En Français (I)

Class with Andre this week was so much fun that I feel inspired to inflict a couple of posts in French on my unsuspecting readers. For added amusement, I include "translations" by Google at the end of each. One of our homework exercises during the week was to write a tribute to a beloved personality, recently deceased. So here is my tribute to Mickey (geeks: note use of the passé simple)

Hommage à Mickey

Un comedien extraordinaire. Selon un sondage de Gallup, mené en 2008, la silhouette americaine la plus connue dans le monde entier. Il y a trois semaines, Hollywood a perdu un géant du grand écran. Mickey, le petit souris avec un coeur de lion, est décédé dans une maison de rétraite en Floride, et nous sommes tous en deuil. Il avait célébré son centennaire juste l'année dernière.

Né en 1911, issu d'une famille modeste, Michel Souris a vécu une jeunesse assez dure. Apres la mort de son père dans la première guerre mondiale, c'était lui qui devait gagner d'argent pour que ses nombreux freres et soeurs ne crèvent pas de faim. Pendant son adolescence il lui fallait travailler deux boulots pour survivre. Mais tout s'est changé quand il a été decouvert par le studio Disney en 1928. Walt Disney, jeune et innovateur, reconnut le grand talent du "petit souris qui parlait" et lui offra un contrat immediatement. Son premier film, "Steamboat Willie" cartonna et lancea la carrière d'une des plus grandes vedettes de Hollywood.

Mickey a touché toutes nos vies, pas seulement par ses nombreux films, mais aussi par sa participation actif et personnelle comme animateur dans les parcs d'attractions qui portent le nom de Disney. Moi, j'ai eu le bonheur de faire sa connaissance personnellement dans le Disney World en Floride en 1980, quand je visitais le parc avec ma famille -- nous avons partagé le petit dejeuner ensemble. C'était important pour lui de connaître son grand public, et en 1992, à l'age de 80 ans, il a même appris le français pour pouvoir mieux connaitre ses invités chez Disney World Paris.

Selon les legendes vikings, quand un heros-animal mort, il doit franchir le pont arc-en-ciel pour entrer en Valhalla. Ce matin j'ai vu un magnifique arc-en-ciel, qui s'étendait à travers les toits de Paris, et j'ai su: "Mickey a atteint son dernier lieu de repos, avec les anges".

Mickey, mon petit ami. Tu nous as fait rire. Tu as touché nos coeurs. Tu nous manqueras. Merci, mille fois merci.

Or, as Google translate would have you believe -

Tribute to Mickey

A great comedian. According to a Gallup poll, conducted in 2008, the most famous American figure in the world. Three weeks ago, Hollywood has lost a giant of the silver screen. Mickey, the little mouse with a lion heart, died in a retirement home in Florida, and we are all in mourning. He had just celebrated its centennial last year.

Born in 1911, from a modest family, Michel Mouse lived a youth hard enough. After the death of his father in World War I, it was he who had to earn money for his many brothers and sisters do not die of hunger. During his adolescence he had to work two jobs to survive. But everything changed when he was discovered by the Disney studio in 1928. Walt Disney, young and innovative, recognized the great talent of the "little mouse who spoke" and offra him a contract immediately. His first film, "Steamboat Willie" cartonna and launched the career of one of the biggest stars of Hollywood.

Mickey has touched all our lives, not only through his many films, but also by its active participation and personal as facilitator in the amusement parks that are named after Disney. I was fortunate to meet him personally in Disney World in Florida in 1980, when I visited the park with my family - we shared breakfast together. It was important for him to know his public, and in 1992 at the age of 80 years, he even learned French in order to better know his guests at Disney World Paris.

According to Norse legends, when a hero-dead animal, he must cross the rainbow bridge rainbow to enter Valhalla. This morning I saw a beautiful rainbow that stretched across the roofs of Paris, and I knew: "Mickey has reached its final resting place, with the angels."

Mickey, my boyfriend. You made us laugh. You touched our hearts. We'll miss you. Thank you, thank you a thousand times.