A few days ago, I met Martine, former countess of France. No, seriously. She's 94 years old and has lived on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica for nearly 50 years. Each day, she walks along Ocean Avenue taking her afternoon stroll... and each day she stops to share a bit of her life with Diana and me.
Oh, I guess you should first know that I resigned from Valet Girls. In less than a week, I had a new job with another valet company and I work regularly as a valet for a hotel on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica... Diana, too. So now, five days a week I watch the sun set at 5:45pm; five days a week I play with Rudy and Colette and Jack when their owners bring them for their nightly walk; and five days a week I get history, life advice, tales of experience, and always a smile from Martine.
The first day we met her, we learned that after two marriages that left her a widow (the second of which made her a Count), Martine packed her bags and moved from France to America where, in her words "is the future."
The second day we saw her, Martine taught us to cuss in French. She said American slang and cussing were among the first English words and phrases she learned to use. So, by her reasoning, we should know the same in French. The word she taught us sounds like mah-duh... but don't ask me to spell it. It means, "oh, sh_t!"
The third day that she cam by, Martine brought us a printout with a short piece about attitude and the importance of incorporating attitude into life. Or, as she says, you've got to have "at-tee-tyude."
The fourth day, Martine told us about her son, the big-shot scientist. She said she knew he would be a scientist when as a young child he asked, "Mom, how fast does light travel?"
Today, she brought us purple candy and an article from the newspaper. The article was dated 1964 and was a story about the Belgian Princess Mme La Duchess d'Arenberg who came to visit her good friend in America, the former Countess of France... our very own Martine. The article showed a picture of the friends spending time together soaking in the hot springs at Samuel DeRose Desert Spa in Desert Springs. It must have been quite risque to print a photo of the ladies lounging in their swimwear in 1964... but Martine shows it with pride.
Today, Martine asked if we knew anyone who could write a story about her life.
This will serve as the first page into a century's worth of memories from Martine.
Oh, I guess you should first know that I resigned from Valet Girls. In less than a week, I had a new job with another valet company and I work regularly as a valet for a hotel on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica... Diana, too. So now, five days a week I watch the sun set at 5:45pm; five days a week I play with Rudy and Colette and Jack when their owners bring them for their nightly walk; and five days a week I get history, life advice, tales of experience, and always a smile from Martine.
The first day we met her, we learned that after two marriages that left her a widow (the second of which made her a Count), Martine packed her bags and moved from France to America where, in her words "is the future."
The second day we saw her, Martine taught us to cuss in French. She said American slang and cussing were among the first English words and phrases she learned to use. So, by her reasoning, we should know the same in French. The word she taught us sounds like mah-duh... but don't ask me to spell it. It means, "oh, sh_t!"
The third day that she cam by, Martine brought us a printout with a short piece about attitude and the importance of incorporating attitude into life. Or, as she says, you've got to have "at-tee-tyude."
The fourth day, Martine told us about her son, the big-shot scientist. She said she knew he would be a scientist when as a young child he asked, "Mom, how fast does light travel?"
Today, she brought us purple candy and an article from the newspaper. The article was dated 1964 and was a story about the Belgian Princess Mme La Duchess d'Arenberg who came to visit her good friend in America, the former Countess of France... our very own Martine. The article showed a picture of the friends spending time together soaking in the hot springs at Samuel DeRose Desert Spa in Desert Springs. It must have been quite risque to print a photo of the ladies lounging in their swimwear in 1964... but Martine shows it with pride.
Today, Martine asked if we knew anyone who could write a story about her life.
This will serve as the first page into a century's worth of memories from Martine.
posted by Doris @ 10:55 AM
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