October 6

Two of the many reasons I love France (there are many reasons that I do not, too, but… for another day) are road signs. The first is cautionary: “Attention! Un train peut en cacher un autre” – Watch out! One train can hide another - It is posted at all railroad crossings where there are two sets of tracks. Simple and fairly obvious, but a worthy reminder nonetheless. It’s a very useful phrase to pull out in meetings with Ambassadors and street vendors, Presidents and cab drivers – who might well be struck by its relevance – the danger in the foreground often easily masks one only slightly in the background of equal o r even greater danger coming from the opposite direction. It seems especially true when assessing new situations where danger seems obvious and noisy and fast, yet very often, only hides another, and another…

The other sign is a wondrous invitation, and can be found in almost every town and city in the country: A panel in the form of an arrow indicating “Toutes Directions”. It’s usually at the entrance to a to an agglomeration, or at a roundabout, and is perhaps the underlying cause of some of the peculiar driving habits in the country. Toutes Directions – All directions. Just what you wanted to know when confronted with the choice of turning left or right, East or West. Follow this sign and you will have chosen perfectly, for this choice leads everywhere! Actually it is often set up in juxtaposition with the second most often seen road sign: Direction Paris. So if you are not going to Paris, it really doesn’t matter, this road will take you there (with an implied option to get back on the right track later on!) It’s like finding the yellow brick road! How wonderfully soothing when frantically looking for the road to somewhere to find the road to anywhere. Terribly inviting!