The end of 50 years of good times ?

The pandemic that currently ravages the world is largely going to leave huge scars all over the world. That kind of trauma might set us back significantly and for the older ones of us, could make us regret the crazy and comfy life we’ve so much enjoyed during the past half-century.

Back in the spring of 1970, I was concluding my first season as an Avoriaz ski instructor, in France. We were skiing down “Les Grillages”, to the right off piste du Crot, “La Combette” and “Les Cables”, right under the tram, bouncing from one huge boulder to the next.

At the end of April, we were in the midst of many celebrations with the Ski Patrol (“Soirée Ricard”) ending up at La Grande Terche, dancing the night away and having great fun at “La Grange Heureuse” at nearby Les Gets ski resort, where uncontrolled libations was fully accepted, if not encouraged by the local culture.

My tiny 2cv Citroën or God, perhaps, was miraculously and consistantly taking me home in one piece, and life for well into the following century looked endlessly promising as well as filled with great joy, and that outlook held firmly. That was, at least, until now.