March 6, 2003


  • Retour du supermarché


     Il était une fois en février dernier un homme qui eut à faire les courses parce que sa femme était malade dans un grand supermarché d ' Amiens , une sorte de super Walmart américain comme dit Chele D . Il n ' avait pas l ' habitude de faire cela . Il avait sa liste d ' articles à acheter : plusieurs sortes de viandes , de fromages , de légumes , du chocolat , des biscuits …etc …. Sans oublier les fruits , les boîtes de lait , les yaourts , le vin de table , le papier de toilette , la cartouche d ' encre pour l 'imprimante et le papier pour l ' imprimante .


     Il lui fallut un long temps pour trouver cela , errant dans les allées au milieu d ' une foule anonyme , poussant son chariot dans toutes les directions . Ce chariot se remplissait d ' un mélange indescriptible de marchandises .


     Il croyait avoir fini quand il réalisa qu 'il avait oublié la " petite bouteille de caramel liquide " et la " petite boîte de champignons émincés " . Où trouver cela dans cette " ville " . Il était fatigué , le pauvre homme . Il demanda à deux dames d ' âge mûr : " Pardon , mesdames , vous qui êtes habituées , pourriez - vous m ' indiquer où je pourrais trouver des champignons émincés , s 'il vous plaît " . Elle répondirent de façon incertaine " c ' est par là " en indiquant simplement une direction .. L ' homme dirigea donc mon chariot "par là " , l ' esprit dans un brouillard complet . Heureusement une jeune cliente qui avait entendu le conduisit jusqu ' aux fameux champignons . Elle était charmante . Il y a encore des gens aimables .


      Après avoir fait la queue à la caisse , il rentra chez lui épuisé . C ' est le moment que choisit sa femme pour le prendre en photo à travers la fenêtre . Un tel effort méritait bien une photo , ne pensez - vous pas ? Et aussi un petit verre de vin blanc ! Vous avez deviné , cet homme dévoué , c ' était moi !




    Je rentrais du supermarché ! I came back from the supermarket . What a look !


     


    Coming from the supermarket


      Once upon a time in last february there was a man who had to go shopping , because his wife was ill , in a huge supermarket of Amiens , a kind of american super Walmart as Chele D said .. He was not used to do it . He had a list of the items to buy .: some kinds of meat , cheeses , vegetables , chocolate , biscuits ..etc …And don' t forget fruits , boxes of milk , dinner wine , toilet paper , ink cartridges for printer and paper for printer .


      A long time has been necessary for him to find all of these , wandering in the lanes among an anonymous crowd , pushing his cart towards all directions . This cart was filled with all kind of goods and looking like a true hotchpotch .


      He believed it was ended when he realized he forgot the " small bottle of liquid caramel " and the " small cans of sliced mushrooms " . Where to find these in that " town " . He asked two ladies of mature years " Please ,mesdames , could you tell me where I would be able to find sliced mushrooms ? " . " Overthere " they said vaguely in indicating a direction . The man drove his cart to " overthere " , his mind in a complete mist . Fortunatly a young woman , a customer who had heard led him to the famous mushrooms . She was charming . There are kind persons yet !



      Afterwards it was the queue at the cash desk . He came back home exhausted . This is the moment his wife chose to take a picture of him through the window . It' s true such an effort deserved a picture ! Don' t you think ? And also a little glass of white wine ! You have guessed , this devoted man ….it was me !

Comments (100)

  • He he... definitely deserved a picture and a glass of wine nice pic...

    Is it still snowing there?

  • you're so dutiful and loving. your wife realizes she's lucky, right?

  • that is so sweet!! I tell you, any American gal would love to show a good looking man with a accent around the store!!!! Have a wonderful day Michel!!!

  • Haha, un "blog" très drole, et un mari très dévoué! =)

  • Shopping is always like that for me. You my friend are a true champion.

  • hrm... i put up an smily face in above comment but it didnt show.

    =)

  • ...*chuckle* *chuckle* Can see you wandering the aisles like a lost puppy. Was a good experience for you, yes? Now you can empathize with Janine, who does the marketing on a regular basis. I too, find it exhausting.
    ...the pic is precious it says, "home from the wars." In America, you would have found yourself in heaven with all the women wanting to help you.
    ...good to see some other snow than mine.
    ...sure Janine appreciated your efforts and as you said a good wine awaited you. Hugs, MuSe

  •   The victorious hunter returns! 

  • I can see the beads of sweat on your forehead!

  • J'aime tellement ton photo! Bon histoire~ moi aussi, je trouve que sais vraiement difficile dans les grands supermarche! Je souvens cherche les choses au meme place temps en temps et trouve rien! Ahhh sais bien fatigant! Exactement comme ton visage  montre~

    Si vous retounez pas avant t'on fete, bonne fete en avance.

    Excuse my french I'm trying, it's fun.

  • Is that all you bought???  just those couple of itsy bitsy packages??  Heehee :P

    I'm teaching my youngest son well.  I make him go shopping with me and we bring back a trunkful~!  He'll be a good shopper for his wife, won't he??

    awww....but you deserved the wine.  it was snowing after all.  LOL

  • You were indeed heroic. Actually my cuddly one, I cannot see why men find the Supermarkets so confusing. A good picture of you, but the snow!!!. I like your tit=for=tat (cockney for hat). I expect you had more than 1 glass of wine, I think brandy may have fortified you more. By the way do French children really drink wine from an early age or not?. Cheers Marjie

  • J'ai bien envie de voir un grand supermarché français - sont-ils toujours comme Wal-Mart?  J'espère que non.  Wal-Mart, c'est un magasin affreuse.

  • Your wife is a very lucky lady! You are so devoted and loving, and I hope to marry someone with the same morals and standards as you someday. How are you, by the way? I hope all is well..if you need any prayer just ask :)

    Much love~OxOxSavannahxOxO

  • You may be surprised when I tell you that could be my face having that look. Richard is the shopper in this household. As he doesn't hold down a job, since he is disabled, that is how he passes his time. I have to learn the store all over again if I want to do any shopping. 

  • It' s sort of like her learning how to gas and put oil into the car Michel..or perhaps mow the lawn. Do French women do those things the way American women do?

    Brenda

  • Ha ha what a great story!  And how nice of you!

  • How sweet of you to do that for your wife..She is a lucky lady, indeed :)

  • You're a good man to do the shopping.  A better man for appreciating a typical "woman's chore" that often goes unappreciated.

  • hehe cool! what a nice pic =D

  • I'll bet your Walmart is nicer than the ones we have here!!  I absolutely hate going to Walmart. 

    Yes, others are right that have said that any American lady would love to help such a distinguished gentleman find his grocery items!!  As for the store clerkm that was not good service.

    I live in a small city and the clerks are actually very friendly and nice.  WHen I go to L.A., people don't talk to one another.  I don't like it.

  • unlike other journals i have read, yours is truly a delight. french is truly a beautiful language, and i used to take the class up until french 3. then after that, well, it was a bit hard. well anyways, your site has such a sweet, loving, relaxed feeling, and i think i'll be coming by more often. :)

  • Honing your "hunter/gatherer" skills I see.  I thinks it's good every once in a while for people to trade tasks.  It gives each an appreciation for what the other does. 

  • Chez-nous, quand j'étais petite, c'est mon père qui faisait les courses... -- Lise

  • je ne peux pas voir la photo!   

  • Regardez votre visage! On devrait prendre DEUX visites pour accomplir une telle tâche! Janine était intelligent pour prendre votre photo. Cette excursion vous a-t-elle fait apprécier la pauvre dame malade? Je suis heureux elle est meilleur et vous êtes finis vos achats!

  • You do look a little distraught in the picture but what a kind man you are, my husband will do the shopping but at such a fast pace he only buys a little at a time If I sent him with a list there would be a catastrophe.

  • j'aime beaucoup votre xanga. quelle bonne histoire. c'est utile pour moi aussi parce que je suis entrains d'apprendre francais.

    au revoir. je reviendra :)

  • Hahahhahaha... You cracking me up Michel... So how did it feel like to be a housewife for a day?

  • Was the carrefour?  The shop guys use to change the place of the stuff almost every day,so when you think you know to go look for some thing ,you find they put it somewhere else, they want people to go around so they buy more.

    Very nice photo indeed,  I miss the pierce-neige, should be there to pierce the snow.

    Un verre de vin rouge sera plus chaud que le blanc.

  • Forgot to say ,have a great weekend et merci pour ton interet,je suis en bon form mais je n'est pas trop de temp pur "blogger"

    Bien à toi.

    Carlo

  • Ah ha, at least she wasn't too sick to take a great photo. Poor Michel........Carlo loves to shop. He and I fight over what to buy in the supermart all the time.

  • A perfect pic..... sure looks cold there too

  • aw..that was very kind of you, michel to do the shopping for your wife when she was ill! i am sure that she was very happy for it!

  • I am so proud of this brave man! He is such a joy to observe as he overcomes his shopping fears! He looks absolutely wiped out with exhaustion! And he doesn't want his shoes in the snow, either! Oh mon Dieu! He gets the good husband award! Someday I will go with you to the market, yes? And we will buy food for me to cook for you and Janine! Here is your reward for your effort.... and **CLAPPING**

  • oui, dans cette photo vous semblez être malheureux. mais vous parlez souvent de votre épouse. je pense que vous avez un mariage merveilleux. j'espère avoir un bon mari. hmm... pourquoi vous n'a pas fait obtenir un sac pour vos achats?

  • Ce n'est pas souvent qu'un ange est capte en photo!   C'est exactement se que vous etes Michel...un ange   Votre epouse et vous avez de vrais richesses dans votre vie. 

    (P.S:  Ce n'est pas necessaire de traduire quoi que ce soit...je suis bilingue   Ma grammaire n'est pas toujours fameuse, mais je lis, comprends et parle le francais sans probleme )

  • My husband all ways tells me that he will never go again but he does. Like you he is a very good person who would not like to see his wife go when she is "under the weather". Have a great weekend .

  • This man, who is you, is very courageous to take on the super store all alone!  Thankfully, God sent an angel to guide him to the champignons!  To know a glass of white wine awaits one's return home makes the adventure less painful!!

  • Bravo, Michel!  You have been a true Warrior this day!      ~Paloma

  • You are such a sweet man. You're wife is a lucky girl.

  • Very good, Michel!  I know Carrefour well as I shopped there while in Aix.  Good to see your area getting snow as well as Rhode Island.  Have a great weekend, mon ami.  Cheers, Neil

  • What a wonderful and heartwarming story.  The love affair you share with your wife seems to be the thing that dreams are made of.  You are so blessed to be living this epic romance.

  • What a lovely tale!

  • You are a lucky man if you came back with all things on your list!  Or did you come home with some things that were not on the list?  What an adventure you must have had!  These grand shops are okay! But I still enjoy going to a small grocery shop! 

     @-}-}-- Karolyn

  • That was a charming story--and of course that many was you! Who else would do that for his loving wife? Did you like the big supermarket? I like big supermarkets because they have a wide selection, but smaller markets are also nice and less crowded.

  • How sweet of you to go shopping for her. I don't send my husband shopping any more. He comes back with the items on the list and much more! Loved the photo of you!

  • Yes so good of you to do the shopping . When I am in France I love going to the supermarkets to all the great food and to see how much cheaper your food is compared to here . I love going to the open air Markets at Boulogne

  • Frank always did the shopping with alist BUT he always bought lots of things we didn't need so it was quite expensive BUT I didn't complain as he might have refused to go again.

  • Michel,

            It is nice to see you returned safely from that HUGE place.  Was it a Carrefour?  We have them here in Colombia too and they are really large!  I like them, but rarely get to go because we(rather I) 'trot' down to the small store near us and walk back UP the mountain with our things a little at a time.  We do not have an automobile here and so it is necessary to get a ride with a friend or taxi to go to the big places... and the taxi costs us more.

           I know Janine appreciated you going.  I always am very thankful when Mike goes for a few things when I am not feeling up to getting out.  You are a good husband.

                    muchos abrazos amigo,

                                   Deb

  • I found your site quite by accident and have been swept into your world.  You have a wonderful way with words and I will be coming by often.

  • And I bet your wife was sweet enough not even to mention the things you actually forgot to get! 

    Ah, young women in supermarkets--God strewns such blessings along the way!

  • I like going to the market, it is fun, but then again I love to cook.  I hope your wife is feeling well.

  • *cheering*  Shopping is a hard business but it sounds like you did very well! 

  • Lovely photo of the so charming shopper...dressed in fine clothes and are those flowers you are carrying?  You definitely deserve to put your feet up and have several glasses with some good cheese and crackers! Nanny

  • Michel :  What a wonderful story!  And the photo!  I can just imagine your frustration as you searched for those last two items on your list.  I love your Xanga entries!  You have a natural flair with words ( in French and Engish )   Lynn

  • LOL he looks a bit tired and frazzled. Did you remember the eggs?

  • Yes, you are a devoted man! And thank you for your sweet comment. and {{{hugs}}}

  • Très bon! Je n'ai pas parlé le français en longtemps... Merci pour le traduissant et éxcuse mon français, s'il vous plaît...

    (For those wondering...) Very good! I have not spoken French in a long time... Thanks for the translation and please excuse my French...

  • hehe, it sounds like you had quite an adventure shopping.  and in the snow too!  your wife is lucky.

  • This is a very charming little story of an usual errand for you Seriously, I think you should write a book about everyday life in France--in English, because it is so very charming (did I say that enough?)

    Re: your question about the book on Provence.... I have read Peter Mayle's first book on Provence, called "A Year in Provence" and another one called "Chasing Cezanne," and just fell in love with his witty and humorous writing style. So when I saw this new book on sale here in Sweden, I grabbed it right away. I have just started the book but it is very entertaining already! As you can tell, I am a great fan of Provence and I dream of retiring there one day

  • By the way, it is a cute picture your wife took of you

  • I meant to say "unusual errand" in my first comment

  • I meant to say "unusual errand" in my first comment

  • I am similarly overwhelmed when my husband sends me to the automobile parts store or the hardware store; sometimes we just have to be brave

  • What a nice picture of you. That was so nice of you to go to the supermarket for your wife, I always dread going to the market, it is always to hard to find a place to park the car, and then the people in the store are so pushy and always in a hurry to get the shopping finished quickly. I hope your wife is feeling better, Hope all is well today, take care my friend.

  • LOL! Pauvre homme! Quelques verres de vin je pense!

  • Fait non seulement il mérite pour avoir sa photo prise, il mérite une médaille, mon ami. Un homme qui veut aller commercial pour la nourriture est une âme serviable merveilleuse.

    Et vous êtes une telle Tarte de Cutie.

    [Cela est la "Cutie Pie" dans l'Américain. ]

  • Yes Michel..alot of wonderful ppl in this world and if we're lucky...we run into a few in our lifetime...might even marry one! *winkz*

    It was very sweet of you to do the shopping so your wife can rest...and i'm sure she really appreciated it...but it did give u a taste of all the fuss/headache your dear wife might go thru whenever she has to shop! hahhaahaaa...doesn't that make u appreciate her that much more! =)

  • Hope your wife is well by now. My husband cooked supper for me tonight because I'm sick. It was canned beef stew and canned biscuits but it was good. Good husbands are nice to have.

  • wow - snow there too!

    what a wonderful husband you are :)

  • Great picture and the white wine a just reward. You have a nice weekend..

  • Thank you for commenting on my journal Michel.  I have been many times to Carrefour and these supermarches are much bigger than our supermarkets in England.  It is easy to get lost!  I am visiting France in early April for four days and my friend Colin and I are staying again in St Valery and will be walking along the cliff tops.  I have bought a new book of "Normandy Walks".  Best regards,  Tom

  • That sounds like quite an adventure. Shopping is something I really would love to do without. There are never any parking spaces in New York supermarket malls. Always too crowded or the parking spot you find is never large enough for the size of my car. Hope your wife is feeling better now.

  • HE HE HE OK ARE YOU TRYING TO GET OUT OF SHOPPING WITH THIS STORY? OR GET US TO GO SHOPPING WITH YOU ? POOR MICHEL OK ILL GO SHOPPING WITH YOU THIS STORY BROKE MY HEART. JUST FUNNY YOU SWEETY! AND WHERES MY WINE? LOL . HAVE A GOOD WEEK . YOUR FRIEND FANCY

  • What a sweet devoted Husband you are.. Dear Sweet Man!! Yes.. a photo was in order.  A man returning after the hunt!!! heheh!! Hugs.. Rose

  • You ask where I live--I live in America, in Hawaii. I am learning French right now...I only know easy stuff but I am hoping to be able to read all of your blogs in French soon with lots of hard work! So, to answer your question, I read some French but not fluently. I will e-mail you a picture soon if I can. ~

  • Dear Mr. Faquet,
    I agree with you. War is one of the most horrible experiences to have to go through, besides the death of a child or parent. My father's family still live in Europe. He told me how horrible it was during WWII. Many people had no where to live, and were starving. He mentioned how many had to hide in train tunnels to keep away from bombings. I am very horrified since the Terrorist Attack on the World Trade Center, etc. Many countries are being hit by terrorist attacks. I don't like war! I have a son drafting age and I fear for him and other sons of mothers. I pray they come home safely. I hope that God puts a stop to all this HATE and MURDER. Many lives were lost here but many more can and will be lost all over the world if this continues. Please pray that this will end peacefully. I do every day and every waking hour of my days.

    Every time an airplane passes over my house too low in flight, I think to myself OH GOD, not another Terrorist Attack...Please GOD!

    We are all on edge here and very afraid of what is to come. No matter what the President decides. None of us want WAR ever!!!
    Thank you for your comment and for visiting my site.
    Be safe,
    Loriblue

  • I ran across your site via your comment on mrsmoore's and thought I would visit. 

     I would like to get your response to the following statement.

    The men of Normandy had faith that what they were doing was right, faith that they fought for all humanity, faith that a just God would grant them mercy on this beachhead or the next. It was the deep knowledge-- and pray to God we have not lost it--that there is a profound moral difference between the use of a force for liberation and use of force for conquest. Ronald Reagan at Point de Hoc, Normandy, France, June 6, 1984.

    and to these pictures..

    photos are from http://search.eb.com/normandy/week5/memory.html

    For a please also check out this Frechmans Xanga site:

    http://www.xanga.com/skin.asp?user=dissidentfrogman

    Have a wonderful week.

    God Bless You...

  • I guess the pics did not copy but you can go to the website that I linked to see them.  The ones that I especially would like you to see are the ones that have American graves being dug and then the photo of all of the completed graves.

  • Perhaps a second glass of wine for you, my friend. :)

    Love the picture.

    DG

  • Such a handsome and loving man.  A "walmart-type" store is a daunting adventure.  Like a knight facing a dragon for his lady love.  Love and blessings.  By the way, shopping gets easier with familiarity.  zera

  • oops, it was nikk's site that I saw you on, sorry.

    God Bless America...

  • yes its true shopping is exhausting. pour yourself a double sir!!

    namaste

  • And in the snow, too!  You're a good husband!

  • Good Evening, Michel! I love the way that you expressed yourself in this blog. I enjoyed reading about this and seeing the picture of you, after a hard day at the market. I bet that you even went inside and cooked something for Janine, as she was ill. How lucky she is to be married to such a nice, thoughtful man. Be careful though, if you do too good of a job, you may have to do it every  week! Have a great week!!!
    Love Edie Rose 
     

  • Lol I can imagine you going thru the stores looking for your needed items to purchase.  I also would have helped you, and I too would have known where the mushrooms were. lol   Have a great day and a wonderful tomorrow! ! !   Great picture of you, I do not envy you the snow!  Much love and many hugs! ! ! !  Yes I am feeling a bit better!

                                                  

  • une bonne histoire je ne pouvais que rire! vous etes un homme exemplaire...aux E.U plusieurs hommes auraient commander d'un service de distribution pour la nourriture...

    comme toujours, j'aime bien lire ton site.

  • As they say about the mail man, through rain, hail, sleet and snow ... your duty was done!!!

    rr

  • those small things that make life special.... Oh, my friend, how good it must have been!!!

    Amour à toi and to your family

  • A picture tells a thousand words!!! I loved reading this blog Michel That exhausted look on your face tells all! .

  • HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHEL!!!! I hope you have a very wonderful day!!! Hugs my friend!! Much love, Christie

  • Je comprends bien tes evenements.  Un jour,j'ai essaye de faire les courses a un Auchan - c'est plus grand que Walmart je pense, et il y a plus de gens.  Oui, il m'est fait trop fatiguee.

    Comment fait-il, le temps?  Ici, il fait beau!

  • Janine is a lucky woman to have such a wonderful husband! Happy belated birthday, too ~ have a nice weekend!

  • ***laughs aloud*** Oh Michel..... is it so seldom you do the shopping???? Oh my dear.... it is indeed quite a job...

  • Thanks for sharing that story!  I'm glad you got the shopping done.  :)

    *emma

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taking care of what is around us

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