HappyBastilleDay! We made it!

July 14 is Bastille Day in France, a big deal there but also memorable to me since 1989 when my third and final wife and I arrived in Paris for the celebration. We stayed at a hotel off St Germaine, had dinner at a bistro near Norte Dame, then joined many thousands of Parisians in the streets on a march of remembrance and celebration for the 200th anniversary of Bastille Day!

In 1789, the people of Paris rose up in those same streets to liberate citizens in the French Revolution.

With my fortieth birthday two months in the future, this trip first took us to Barcelona for the annual film festival then we drove across the Mediterranean and the whole of France before landing in Paris.

I remember lots of moments, including dodging firecrackers as well as randy individuals using cover from the march to seek our intimate companionship. Since we were also celebrating our new marriage, we politely declined. Also, a rather large fire broke out in a 300 year old public building along our march route which provided us all with entertainment watching efforts to subdue the flames. A man captivated the crowd by emerging from a window onto the building’s ledge.

As an American, I felt lucky to be there.

Just thinking of that night more than thirty years ago brings a flood of recollections. Debbie and I were not marriage rookies and we were trying hard to be the kind of husband and wife that could last through the hard times.

We made it until July 31, 2000 when Debbie informed me she was moving to Savannah. It hit me hard after more than a decade of trying to be a good husband. It turned out to be a gift for me when she left me with our dogs and cats. I definitely loved them more than her. Now both are dead. And I am still here.

In this era of the COVID pandemic, memories like this are precious, somehow affirming me having been here.

Now at 70, I consider these moments from my life like bits of evidence looking for redeemable qualities.

Lots of bits featuring fun, others with tears, but also memorable for the missing bits like children that never arrived despite three wives giving it their best shots. Still feels like my life experience failed.

This life is what it is, which is to say I still believe I should have made better choices on many things including on my wife selection process.

Bottom line is it is not yet over!

Still time to put points on the scoreboard however I can!

I am in God’s waiting room patiently browsing old magazines for inspiration. 

The best I have so far is to use my time to share life lessons in hopes others might avoid bad choices.

I am NOT dead yet, dammit!