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Sunday Newspaper edition - "Saône-et-Loire"- May 14 2000
The Internet is not only for the youngs
Marcel Paquelier
The Grandfather Webmaster of Troche Street
The May sunshine radiates all over the country landscape of the Bress region. The birds
cannot be seen but can be heard, the aroma of the flowers, the trees, and the freshly plowed soil represent a peaceful
moment of yore as if time had stood still.
The man we are about to interview comes out of his garden to welcome us, looking and dressed very much like a farmer
of a distant past. It is indeed a beautiful "Sunday in the country" as we enter Marcel Paquelier's domain.
Let us meet the "Internaut and expert surfer".
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His handshake is firm and friendly; his look is bright and curious. The origin of his
family goes way back to 1670 in this region of France where Marcel Paquelier was born in November 1927.
This 73 years old Grand Father became interested in this new mean of communication about two years ago, thanks
to one of his sons. "When my son arrived at our house with a computer, I had no idea how this thing could
be of any use to me.
Little by little however, I began to understand the concept and the Internet changed my life".
An ex French Air Force pilot, "virtual travel" is nothing new for this man who has traveled the world
from Africa to Indochina, and returning to France only long enough to start a family.
"I had to force myself to recall my memories before it was too late"
Once you are accustomed to contemplate the world from up above, it becomes evident how large the territories are.
At altitude, the world appears in its fullness; the blue planet, man's world seen from aloft has no language or
culture limitations, the only frontiers are the outlines of the oceans and natural landscapes.
If anyone is surprised that a person of his generation uses the Internet and creates websites, you should see the
twinkle in his eyes. "Thanks to aviation and flying, I was able to meet different people, learn about different
cultures, and it now gives me a different outlook at the current events".
One must open up to a changing world and to new technologies so as not to age so quickly. |
It permits those of my generation to keep up with society, and not being discriminated by our age.
Marcel Paquelier has created several websites on the Internet; -about his friends of Chateaurenaud - about the
Paquelier family and its lifestyle - and about the memories of his career. He introduces his site with the following
title:
"THE FRENCH AIR FORCE : a few adventurous years
in the Four Corners of the world"
Directly from Illinois
In November 1999, Marcel Paquelier received messages via the internet from the families
of the American children presently in Chateaurenaud for the scholastic student exchange program.
These families wanting to know more about this small area of France where their children were going to sojourn
found Marcel Paquelier's website. "It is a mean of communication used much more in America than it is in France".
Since the Chateaurenaud school had encountered problems with the installation of the Internet, the messages were
arriving at my house.
I have virtually developed a friendship with an American family through the Internet, and I have had the pleasure
to meet their son these last few days. We certainly will keep in touch, since the family will be coming to France
in July.
In conclusion, I can assert that the Internet has changed my life, and has changed my daily habits. However, I
also keep a daily contact with the land since I very much enjoy gardening, harvesting honey from my beehives, fishing,
and planting trees.
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We fully understand Marcel…the Grandpa webmaster by his own definition, now lives
in harmony with the present without forgetting his journey, his life's experiences, and more importantly his family
values.
The warmth and the humbleness of his personality are not "virtual"; they are real.
A passage from the site of
Marcel Paquelier
Now, I fly with a computer Flight Simulator (it reminds me of the
old Link-Trainer), and I am writing my life's story on the web. If by any chance some other Internauts sharing
any of my passions would happen to "land" on my website and wanted to contact me, please do not hesitate!
Site Internet:
http://www.paquelier.com/paqsenior
-Martine PICAUD-
(Translation by Michel LEVEILLARD)
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