On our early vacation trips to France, I often pointed out to Ron a vehicle I admired that one doesn’t see in the US: a little closed-in truck called a camionnette. They were everywhere. They were always white, and always driven by a guy. As a renovator, gardener, and schlepper of props for magazine photoshoots, I was really coveting this compact little number.
Every ovrier (laborer), bricoleur (handyman) or tradesman of any sort owns a camionnette. They are very inexpensive, and absolutely basic inside. Two people can squeeze in the front, then there is usually a wire grill behind the seats, dividing front from back. The back is open storage, and the two doors on the back open wide. The fanciest option a camionnettte might have is a radio. When we were thinking of moving to France, I told Ron, "That will be my first purchase." He rolled his eyes.
As it turned out a used camionnette WAS an early purchase, but I can hardly get my hands on it: Ron pre-empted it as his own. It was even of part of Ron’s French “business”, 3 Men and a Truck (which you can read about here).
WE discovered that having a camionnette makes you a popular village resident. There is very often a need for one: to pick up plants for the garden, or furniture, or whatever else won’t fit in the trunk of (mostly small) French cars. So we often lend it out. Like our village cat, it has been the village truck. When I drive it, I get lots of looks--you don't much see an older woman tooling around in one. Photo, right: Our neighbor and dear friend Jean-Marie, here with Ron in front of our barn, is a frequent borrower of our truck---you can't get much in that trunk!
Early on we discovered a great way to find an affordable, good restaurant while driving around the French countryside: cherchez les camionnettes! The local ouvriers always search out the best deal to déjeuner, so when we see those dusty white trucks filling up a parking lot, we pull right in, confident that we've scored a good, hearty lunch.
Our little camionnette just turned sweet 16—and she’s still truckin’!
In the COMMENTS, on Random Acts and casseroles: Suzanne, like me, prefers no-recipe recipes. Paula, where I couldn’t agree more. Readers, any tips for Jan? I think leaving the cheese out would work fine. Patricia, once again your village makes an appearance in the blog. We are so happy to know the back-story on that cat!
FAVORITE READS: this article, which I believe every American should read, is a chart which compares the ACA to Trumpcare. Under the proposed Trumpcare: No requirement to have insurance, so the rest of us pay when the uninsured go to the expensive ER for routine medical treatment. Companies are not required to offer affordable insurance to employees. Pre-existing condition? Your state can jack up your prices as they wish. States can also cancel maternity care, ER, preventive services. Are you older? You can now be charged 5 times (or more) what a young person pays.
Is this what anybody wants? Sorry to get political here, but folks, we are the only western nation without strong universal health care, so let's get out of third world mode and take care of the most basic needs of our citizens!
