Esperaza blues man

Here's Michel Aubenas, blues player of these parts... snapped him as Susan (who is back) and I wandered about Esperaza in the sunshine. 

Thinking of the blues; it's a year since Stan Adler left the planet. His music and many wonderful  memories of his life here remain. Hugs to his daughter Miriam, whom he loved and was amazed by.

Et voila - sheep are back by the river.

Had something of a drama outside no 9. in the afternoon. The parrots were disturbed by people running in  the impasse so I had a look and found our third policeman trying to communicate with a young woman who was twirling on the spot, one arm raised to the skies and the other trailing free. She was singing, printemps, je t'aime. Fair enough. Beautiful day.

The policeperson asked if I knew her.  I'd never seen her before. 

Not knowing why he had pursued her into the impasse I kept my head down and the dance continued. Was worried that the girl was getting exhausted. Whirling dervish ritual perhaps? This is Esperaza, after all -

-reinforcements arrived. Several gendarmes, four I think, plus a young woman policeperson.   After a very long time, our twirling girl left calmly at the side of the woman law enforcer. 

That wasn't it by a long chalk though. The group set up at the end of the impasse outside the Centre Culturel where the girl commenced screaming, pitie, pitie, which drew the attention of everyone in the street. She held both hands up and her short woollen frock rode up too high - it was indeed a pitiable sight. The police treated her carefully, gently even, no hands were laid on her though the third policeman shouted at her to be quiet (ineffectually) Ambulance arrived, white coated workers, papers signed - guessing she was being sectioned. She was still screaming as they took her away.

It was a sad ending to a spring time dance. 

More encouragingly: I've had friends sectioned here and it has been a Good Thing. They are locked in for a month, fed well, treated medically with whatever is necessary and then released back into the wild. That may be what she needs to ease her distress.