End of An Era

Roland Is Leaving

       And I am crying.  The French Cultural Attaché, after a decade of a creative burst of musical artistic sunshine on the sometimes stultifying Washington landscape is leaving DC for his native France.
It is hard to describe how much better life in Washington has been with Roland. He brought us the best of French films before they hit the screens even in France. He brought art collections to the National Gallery and the Women's Museum of the Arts, productions to the Kennedy Center, conferences to SAIS, and the La Maison auditorium, and cheerfulness to everywhere he rode his bike. I heard on occasion that slightly french accent say "Ms. Butler" and looked over my shoulder to see the tall athletic figure straddling a bicycle in a suit
saying my name and stopping for one of those two cheeked french kisses. He introduced us to some of his colleagues and former classmates. He treated us to fetes and feasts, silent auctions, kids games and face painting on embassy grounds and the occasional kid jumping in the little fountain in front of the entrance.
     Roland has a passion for working with kids in children's arts programs and theatre. He once worked with and mentored kids in war torn Cambodia prior to coming to DC, some of whom became celebrated artists. He is a gentle giant among men and will be so badly missed I might have to chase him from here to Clermont.
     There is a nice write up in the Washingtonian about him HERE. http://www.washingtonian.com/blogs/capitalcomment/local-news/the-french-embassys-cultural-attache-roland-celette-will-leave-dc-next-month.php

     He will be fundraising for his next venture and I hope all who are able help him- because he has a beautiful soul and touches many people with his great kindness and creativity. One cannot underestimate the impact he made on the DC arts scene and generally introducing french culture to Americans.
   I am not going to say goodbye because I must see him again and again. I will just silently kiss both cheeks again and say 'a bientot.'

      And for his Finale you can go to the Embassy this Friday for the Bastille Day celebrations. Just click on the Embassy or La Maison de France Facebook page and its all there.  It supports a philanthropic org. that supports French expats in America among other things called the Committee Tricolor.

   I hope he is feted and treated to non stop farewell feasts until he leaves, including a huge one at the State Department and White House. Cultural Diplomacy is every bit as important in building allies as
the other kind (whatever that is.)  He has been the Attaché through four French Ambassadors, which makes him the DeFacto Ambassador at large. And larger than life he is.

Bis Bis Roland.