THOSE OF YOU THAT KNOW ME, KNOW THAT I COULDN'T FIND A JOB WHEN I MOVED TO FRANCE. I'VE DREAMED OF RETIREMENT SINCE I WAS 21, BUT WHEN I HAD NO JOB FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE, DEPRESSION SET IN.
IN 1999 I ANSWERED AN AD BY THE TOWN I LVE IN FOR TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES.
I HAD TO APPLY WITH A CV AND "LETTER OF MOTIVATION" HAND WRITTEN
( ALL FRENCH COMPANYS USE HANDWRITING ANALYSIS )IN FRENCH.
I WAS PROUD AND REFUSED TO TELL MY WIFE CAUSE SHE CORRECTS EVERYTHING.(TEACHER STUFF). I GOT A RESPONSE FOR AN INTERVIEW AND WAS TOLD WHAT THE JOB WAS. BASICALLY, SCHOOL CROSSING GUARD. WELL I TOOK IT AND IT PAID PEANUTS AND TOOK UP MY WHOLE DAY.
NOW IN 2004, I FIND I LOVE THIS JOBLESS JOB. I GET TO TALK TO PEOPLE OCCASIONALLY AND TRAIN THE LITTLE ONES IN STROLLERS TO WAVE.
I'VE SEEN MANY GROW UP AND GO TO THE SCHOOL WITH THEIR SIBLINGS.
WHEN I WAS ILL I REALLY FELT BAD. NOW I'M BACK TO WORK AND ENJOY IT. THE PAY IS OK AND I GET ALL THE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS.
I KNOW HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE, NOT BY NAME BUT BY SIGHT. I SAY HELLO TO EVERYONE AND HAVE BECOME A FIXTURE ON MY POST.
IF I WORK TILL I'M 65 I WILL GET A PENSION EQUAL TO 1/2 THE MINIMUM FRENCH PENSION. NOT MUCH, BUT BETTER THAN NOTHING.
IF I LEAVE BEFORE , IT'S ZIP! NADA! RIEN! NOT A CENTIME. DON'T ASK WHY, LIKE MANY FRENCH RULES AND LAWS , IT'S TOO COMPLICATED. I JUST GO WITH THE FLOW AND MY WIFE DOES THE PAPERWORK.
I AM PRETTY FLUENT IN FRENCH, BUT AM LOST WITH THE PAPERWORK FOR ANYTHING ADMINISTRATIVE.
I STAND ON MY CORNER AND WATCH ALL THE GIRLS GO BY.
I'M MR STOP.
IF SOMEONE TOLD ME ABOUT MY LIFE TODAY, 15 YEARS AGO, I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THEM CRAZY.
AGE DOES STRANGE THINGS TO US ALL.
I .......EVEN LIKE KIDS!
( FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW ME WELL, MY OLD MOTTO WAS "I HATE , KIDS, CATS AND COUNTRY MUSIC.")
REAL LIFE IS STRANGER THAN FICTION!
