Saturday in Cluny

Mid-morning Elisabeth and I were off for the market in Cluny. At dinner last night David and Denise said they had counted 60 curves between Blanot and Cluny, a distance of 11 kilometers. I haven't checked their number, but I believe them!

After visiting 2 unique shops in town (Barb S., if you are reading this post, it took a trip to France, but I have finally found your retirement gift!)...

we stopped at the open market to pick up veggies and olives. Elisabeth also picked up “nem”...small veggie and meat wraps that we later enjoyed for lunch.

Suddenly I heard the old Beatles song, “A Yellow Submarine”, followed by the sight of a one man band dancing his way through the crowd. I laughed at how quickly cameras appeared from the pockets of all sorts of people.

We took our groceries back to the car and decided to walk to the rose garden. Along the way we became interested in the basketball game on horseback!

Elisabeth noticed some of her family also watching the game so we joined Viollaine with Annelle and Elena with Lucien and Sidonie. Lucien used some of the English he is learning in school. Antoine greeted us later...he had been reading in the car.

Elisabeth and I continued on our way to see the display of roses. I liked the way they have integrated the roses with deep blue delphinium, iris, hardy geranium, Autumn Joy and other sedum. I felt right at home! I have enjoyed the roses so much that it has convinced me to plant more in my own garden and see which ones I can encourage to survive the difficult Vermont winters.

Before returning to the car we once again stopped to watch the young girls playing basketball on horseback. There was some incredible riding.

Two teams of 4 horses each plus a referee on horseback seemed to fill the field. Apparently the score was tied and they were fighting for the winning goal. (I didn't get any action photos)

I don't know the real name of this game, but I hope it shows up in Vermont. It was really fun to watch.

By the time we put away groceries and had lunch it was around 3 PM...or 15:00 heures. Time for a nap. 

Nothing could have prepared me for the evening. Elisabeth picked me up and then we were off to get Francoise. We were to see a performance by a dance company made up of both non-handicapped and handicapped people. 

At the Cluny community center we met up with Anne, Mirelle and Noel. We all settled into the second row. Then Veronique arrived with Gabrielle and Clara...Elisabeth commented that she was getting to see her entire family this day. 

Gabrielle, Clara and a friend got permission to sit on the floor in front of the stage area. Before long other children thought that was a great idea and the row expanded! 

Friendships are what make this trip to France so magical. My lack of language is still a barrier, but I definitely feel part of a community. It's this inclusion that makes for a wonderful experience. And the evening's performance mirrored the same idea.

It began with dancers working their way out of gauze bags. As the program continued we were introduced to the handicapped performers, most of whom were in motorized wheelchairs and obviously had very limited motor skills. Slowly the dances more and more involved these “dancers”. 

One older boy, who I would guess has Down's Syndrome, seemed to fall asleep sitting in front of his non-handicapped partner who was gently rubbing his arms and then woke him with a touch when it was their turn to participate. 

The gentleness of communication was apparent throughout the evening. 

Another segment had dance partners acting as mirror images. To see youngsters with an extremely limited ability to move put their whole heart into copying their partners, reaching out towards each other, was unbelievably moving. 

Along the road to the Blanot pottery

Movement and being part of a caring and supportive group beamed as pure joy from grinning faces. I thought I was the only person crying, but I soon realized that all six of us from Blanot were in tears.

The final scene related to freedom, but freedom involved community. All the dancers gathered on stage. The non-handicapped dancers even helped those unable to walk to come out without their wheelchairs. The joy emanating from that stage was palpable. 

I'm not sure who gains the most from this evening...the handicapped persons lucky enough to participate, the non-handicapped dancers lucky enough to help others participate, or the audience lucky enough to witness a transformation. Truly an amazing evening.