, USA.  The time there was not used only to study, you also travelled extensively in the USA and also visited Mexico several times.  I guess that is how you started accumulating your incredible language skills.  Russian at home, French at school, English in Texas together with Spanish and by then you were only in your twenties.  Later you added Catalan and much later came Japanese. 

 

I know you married twice and had two children, Patricia, now living in Spain and Serge, sadly preceded you to the land of angels.  I only know your last husband, surviving you for as long as it takes, and who loves you dearly and you him.  He is a Swiss peasant that grew fruits and bees – made delicious honey and also was a ski instructor during the winter months and is known by many and loved by more.  Unfortunately now he has some limitations due to bad health but for all I know, is still the darling and dear man he ever was.   

I do not know exactly how and when you became an interpreter, but I do know you were a good one, very good one and also very “useful” as you had the ideal combination for work in the UN system with Russian and Spanish into French.  You had a style for interpretation that could be unnerving for certain delegates and some of your colleagues as you waited to understand the phrase before putting it into the language of destination, and this method though could be considered more accurate, is also slower and forces the interpreter to transmit the rounded up idea and not only the words.  I never heard any valid criticism of your work and when there were complaints, mostly was due to either wrong transmission in the original language or to the well known system of using the interpreters as punching bags, i.e. when a delegate wants to retract or change his speech but cannot say so, will criticise the interpreters that “did not do it correctly” and sometimes may cause problems for the interpreters. I believe most of us have either lived or seen this situation and there is very little that can be done to defend ourselves.  It happened to you and of course you reacted in anger, in silent anger for the most part, but not much to be done about it.

As mentioned above, your first profession was Architect, which you performed until your last breath.  During your long life you met and even worked with some of the best-known architects of your time and also you were quite well known for your interesting and ecological projects, which at that time were a novelty.  You loved the use of wood in as many buildings as possible and were always ready to learn new ways and systems and options to add to your professional performance.  Your last project is still on the works, some kind of village centre in Zambia conceived to help the local community to make the better use of the available resources.  I hope it comes to a happy end with the help of your associate and friend that probably will take over till its conclusion. 

You also were an avid lover of art, painting, photography, music, literature, etc. and already when you lived in St. Cerge – well before I met you, you had a Gallery where you showed works of art of different painters and other artists.  It was called the Gallerie B.C.C.L. and the site, which you created, is a proof of the diversity of artists you helped to promote.  When you moved to Begnins, you continued with the idea of the Gallerie and reopened it in the same office space where you had your Bureau d’Architecture and it was a great success.  I myself was twice given the opportunity to show my photos in the Gallerie.   I know you had artists anxiously waiting for a space-time to expose in your gallery but that almost certainly and unfortunately will no longer be possible without you. For those of us lucky to have been able to show our work, you always had a word of praise, a helping hand and also an economic support since contrary to most galleries, you never charged commission, you offered the apero as part of the service and were always available to give a hand in all the process, from hanging to cleaning up at the end not to mention you always were present welcoming all visitors to the exhibitions. 

I already mentioned you loved music, and in particular you loved tango, milonga and the like.  I guess in your early times you were a good dancer but at the time I met you you enjoyed listening and watching tango dancers.  That does not mean you did not like classical music, so much so that we had tickets to go to a concert of the well-known Argentinean pianist Martha Argerich at the end of this August.  I am sure you will be there even if we cannot see you, it will be a concert you would not miss.

Horticulture was your hobby and in particular growing bonsai trees and camellias.  You have a good collection of them and I hope someone will continue taking good care of them with the same dedication you gave them.  I remember one of your “folies” when you went from Begnins to Tokyo and return in matter of 5 days, just to talk with a master bonsai grower and meet a camellia specialist, both of whom gave you cuttings that you preciously smuggled into Switzerland and tenderly took care of and now they are part of the many in your collection.

One of the things you did not like, even if you did it over many years was to cook.  Cooking and all it involved from shopping to clearing afterwards were for you something of a un-enjoyable necessity.  That is, I believe, one of the reasons why on Saturdays you declared your independence from cooking chores and if it was winter it was your husband in charge of preparing the fondue at home and during the summer months the tradition was to go to La Chaumette for fondue – a mountain restaurant where you could enjoy a fantastic view of the Alps, the company of cows having their fill and a very pleasant couple taking care of all your food needs.  Many people I know consider having fondue in the summer like a crazy thing, but actually having partaken the tradition many times with you two, it was very pleasant.  For starters sometimes some cold cuts with bread and butter and pickles and then delicious fondue and to top it all a very Swiss meringue with double cream all with very nice tea. 

Last week we deposited your remains in your former house, in a very sober and quiet ceremony.  We were about ten people only and it was I believe a representation of your world.  Many people knew you, but when it came to socializing, it was a very limited group of people you favoured.  I am honoured to have been one of them and I am sure now you are resting in peace, with a nice view of the lake, your garden and your house.

It was great to meet you and be your friend, and now closing the cycle, I can say GOOD BYE DEAR FRIEND until we meet again.

VERY SAD continuation

Last Wednesday, August 16 and only two weeks to the day of your passing, I learned that your husband Gilbert – you called him Gibus, followed you to the kingdom of angels. 

I knew him of course, but not as well as I had known you.  He was born close to where you lived and had lived all his life in the area.  My memories of Gibus are that he was always kind and gentle, welcoming and smiling even in the hard times.  A very hard worker in a profession that required a lot of physical effort.  The quality of his produce were witness of his labour of love and love for nature. 

As I mentioned before, he had been a ski instructor and so when the chance came for you to go to Japan for several weeks during the winter, as interpreter, he joined you and both enjoyed the Japanese slopes as much as the Swiss ones when at home. 

His Saturday fondues during the winter months were very good.  I believe he loved his bees and they returned this feeling making a very good honey.  Otherwise he enjoyed the traditional Saturday fondues at La Chaumette, you two alone or with company and up there it was obvious that all loved and respected both of you very much. 

It is indeed sad that he left us but on the other hand I believe that even with his health problems, he realized that you were no longer around and decided to follow you, find you and enjoy your angelical outings and fondues together.

So dearest Gibus and Flore, enjoy it wherever you are, I am sure you will be together and waiting for us with a smile.