calendar from cluses

Can't remember if they do this in other countries anymore, but here in France, the firemen, trashmen, ambulance drivers, postmen etc. all come around for their yearly tip. Serious. In exchange, they give you a calendar. That's how you end up with a calendar of fires and accidents and postmen and random things. It also brings them up to their 13th month says my mom. I thought I would be away, pretty rare to find me here at this time of night. They're lucky I had another rough day and couldn't wait to get home. Work was rough enough.

Then text messages from my special friend were devastating for me today. He couldn't drop the issue and it drove me nuts. Not only was I annoyed and frustrated to tears at our mini-argument when I needed his help in the middle of a very busy day but saddened at the prospect of losing a friendship, which has come a long way. It's almost as if I wish he could magically know about the drama and help me out of it. But I told him too much.

And they rang the bell. And burst into my thoughts. No point in hiding inside, they take note of which houses or appartments they need to come back to. If you are out, no worries, there is a second chance to give them money. So, the two buff fire-young-men came by. Sure enough I got a calendar. But I told them I would only take it against an autograph on their pictures. Only got one since the other young man works in Cluses. They left and I swear I could here them chuckling down the hallway. Maybe at my request? A few minutes later, another ring at the door. Here I was thinking "oh gosh, not the postman now." But it was the second guy, all proud to give me a second calendar from Cluses. He grinned from ear to ear when I told him, "sure you can sign yours for me too". What am I gonna do with these calendars anyway!