Draguer: At what age are you "lucky" to be hit on (or even noticed at all)?
Friday, February 14, 2020
Joyeuse Saint Valentin! That's Happy Valentine's Day in French. Photo: A "liste des courses" spotted at our local supermarché...where pick-up artists and good Samaritans operate. Don't miss today's vocabulary-packed story, below.
TODAY'S WORD: se faire draguer or se faire brancher
: to get hit on
brancher une nana = to hit on a girl, to make a pass at a girl
CLICK HERE to listen to the following example sentence
Ah bon? Tu t'es fait draguer au supermarché? Oh really? You got hit on at the supermarket?
Try Easy French Step-by-Step. Click here to view the book.
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse
"My Inner Hot Mama"
While putting away groceries I reached for an item my husband had requested--pleased to have brought back the right ones. "Found you some rasoirs," I shouted to the man two rooms down. "A nice man helped me...." I added, smiling to myself and waiting for a reaction. Such plaisanterie is healthy in a marriage, n'est-ce pas?
"Ah bon? Tu t'es fait draguer au supermarché?" Mr Two-Rooms-Down called back, feigning la jalousie.
This time I snickered, remembering what a French woman told me two years ago, "At your age, you should be grateful your husband is still so attracted to you." Her comment made me feel so....unsexy, unadventurous and perhaps even undeserving? I have heard a similar statement from American women, a generalized idea that at this age, we should be grateful for a man's attention.
Earlier, back at the grocery store, such words came to mind as I stood before the men's razor display, suspicious of the stranger who'd begun talking to me. Busy wondering "is this guy hitting on me?" a more humbling and sarcastic thought surfaced: "Ha! At your age!" It immediately silenced my Inner Hot Mama, who gets stuffed deeper and deeper into the psyche--the more I listen to the media and certain women.
"Vous cherchez un rasoir?" the man with curly black hair smiled.
"Oui. Pour mon mari," Yes, for my husband, I pointed out.
"Does he have soft or coarse hairs?" the man replied in English, with a thick French accent. His question set me back.
After all these years I should know whether my husband has soft or coarse whiskers! In a guilty panic I studied the stranger's stubble (a.k.a. la barbe de trois jours).
"Coarse!" I guessed.
"Here, these should be good for a man on vacation," he said, handing me a 6-pack of "Wilkinson Swords."
Vacation? He thinks I'm a tourist. I did not correct him. Instead, I said Merci, c'est vraiment gentil and, as he walked off, I thought of how absurd it was to have confused a pick-up artist with a good samaritan. The ego is a funny thing. One minute it's a Hot Mama, the next it tells itself it should be so grateful, at one's age, for even being noticed at all.
***
When Mr Two-Rooms-Down came into the kitchen, I touched his stubbly face. "What kind of whiskers do you have?" I said, handing him his razors. "Soft or coarse?"
"Je ne sais pas," he mumbled, pulling me close and planting a kiss on my middle-aged lips. Whatever the mainstream says, I will always be a hot mama in his heart. And for that I'm grateful.
***
EDIT ME: If you see une faute de frappe (a typo) in French or in English, I would greatly appreciate it if you would point it out in the comments or via email. Merci beaucoup!
Photo from 2005. This weekend Jean-Marc and I celebrate 30 years since we met in a nightclub in Aix-en-Provence. My husband has enriched my life in a myriad of ways (I even got the word myriad from him, after seeing it in his recent chapter...), and even if I don't golf, I appreciate each new defi or challenge he sets for me, including a recent swim with the dolphins which I hope to tell you about. I've been in some uncomfortable places, because of Jean-Marc's adventurous nature, but oh the stories he gives me to tell! The biggest is our love story, which I am focusing on in our war of the roses and wine memoir. Our intercultural marriage hasn't been easy, as you will see. I hope you will consider buying our book-in-progress, and begin reading it in installments. Click here to support our book project by buying a copy of our memoir, The Lost Vineyard.
FRENCH VOCABULARY
Increase your French vocabulary with these useful terms from today's story
le rasoir = razor
la plaisanterie = banter
n'est-ce pas? = isn't that true
ah, bon? = really
tu t'es fait draguer? = you got hit on?
la jalousie = jealousy
vous cherchez? = are you looking (for something)?
mon mari = my husband
la barbe de trois jours = stubble (stylish stubble)
vraiment = really
gentil = nice
je ne sais pas = I don't know
A valentine for you. I miss exchanging these colorful cards as we did once upon a time with all our classmates. Remember this practice?
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For more online reading: The Lost Gardens: A Story of Two Vineyards and a Sobriety
"Soft or course" une faute de frappe
Posted by: Mike | Friday, February 14, 2020 at 12:28 PM
planting a kiss of my middle-aged lips - encore une faute de frappe
Posted by: Mike | Friday, February 14, 2020 at 12:30 PM
Thanks, Mike 🙂
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Friday, February 14, 2020 at 12:44 PM
Whoops. I did mean to write *OR coarse*. Were you thinking *of course*?
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Friday, February 14, 2020 at 12:47 PM
So helpful. Merci encore, Mike.
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Friday, February 14, 2020 at 12:47 PM
Will the lost vineyard ever become a book I can hold in my hand and read from cover to cover? I’m a complete book man and waiting for the next chapter doesn’t appeal to me.
Posted by: Jerry Wood | Friday, February 14, 2020 at 12:52 PM
You will be hot on for many years to come, Kristy, as long as men have eyes!
Posted by: Tim Averill | Friday, February 14, 2020 at 01:09 PM
Age? C'est juste un numero-- Kristi,tu es encore très très belle!
Posted by: Bob | Friday, February 14, 2020 at 01:09 PM
Whoops, another faute de frappe - "hit on" but "hot on" was not bad either...
Posted by: Tim Averill | Friday, February 14, 2020 at 01:11 PM
Jerry, This is the goal we are working towards, and your comment keeps me motived. Thank you!
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Friday, February 14, 2020 at 01:26 PM
Wonderful reminder about age. And thanks, Bob!
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Friday, February 14, 2020 at 01:28 PM
Tim, thank you for the smile!
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Friday, February 14, 2020 at 01:29 PM
Is the cute and friendly cashier flirting with me, or do I simply remind her of her grandfather? C'est toujours la question !
Posted by: Robert | Friday, February 14, 2020 at 01:43 PM
motivated?
Posted by: Mike | Friday, February 14, 2020 at 01:46 PM
I assumed you meant "coarse"
Posted by: Mike | Friday, February 14, 2020 at 01:48 PM
You are a hot mama, Kristi! Don't let anyone tell you differently. The discouraging words are designed to stifle competition and set women on their heels. Don't believe it for a second. Your sexiness originates in your brain, after all, not externally. Stay sexy!
Posted by: Nancy Stilwagen | Friday, February 14, 2020 at 02:14 PM
💕💕
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Friday, February 14, 2020 at 02:28 PM
It's coarse not course.
Posted by: Renate Case | Friday, February 14, 2020 at 03:21 PM
Why did the "suave" French pick-up artist speak to you in English? Can't hid your healthy American looks? Happy V -Day.
Posted by: Russ Willmes | Friday, February 14, 2020 at 03:34 PM
I love this! I'm taking French classes and your blog is very helpful. Merci!
Posted by: Jen | Friday, February 14, 2020 at 03:44 PM
Today Christy it is 38 years since we married. And we still hit upon each other even at this age....!
Posted by: Suzanne Dunaway | Friday, February 14, 2020 at 04:04 PM
Kristi, you are still extremely beautiful, and the man probably WAS trying to pick you up!
Posted by: Teresa | Friday, February 14, 2020 at 05:17 PM
Well said!!
Posted by: Lynn | Friday, February 14, 2020 at 05:20 PM
Take it as a compliment Kriisti You are an attractive lady !
By the way my man & I still send Valentine cards to each other after 45 years of being together
Posted by: Audrey Wilson | Friday, February 14, 2020 at 05:34 PM
Our dear Kristi,
Today's post is just adorable!!
Your gifted words--your magic!--turns a mundane subject like whiskers(!!)into a
perfect Valentine's topic between two people sharing life together!!
I honestly didn't know whether Rod's stubble was coarse or fine till he grew it into a beard.He always hated shaving and kept true to his word that after he retired he refused to do it again!!I love how it looks!!
Sending special love and hugs,dear Kristi
Natalia . Xo
PS let's make it a chocolate day!!!
Posted by: Natalia | Friday, February 14, 2020 at 06:49 PM
Witty and poignant story! FYI "in myriad ways", not "in a myriad of ways".
Posted by: Debra Hayes | Saturday, February 15, 2020 at 12:37 AM
I vote for EITHER in myriad ways OR in a myriad of ways...
Posted by: Joan | Saturday, February 15, 2020 at 05:46 AM
Kristi - From the looks of things (and you), you will always be hit on, and that goes for your mother, too. But, most of all, the best part of this post was the sweet “bise” from your adoring husband on Valentine's Day. I was likewise blessed today from my 51-year sweetheart - the beat goes on, God is good. ❤️Janet
Posted by: Janet | Saturday, February 15, 2020 at 06:03 AM
Hi Kristi,
Hope you and Jean Marc had a nice Valentine's Day!
Posted by: Eileen | Saturday, February 15, 2020 at 06:57 PM
Love this, Janet. Congratulations you two. Yes, the beat goes on. 💕
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Saturday, February 15, 2020 at 07:07 PM
Thanks, Joan. I wonder if both are correct?
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Saturday, February 15, 2020 at 07:08 PM
Aha! This page gives an explanation:
https://www.dictionary.com/e/how-do-you-use-the-word-myriad/
Thanks, Debra, for your comment which led to a fun discovery.
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Saturday, February 15, 2020 at 07:15 PM
Thank you, Eileen. Happy Valentines weekend to you and Schuy. 💕
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Saturday, February 15, 2020 at 07:18 PM
Thank you, Debra! Re *in myriad ways*... That sounds off to me, but then I have never used the word before. Appreciate your help!
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Saturday, February 15, 2020 at 07:40 PM
Hugging you back Natalia. 💕 And a chocolate day it is!
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Sunday, February 16, 2020 at 07:02 AM
Thank you, Audrey! I love that you send Valentines to each other. 💕
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Sunday, February 16, 2020 at 07:04 AM
Mille mercis, Theresa!
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Sunday, February 16, 2020 at 07:05 AM
Kristi, you are incredibly beautiful and will be for many more years! Like JM, mon mari also very adventurous and often pulls me into situations that take me outside my comfort zone, landing to precious memories and entertaining stories to share with others.
Posted by: Katia | Sunday, February 16, 2020 at 09:41 AM
Merci beaucoup! What a wonderful story. My husband and I still flirt with each other. Some days I look in the mirror and feel I look like a hag. Very depressing. But then, I put a smile on my face and my chin up. It's just one day. Most days I feel pretty good. We all should, no matter what our age. Each age has it's beauty.
Posted by: Jodi | Wednesday, February 19, 2020 at 04:31 PM
Sorry, but it still says "course" instead of "coarse" in the second-to-the-last paragraph.
Loved the story. I would have wondered the same thing! There can be a fine line between being nice and flirting...
Posted by: Jean | Tuesday, February 25, 2020 at 04:24 PM
Thank you, Jean. I got confused. I see it now.
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Tuesday, February 25, 2020 at 05:16 PM