C'est la vie! and Deja vu

I hope you enjoyed a happy and safe July 4^th holiday!  Here’s to our forefathers who freed this country from the British.  There were three things that helped them do it:  Leadership, Free Speech, and the French. 

Two of these three remain part of our everyday lives.  (I’m not as sure about the French).  I know a lot of families with ancestors that immigrated to America.  I don’t know very many from France though, do you?  C'est la vie! (Which, of course, is French for: Such is life - their bad!) 

The French helped Americans gain our independence; gifted the Statue of Liberty to us signifying their friendship; and then said, “bon chance!” (Which, of course, is French for: You’re going to need it!) 

Today, we have our leaders to poke free speech fun at.  Managers and executives at our companies are frequent targets of humor.  It’s OK, they mean well: 

But even top management types are mostly harmless when you get to know them.  Given lots of love, some even make good pets.                                 

Rick Levine 

After a while all good employees settle in and get used to our managers’ idiosyncrasies, don’t we?   When our reporting lines change – frequently – we don’t have to let it bother us.  No matter who our boss may be today, it will likely change soon so we can just focus on getting our jobs done, don’t you think?  Cirque du Soleil!  (Which, of course, is French for: Same circus - Different clowns.) 

At work, our glasses remain half-full. (Wine glasses? Oops – my faux pas!)  In America, our country and our companies remain among the best in the world.  Having received France’s help during the Revolution, today we are blessed to live in the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave!  Vive La France!  (Which, of course, means “Thank You” to France!) 

As we know, 2024 is our next Presidential election year… Magnifique!  (Which, of course, is French for: Is it over yet?)  If we took all of the money spent on political commercials, including those mud-slinging, character-slamming, negative-messaging, “approved by” blasts from our soon-to-be-elected, leaders, we could all take as much vacation time as the French do.  A la mode!  (Which, of course, is French for: I’ll have my vacation with ice cream, too!) 

Even the positive, political campaigns follow the same old claims and promises.  Lower cost-of-living; more jobs; pothole repairs; blah, blah, blah.  Brings to mind Lawrence J. Peter’s perspective: 

What this country needs is more free speech worth listening to.                             

Freedom of speech is truly one of our greatest freedoms.  A price we must pay for this great freedom is listening to someone’s speech, even when it irritates us, yes?  Sacre bleu!  (Which, of course, is French for: Up yours buddy!) 

We must try to remain patient during the upcoming months of Presidential campaigning – leading this country is not for the faint of heart.  And if the campaign staffs resort to the same, old talk tracks, well:  Deja Moo!  (Which, of course, is French for: That feeling we’ve heard this bull before.) 

So here’s to our leaders; the support we received from the French; and our great freedom of speech in the Land of Opportunity.  Certainly, without this freedom I would not be able to write my little ditties.  And without these, it would be harder for you find something to break the monotony at work.   True Mon ami? 

GAP 

When life gets tough we could get a helmet… or… we could leverage the peace and share the power of a positive perspective.