Yesterday afternoon, September 15, 2021, the city of Nice hosted the senior return event for 2021-2022, chaired by Françoise Monier (Deputy Delegate for International Affairs and Seniors, Metropolitan Councilor). The event offers various activities for our seniors, who will have the opportunity to showcase their talents in front of the Mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi.
“Don’t be ashamed, raise your arms higher,” encourages the dance teacher. It is under the raindrops and on the wet ground that our seniors are enjoying this event to let loose a bit. Having recently retired (or not for some), it’s time for a fresh start.
To the tunes of “Jerusalema,” they let loose and celebrate the beginning of their second life. While watching the repeatedly rehearsed choreography, Françoise Monier, deputy delegate and organizer of this senior return event, seems delighted with the festive atmosphere around her. “How nice it is to see them all together like this,” confides Françoise Monier. According to the deputy delegate, Summer 2021 was a true success, as she assured, “We did lots of new things, it was great.”
The resumption of activities is a crucial step for the seniors; for her, it’s necessary to revive the desire and sense of sharing among the elderly.
A broad range of activities is presented to maintain the development of social connections and flourishing, cooking workshops are offered, “eating is good, cooking is better,” jokes Françoise Monier.
Theater, cinema, and opera sessions are highlighted to offer a wide range of choices.
“After retirement, there is always something to do.”
As the sun reappears over Albert 1st Square, deputy delegate Françoise Monier decides to speak before the arrival of the city’s mayor, Christian Estrosi. “You see, after the rain comes the sunshine,” she humorously comments to the laughter of the seniors, while presenting the various shows that will take place under the mayor’s watchful eye. “Even if the weather doesn’t allow us, we will still carry out the activities.”
A dance rehearsal is essential, with no room for mistakes in front of the President of the Alpes-Maritimes, so warming up properly and rehearsing the choreography under the guidance of Catalda is a must.
An activity that Françoise Monier claims recalls “Living together,” shortly after, it is finally the entrance of the city’s mayor. Christian Estrosi makes his entrance on Albert 1st Square, as the crowd applauds, and the performance can finally be presented to his eyes.
Stunned, that’s how Christian Estrosi reacted after watching the seniors’ performance. Amidst the applause from the crowd, he steps towards the lectern and delivers a message of love “I’m delighted to see you here again. We are a family.” proudly announces the President of the Alpes-Maritimes. He explained during his speech that the successive lockdowns have had effects on two things for our seniors: solitude and zero contact. “We realize that some have been isolated for nearly a year and a half,” he denounced. The mayor of Nice lauds the merits of vaccination at the current event “Look what we can do when we’re vaccinated.” A step towards new things, according to him.
To lighten the atmosphere even more, Christian Estrosi doesn’t hesitate to slip in a little joke “I was 20, like you once, now that there’s retirement, make the most of it.”
Far beyond just sporting, literary, culinary, or even musical activities; the senior return event also offers enrollment in universities. A new system where seniors can discover things beyond their previous life. In six months, Estrosi offers seniors training different from their former function. He concludes with a phrase that brought unanimous joy “Thank you for being who you are, in our city, you are those who motivate me the most.”
