June 22, 2004
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Fascination .
French texts then English texts
Beaucoup de mes lecteurs ont dit que la ligne de 10 chevaux blancs présentée dans ma chronique précédente était " fascinante " . Ce mot m ' a donné à réfléchir . Quand est - on fasciné ? quelles sont les causes ?
Dans la photo ci - dessous on voit ma petite - fille Manon fascinée par le requin . Que ressent - elle ? Elle est comme figée sur place et admirative . Comment cet animal peut - il provoquer peut - il fasciner Manon ? par sa forme , sa taille , son regard , ses dents ? Je vous laisse juger .
2 photos taken by Jean - Baptiste Fauquet May 2004
Many of my readers wrote that the line of 10 white horses shown on my previous entry was " fascinating " . This word made me think . When are we fascinated ? what the reasons ?
In the photo at the side my Granddaughter Manon seems fascinated by the shark . She stands rooted to the spot and looks admiring . How can this animal fascinate Manon ? By its shape , its size , its look , its teeth . I let you judje
Laissez - moi vous raconter une histoire vraie . Une de mes filles séjournait chez son grand - père avec son mari et ses enfants . Une nuit le 30 octobre 1998 elle dut se lever pour descendre à la cuisine préparer un biberon pour son bébé qui le réclamait impérieusement à cors et à cris . Elle ouvre la porte , met la lumière . Que voit - elle au milieu de la cuisine ? Un rat qui la fixait sans bouger . Son sang se glaça et les jambes faillirent lui manquer . Le rat ne bougeait toujours pas et la regardait . Que faire ? Le biberon ne pouvait attendre . La petite qui hurlait allait réveiller Grand - père . Courageusement elle sortit de l ' " envoûtement " , elle se glissa en s ' amincissant et retenant son souffle le long de la table tout en ne quittant pas l ' animal des yeux pour arriver jusqu ' au plan de travail . Le rat s ' en alla tranquillement dans le trou par lequel il était entré .
- Mais était - ce bien un rat ou une grosse souris ? lui demandai - je le lendemain
- " oui , oui , il s'agissait bien d'un rat, et bien gros avec une vilaine et longue queue mais si mes jambes ontlégèrement tremblé , c'est parce que j'étais pieds et jambes nus et qu'il faisait froid .. Ce n'est quand même pas un vulgaire rat qui va réussir a m ' effrayer !! Elle disait cela après l ' aventure par bravade mais elle avait été totalement fascinée ! Pourtant ce rat était bien calme !
Let me relate to you a genuine story . One of my daughter stayed at her grandfather ' s with his husband and her children . One night on the 30th of October 1998 , she had to get up to go down in the kitchen to prepare a baby ' s feeding bottle that the baby was clamouring for . She opens the door , switches on the light . What does she see at the middle of the kitchen ? A rat , that stared at her without moving . This made her blood run cold and her legs became totaly weak . The rat didn't move yet and always looked at her . What to do ? The baby 's feeding bottle became urgent . The baby girl who screamed was going to awake her great grandfather . Courageously my daughter came out of the fascination , and holding her breath , glided along the table , in always looking at the rat , to the work top . The rat went away quietly to the hole that it used to come from .
- Was it really a rat or a big mouse ? I asked her the tomorrow . .
- " Yes , yes , it was a rat , and a big rat with its ugly and long tail but if my legs have slighty trembled it was only because I had the legs and the feet naked and it was cold . ( not heating ) . This is not a simple rat that frightened me ! " She bragged after her adventure but she had been totaly fascinated ! However this rat was quite quiet !
Je ne voudrais pas être indiscret et je ne demande rien , mais peut - être y a -t il des choses ou des êtres qui vous fascinent ? Et pourquoi ?
I wouldn' t want to be indiscreet and I ask nothing , but , perhaps , are there things or beings that fascinate you ? And why ?
Comments (92)
i believe we are generally fascinated by things we do not fully understand. then again, the more we learn about these things, the more fascinated we can get. i guess fascinations are different with each person.
yuck~! sharks and rats in the same blog.
icky-poo. lol
Un requin ne me fascinerait pas personnellement. Il a les yeux glauques et froids. Il me glaçerait le sang. Par contre, ce qui me fascine et me laisse bouche bée est généralement une chose très positive et assez extraordinaire.
Merci pour ton amitié, Michel, je t'en suis reconnaissante.
Clara
I'm not easily fascinated. In fact, only the most powerful creatures in the universe have any sway over me whatsoever. Yes, I speak of women.
I know where the photo of the sharks was taken I think
A interesting story about your Daughter , I was once woken up in the middle of the night by our hamster that got out of its cage I screamed so loud I woke the whole house up
I am glad you liked the blog about the horses today . If Mum finds the photo of me on the horse Iwill send it to you
i am fascinated by music... and composers and how they develop their melodies.
also... people in general. i love to watch them as they interact with the world around them.
i saw a rat once.. but it ran away before i had a chance to do anything.
I hate rats!!!!!!!
Ca va monsieur?
Large powerful animals and mammels are fascinating to me.
I am not fascinated by things that frighten me, though. Spiders frighten me. They are sneaky, they hide and they are ugly.
I guess I am fascinated by beauty as well.
Your grand daughter is really beautiful.
Very nice photo's. Merci beau coup!
People and things in general that are outside the norm fascinate me. People and creatures I can learn something from. That's what creates fascination for me.
yeah, I know I didn't tell you what fascinates me. maybe because not much does??
I guess I'm just fascinated how this whole world just keeps going on and on without too many glitches. ya know??
oh, and childbirth. that is one thing for sure that fascinates me~! I've had three babies and I still can't believe how that baby ever gets out~! lol
I am fascinated by time. To think that we live under the same skies as people thousands of years ago did. We look at the same stars at people from the Renaissance, and so many others. It makes my mind spin thinking about it.
I like the rat story, but would not have been so brave. Eveyone in the house would have heard about it.
That is a beautiful photo of Manon. Traveling to see different things than I have never seen before and photos like the one of Manon, and paintings fascinate me. I don't know why I can study them for a long time. Even now I keep going back to look at Manon's picture.
Are you the artist of the rat? (very good!)
Most things in nature are truly fascinating. Everything is so beautiful and unique, it's hard to not be fascinated by it all.
Thank you for your kind words. Things have more or less improved and are continually getting better...but thank you again.
Nina
Thanks for pointing me to the Shire blog. Beautiful pictures. Not many of those around here. I have been trying to find information on La Perche. Do you know the region? That's where Solon's breed comes from.
Hope you are having a fantastic day. I am wondering if you have received my package yet? I don't know how long mail takes to get there from here.
Lots of love to you, Janine and the family!
im curious, what type of music do you listen to? just a random thought i had and figured id ask. -dave
What a great question, Michel!! I know that when we're kids, so many things fascinate us. As adults, we've seen so much that we become anesthetized to the world around us.
Watching someone throw a pot on a pottery wheel never ceases to fascinate me. The smooth flow of the clay and how such a tiny touch changes the shape of vessel.
My grandsons fascinate me-I watch them even while they sleep.
hugs,
Lisa
I am fascinated by a whole lot of things. My flowers are fascinating. Cooking. Painting. Art, in general. There is so much to be fascinated by in this world. Don't you agree?
I think all of life fascinates me.... learning - growing... I take it all in!
What fascinates me? The imagination and the human mind.. it's fascinating, it's amazing, it's wonderful, it's spectacular, it's wonderful. What fascinates you?
La araignées tient mon attention. Je les attire quand ma vie est à un coin. Ils rassemblent comme si pour m'indiquer la façon ou me demande de penser. Créatures Etranges. Je pas les comprends.
SES DENTS!!!
I find many things in life fascinating, and the longer I live, all the more so! Today, I was fascinated by animals that live in shells: exoskeletons. I think when we are frightened the adrenaline that can save us can also set our imaginations alight! 
i find trees fascinating. the more graceful the form the more i fall in.
Plein de choses dans la nature me fascinent, et ce, de plus en plus, plus je vieillis!
J'ai bien aimé ton croquis.
Watching whales off the coast of Maui facinates me. The ocean, the tops of mountains looking off into the distance, old trees, Spring facinates me, Art, I guess I have a lot of facinations and yes even you are one KISS
Love, Brenda
oh man, that's some nasty lookin shark. shark, right? =P
I think Manon is fascinated by the shark mostly because it has that element of danger. She's also safe behind the thick glass so she can admire and, at the same time, wonder at its sheer size and sharp teeth!
What am I fascinated by? I think I am fascinated by the magnificance of beautiful scenery and also the unknown such as the planets, galaxy and controversial religious theories.
oh, i am fasinated by doorways, old cars, bicycles, and especially stones.
Hmm...
After all day, I have come to the conclusion that the very concept is fascinating. Do other animals become fascinated?
fascinate: verb:1. To hold an intense interest or attraction for. 2. To hold motionless; spellbind. 3. Obsolete To bewitch
Your posts are always so intriguing. They catch my attention, and I have to read every word. Sometimes I read it twice just to allow your words to set in.
Fascination..Love fascinates me. It is amazing the depths that love has. And also life. Life is fascinating to no extent. All of God's wonderful feelings that He allows us to feel and His creations are simply amazing...
Have a wonderful day, my friend! God bless.
well, in the green almost jungle like IIT Bombay campus where I stay, there have been a lot of leopard sightings, almost everyday we hear about one student or the other being chased by one.. i often think what would I do, if I encounter it while cycling home, maybe i'll be scared, maybe fascinated.. maybe a mix of both... of course, I hope to have the presence of mind to stay away or I might be chased by it to death!
Elle etait fascinée ou terrorisée par le rat?
I wonder why most women are terrified from mice.
We are specially fascinated from some kind of thing we don't aspect. Afther seeng the shark more times probably your granddaughter will be less fascinated.
To see a shark in open see must be scary.
Amitié
Carlo
So many things fascinate me, Michel. I try to look at the entire world through a child's eyes. I suppose I like to see medical shows on TV where they do operations and make miracles by saving peoples' lives. Yes, fascinating!
Fascination is a very difficult thing to explain!
I suppose I'd define the word by saying, it's something or someone, who is able to hold your interest or curiosity for long periods of time. Even that horrible rat would have held this curiosity in some way. When I feel fascination for a subject, I find it difficult not to want to find out every possible bit of information I can on it. 
Actually I can understand your granddaughter's interest in this shark, as I'd be the same way!
La fascination n'est pas un concept facile à expliquer. C'est comme à Euro Disney quand on fait le tour en barque dans "It's a Wonderful World." Un truc qui nous épate...
Bon Mercredi.
Clara
What a delightful blog. Even the rat thing was precious. I had a similiar experience in 1970. I was in the kitchen getting a drink of water in the middle of the night. This big nasty rat just ambelled across the kitchen floor as though I wasn't even there. I wasn't fasinated, however,I was disgused. EW !!!!!!!!! In the morning I bought a rat trap, and the next morning that nasty rat was in it.
Things of beauty fasinate me.Snow capped mountains, Dark purple irises, daisies in a field, kittens at play, a laughing baby. I guess I could go on and on.
I find many things fascinating - people going about their daily routines, the way our minds work, nature in its various forms - from animals, to trees, to watching thunderstorms.
I also like to use that in my writing too - have a situation come up and then have to think about how a particular character would react to that particular situation.
My baby daughters! Totally fasinating to watch them as they grow from mere infants into young ladies. A beautiful and fasinating adventure indeed!
The "open" way in which children see and learn, before school/adult limitations are imposed, fascinates me more than anything. If we, as adults, could recapture that, we might truly change the world.
wow
So many things fascinate me, the world in general, people and the way they think - endless wonderful things
Sometimes when I'm doing a crossword I marvel at the fact that we can read and remember. Life is fascinating. 
Marie
Qui me fascine ?
Mais toi bien sûr cher Michel! qui donne une partie du temps de ta retraite à partager tes connaissances et ta sympathie aux amis ici sur xanga !!!
histoire de rats, nous en avions eu dans notre cuisine à stockholm, ils grignotaient nos fruits et autres victuailles et il a fallu les éliminer et ensuite bonjour les odeurs car ils sont tombés "au champ d'honneur" entre l'étage de la cave et celui de la cuisine - et nous étions en hiver et il faisait bien froid pour garder les fenêtres ouvertes afin de soulager l'air ambiant ...
ce fut une expérience !!!
amitiés, bb_am
im fascinated by so much it would be hard to tell you .But ill pick one thing trees fascinate me .On my walks the trees gave me such peace and joy.As i looked at there heigth i thought wow they with stood so much wind and bead weather. But there they were unmoved ,Yes i was fascinated !
Your 10 white horses gave me a smile because i thought of the secound coming of Jesus.
You fascinate me to , your wise and kind and that smile of yours shines through to my soul.Do stay well my friend and my best to your lovely Jan.
love and hugs fancy
You fascinate me, Michel!
I enjoy your stories very much. I fear lizards and mice. Most other animals fascinate me. Especially the homo sapien.
It is fascination that makes us human. The compellingness and the amazement of seeing new things, that is why children laugh a lot too. It was not what the shark was it was just that the shark was different. Interestingly ditto the rat. It wasn't the rat that frightened but the presense of it being there. Your daughter was as fascinated by the rat as your granddaughter was by the shark.
that is quite an interesting story.
Your granddaughter is absolutely beautiful!
maybe they fascinate because they are large and inspire awe. I'm afraid of bears, fascinated by tigers and bears and whales. I think because of their size and their teeth and strenght and unpredictability. They are fascinating to look at behind glass or at the zoo, where we can look at them and admire them... Rats and mice, I get tense to think of these because you never know which way they will run- if it's towards me I have to jump and miraculously I can leap pretty high once they move!! , maybe they are thinking the same thing, when they sit and stare... which way to run... If you're a mom needing to feed the baby there is another factor to consider there- and the babies needs will often over ride our fears and move us toward more courage!
You continue to make me feel better about my situation. Things between he and I are now over, but I am slowly realizing how to get over it and move on. Thank you again, your words are very touching.
Nina
I quote you! "All beings and things are interesting"
Agreed!
All things fascinte me. Simple and complex things...even reading other people's lives fascinate me. If there is something new to be learned then why not. Curiousity is everything and you never stop learning when your mere fascination/curiosity keeps you going through life.
I think many things fascinate me. One is watching the cliff swallows build a nest and raise their children. Every year they build a nest out of bits of mud on my garage. It is completely enclosed except for a tiny passageway out. If I watch carefully one of the parents will peek out at me. The other day the mother bird was cleaning the nest. Tiny pieces of broken egg shells and other unwanted things were being tossed out.
Carol Suzanne
Michel, That is a Beautiful picture of Manon. Meeting Mr Shark must have been one of the most fascinating things she has ever experienced.
Love and Hugs
On est fascine par les chose qui sont grandes et quon ne comprend pas.
une chose qui me fascine c les petits bateau dans les bouteilles, les chutes et les vagues.
((((hugggssss)))
Man, this is a cool Xanga. Kinda makes me wish I took French instead of Spanish.
Oh I would find it possible to write pages about what fascinates me! God has given so much that amazes, fascinates, gives joy. I was an adult the first time I saw the ocean. It's vastness, motion, power made tears come into my eyes... the mountains have always fascinated me, majestic and strong. The flight of birds and insects fills me with wonder and fascination. Babies being born, whether animal or human, cause me to be astounded. Love towards another person or thing, the strength of the emotion and the way it moves a person to do or be something greater than they were before the love came in their heart.
*sigh* There is much to be fascinated by.
Thank you for the question and all the great comments were wonderful to read too.
hugs and love,
Deb
random props! hollurr back =]
I think Manon was fascinated by the awesomeness of the creature. I am glad it wasn't I who saw the rat I would never have got the baby a bottle, I would have woken the old Grandfather and told him to deal with it, still I am not always nice, and I am certainly not courageous where Mice and Rats or Spiders are concerned. I don't kill spiders I trap them in a jar hold the lid on and let them go out side ,luckily I do not see many large ones as I hate the ones with big hairy legs, come to that i don't like hairy legs on men or women either .Have fun Michel, Love Marjie
Your grand daughter looks lovely! as for Rats.......i empathise, for i am terrified of them myself
Your granddaughter is adorable! What a cutie
It may seem boring, but I'm fascinated by weather, in particular tornadoes.
I've seen you visit some of the same sites that I do (Gwenny is one!) and I thought I would stop by to say bonjour!
I just came here to check on my comment. I was in the first 40 when I posted something about Manon. I think that Xanga ate my comment, because it's not here!
Love and Hugs
I'm fascinated by technology .... how quickly it changes and how fast we as people adapt to it in such a way as to wonder how we lived without it before.
Great blog!
DG
Two things fascinate me the most: human beings and technology.
what a good question you pose, michel. thank you.
i am fascinated by death, birth, nature, and all of those intangibles that i hope, somehow, will always remain a mystery to me.
i think a loss of fascination may mean a loss of wonder for the world.
by the way, your granddaughter is adorable; i hope she finds fascination everywhere.
Your such a nice sweet person .love and hugs from fancy
Très intéressant. Il s'intéresse pour lui parler très par-dessus les mers, dans un autre continent.
My girls fascinate me every day. They learn and grow so fast. I just love to watch them.
Hello Michel. No, unfortunately, I do not speak French. It's a beautiful language which is difficult to learn. And I do think highly of cultures with sophisticated languages.
Anyway, I believe there are many reasons for fascination. One of them is unfamiliarity and curiosity. I think if we're curious about foreign things, we tend to be fascinated by it?
Ah... do you think curiosity is a precious child-like quality?
Moi aussi j'ai vu un rat, recement !! C'était la première fois !! J'avais peur qu'il ne morde le monsieur à côté qui manger tranquilemnt son sandwich.
La chose qui me facine le plus, c'est la manière de vivre, de reagir des gens. Je pourrai regarder pendant des heures, les gens dans le metro, dans un parc... C'est pas du voyorisme, mais, ... c'est interressant.
- Nana -
Answer to Singapore Girl who asks : "do you think curiosity is a precious child-like quality? " i think a sane curiosity is a quality because it is source of amazemznt and discovery .
Thank you for the anniversary wishes, Michel! We are celebrating 11 years this year. Last weekend we traveled to the small coastal town where our wedding reception was held. We enjoyed showing the children where we were married and they enjoyed the ocean and the old fashioned carousel that they were able to ride.
You ask what fascinates us and that caused me to think. I was truly fascinated on a whale watching trip that we took a few years ago. We saw many whales and some were right next to our boat. They are so large and mysterious, probably because we seldom, if ever, get a chance to see them. Other than that I am not really fascinated by animals. On a daily basis, I think I am fascinated by people. Who are they? What are they thinking? What are there lives like? I confess to peeking into homes with open windows as we drive by at night. Each little glimpse shows a bit about how another family lives. I find that very interesting.
As always, your granddaughter is beautiful. She appears delighted as well as fascinated by that shark!
I will keep hope that everything will work out, eventually. I am fascinated by the creative process. so many good things have been created by mere humans. I think it is very interesting.
K..the shark n' rat scare me. Actually..spiders freak me out eventho we're so much bigger in size! LOL
fascinate me? the phenomenons of nature? ..rainbow..flood..volcano..storm..hurricane..snow..hail...like one moment..it was calm..the next? the entire world has changed...can you imagine the ice age? or the dinosaurs..LOl
Children fascinate me. They know so many things that adults forget.
They know how to love. I guess I must be fascinated by dogs, too. 
They love you no matter what. Hmmmmm...maybe it's just love that fascinates me. 
Beautiful blog, Michel!!! I love the picture of Manon. I am still fasinated every day by all of God's wonderful creations. There is just so much beauty out there, if we only take the time to enjoy it.
Right now I am fascinated by the beautiful little hummingbirds that come to my feeder, just outside my kitchen window. What a joy to watch.
I always was terrified of rats until my daughter bought two pet ones. It was hard to believe that something that I had been taught to dislike could make such nice pets. Nice drawing by the way.
Have a great week!!!
Love
Edie Rose
heh, glad to see one of your cartoons again! They bring a smile to my face. I am awed and fascinated by great art, much of nature wildlife and great natural formations) and also archeology relating to ancient civilizations. however, deep down i suspect my interests can be fickle, so they change from time to time. Those 3 above have stayed awhile with me though
what about you, Michel? What fascinates you? Have the things that fascinated you changed with time and experience?
...a huge hello to you, my friend!!! Thank you so much for your card and emails and the thoughts they conveyed!
Big Hug, MuSe
...perhaps part of the "fascination" experienced by Manon and your daughter was a healthy respect for adversaries? Of course, Manon had an advantage, she was observing from a place of safety.
Most of nature fascinates me. There is always something new if we take the time to watch carefully.
Another way we say that is to be "spellbound"... like being held in a spell by the thing or being that is so fascinating and maybe dangerous.
What fascinates me? Life!
And that's a GOOD thing.
~Paloma
Quelle histoire amusante
Il y a beaucoup de choses qui me fascine. Par exemple les chats. Ils se semblent totalement calms un minute mais s'ils trouvent une proie, ils sautent avec tant d'agilité et agression! Aujourd'hui j'ai racontré un chat comme ça dans la rue.
I just want to let you know that you¡¦re one of the luckiest person in the world. You have just received the love from an angel named Heaven. Hope this makes you happy. May God bless you always.
Too cute
On est fascine par tous: la forme , la taille , le regard , les dents, etc.
hello my friend...just droped by to say hello to you..
rubymoon
Do not worry...your post did not hurt me nor upset me in any way. I still love the Aquarium and all it's wonders, I am just upset about the way things have been handled. It is strange this fascination we have when something hits our fancy. I would not have been facinated by the rat I do not think. I think I would have been the one to make a loud noise and frighten everyone concerned
Love 
Nancy
Hi Michel
Exams are over and it's now winter vacation and the new semester begins in late July. I'm hoping to find some work during the vacation cos this is an expensive city to live in!
I just want to let you know that you¡¦re one of the luckiest person in the world. You have just received the love from an angel named Heaven. Hope this makes you happy. May God bless you always.
J'attends toujours de voir ce qui te fascine, Michel. Quant à l'indolence, j'en suis la reine et j'en paie le prix.
Clara
Answer to Clara(carrot_red ) mainly am fascinated by the infinity of the universe , the wonders of the life whatever the scale of observation : living beings , functionig of organismes , cells and molecules ( DNA for example ) . i am fascnated also by the high mountains such the Mont Blanc in France . I am fascinated by the music .I am fascnate b the mechanic . Finally many things fascinate me .
Your granddaughter is a perfect picture of someone fascinated. It's the way that sharks move that I like to watch, so smooth & dangerous.
Danyale est fasciné par les requins, aussi. Mais, elle a trouvé probablement sa fascination avec les requins de regarder "Trouvant Nemo."
Votre fille était très, très courageuse pour faire face au rat dans le but de nourrir son bébé. Elle est une bonne mère.
Fascination is truly amazing isn't it? I believe that it's fascination that drives humans to discovery. If we sat back only to observe the new and unusual what would our lives be? No one would want to investigate the fascinating. It is those investigations that lead to many of the things we take for granted. Even something as simple as fire had to have fascinated the early caveman. That in turn led to the ability to create fire. A lot of things fascinate me. Such as why does a lobster mate for life? Your blogs are always interesting old friend. As for the rat your daughter came across, I do believe I would have reacted much the same. If I didn't hurt it perhaps it would not hurt me.
I find the shark fascinating...Why? Because it's beautiful.
Manon is beautiful and sweet. No explanation.
The rat is disgusting and horrible. They spread disease, among other things.....
Comments are closed.