Just thinking of friends lost and found today when I stumbled across this picture on the net. Strange how some people can come into your life with their giggles, and honest problems, and odd fashion and shine so brightly only to fade (or submerge?) only a short time later.

Perhaps they become a symbol, a free association, an unconscious desire - a dim point of light in the evening sky of the mind.

In my personal pantheon of relationships, its often these short-lived but intense friendships that I miss the most. Indeed, in most myths, it’s always the minor deities that cause the problems. Why should it be any different for our individual experience?

Moderating the comments here I noticed this note:

Hi, I googled my name and the most interesting article I found was Jon’s tribute to his grandfather in May 2008. Not only was it lovely, it referenced him as a descendant of Vincent Brault, also an ancestor of mine. I had not heard the story about Altheneuse and wondered if there are more I haven’t heard. I have a copy of a little tattered brown book my great-aunt has, which lists the direct genealogy from prior to Vincent, down to today. If Jon has any information or stories he’d want to swap with me, I would love any pertinent history.

Apologies for putting you up on the front page without your permission Amy, but I didn’t want your request to get lost in the comment threads. More to the point, my father has done a great deal of genealogy research that also traces our contemporary Breaux family-line back towards France. I know both he and I would be very interested in swapping information about the family tree.

If you’d like to contact me to chat further, I can be reached at jon.breaux (at) gmail.com. Thanks for reading!

When I was in England, I flipped on the tele and saw this commercial.

Me sized meals

A message from the UK National Health Service, it’s about not overfeeding kids, aimed at kids. The reason i’m posting this here is because of the kid’s narration… the cadence and accent is such a perfect regional example of… whatever region it comes from! There are so many accents over there it’s incredible. I don’t think there’s as many (native english speaking) accents in the US.

Also present in this commercial: Sausages and Mash. For every meal.

My first night in England was simply aristocratic. Staying at the Goodwood Park Hotel is charming. I am enjoying myself, and am beginning to exude that characteristic Brit haughty condescension no less! Look:

Ok, perhaps characteristic Brit dry humor would be more accurate.

Before I came, for some reason, I had the idea in my head (probably from Michelle and Mom and Dad) that English food is one of the most boring cuisines on the planet. Please dispel this notion immediately. I had a couple of excellent meals and I haven’t even left the hotel. Beginning with a steaming-hot Leek and Potato soup, the Braised Lamb dinner was absolutely the most tender and juicy lamb I have ever had, served with pan-seared veggies and slivers of pear. I never imagined that pears could taste so perfect cooked in a lamb gravy… wow. The next time someone says English cuisine is boring, i’ll just say “What the deuce?”