Cinquante: Jean-Marc's birthday and special guests
Thursday, March 30, 2017
TODAY'S WORD: Cinquante
: Fifty
Il a cinquante ans = He's 50
EXAMPLE SENTENCE & Sound File
Click here and listen to our son, Max, read the following French
L'âge atteint par un quinquagénaire.
The age reached by a 50-year-old
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Jean-Marc turned 50 this week, but the surprises began on Monday, when two dear friends popped in from Florida. You may remember Charles from a post written in 2008--when he came to help us pick grapes -- after he had a quadruple bypass heart surgery! It was a good thing Charles showed up at the beginning of our vineyard experience because he taught us there was no wimping out or complaining of a bad back when picking grapes!
Charles brought his wife, Martha, who might have wimped out at our first harvest. Charles says that's because "She's a princess." But he also says she's a bulldog (able to get French government employees to give the straight story. A feat, if you ask me!). Princess? Bulldog? Martha is one cool nana .
Jean-Marc surprised us by a sentimental tour of Marseilles, including a stop at the Vallon des Auffes, a drive past his neighborhood Le Roy d'Espagne, and a stop at Le Vin Sobre where he works every other weekend.
Yesterday it was Jean-Marc's turn to be surprised when Charles and Martha crashed our birthday lunch at Les Oliviers restaurant at L'Hôtel Ile Rousse in Bandol. We forgive them. And thank them for treating us!
The restaurant allowed Jean-Marc to share a very special bottle of wine from his cave: a Chambolle Musigny 1967. Charles, Martha, and The Birthday Boy were sipping in extasy as the other clients looked on like mendiants!
I downed my water and imagined the taste of that 50-year-old bottle of heaven (Martha, Charles, and The Birthday Boy were now speaking in tongues--or some such holy language.)
After, we had massages californiens at the spa steps up from the beach, and then said goodbye to Charles and La Nana at the Bandol train station.
There were a few more surprises in store for Jean-Marc. Maybe one day I'll tell you about those. This Birthday Wife is now hors de la vapeur (out of steam?). It's time to refuel avec le déjeuner (leftover pizza and le gâteau d'anniversaire from last night).
FRENCH VOCABULARY
une nana = girl, chick
la cave = cellar, wine cellar
un mendiant = beggar
le massage californien = California massage
avec le déjeuner = with lunch
le gâteau d'anniversaire = birthday cake
Reverse Dictionary
to run out of steam = caler, être en perte de vitesse
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