If, bored by bad news, you're in the market for a silver lining, here's a tale that proves life can turn on a dime—or a French baguette, as the case may be.
True story: Just last year my devoutly single friend (and AARP The Magazine contributor) Judith Reitman met the love of her life standing in line at the boulangerie in Gréoux-les-Bains, a medieval "village of flowers" in Provence, France. Judith, a born New Yorker, had moved to the south of France in 2008 after writing a travel story for this magazine, prophetically titled "Follow Your Dreams (for Next to Nothing)."
Love wasn't in the air that day, says Judith. "I just wanted a baguette." But suddenly two "astonishingly beautiful children" flung themselves on her dogs, Sammy and Romeo. "The kids said, in French, of course, 'Papa, can we take a walk with them?' " recalls Judith. "I was delighted, turned around, and there was Freddy."
"Freddy" is Frederic Texier, a 39-year-old Frenchman of noble roots. And on December 17, Freddy and Judith—who will only say that she is"approximativement nine yearsen plus"than Freddy (translation: there's an age difference)—braved a blizzard to tie the knot in Darien, Connecticut. Their reception was complete with champagne, white roses, and a traditional, three-tiered French wedding cake. "I knew that life as an expatriate can have significant challenges. And I worried about our age difference, which was irrelevant to Freddy," admits Judith, who became an insta-mom to two spirited kids. "But life is short, love is rare, and the only certainty is change."
Indeed, this issue of the magazine is a tribute to the unexpected surprises of life and the resilience of the human spirit. There's Dolly Parton, who grew up in a home with no electricity or running water, to become a wildly successful country star. There's Stump (okay, not human, but bear with me), who at age ten became the oldest dog to win "Best in Show" at the Westminster dog show.
And finally, there is US Airways' hero pilot, Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger III, 58, who inspired our tribute to six other older Americans (see "Wisdom of the Elders") who have transformed people's lives. Sully's incredible water landing woke the world to the value of age and experience. As one survivor of the Miracle on the Hudson says, "Fly with gray-haired pilots!"
Nancy Perry Graham
Editor, AARP The Magazine
601 E Street NW
Washington, DC 20049
Tell Us WhatYou Think
Please leave your comment below.
You must be signed in to comment.
Sign In | RegisterMore comments »