Revisited Memories

By Joyce Peters and Philippe Evrard

Belgian Philippe Evrard was a vibrant man with a wonderful zest for life and a dream of one day publishing a collection of stories in the United States. Now a loyal and dear friend he met in 2009 is making his dream come true.

Shared posthumously, Evrards storiessome fictionalized, some trueprovide a nostalgic glimpse into his life and imagination, beginning with his childhood. In a small village in Belgium, Evrard details how a black singer at midnight mass during World War II captured the heart of all attending the service, including his own at just six years old. As his tales move through his varied experiences and people he met along the way, Evrard leads others down a fascinating path into not only his own heart and mind but also into the hearts and minds of others.

In this whimsical and treasured collection of stories told in both English and French, a Belgian man shares his memories, hopes, and dreams from a life well-lived.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Jul 9, 2015
• ISBN: 9781491767665

Joyce Peters

Philippe Evrard was a prominent attorney in Belgium where he spent his entire life. He was the father of a son, two daughters and several grandchildren. In 2009 he met Joyce Peters and subsequently asked her to edit his stories and help him publish a book. Unfortunately, he passed away in 2012 before he could see his dream realized. Joyce Peters traveled the world with her late husband, who was originally from Belgium. Now retired from a long and varied career, she is the proud mother of two children, grandmother to one, and great-grandmother to two. Joyce currently resides near Atlanta, Georgia.

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Copyright © 2015 Philippe Evrard With Joyce Peters.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

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ISBN: 978-1-4917-6764-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4917-6765-8 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4917-6766-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015907321

iUniverse rev. date: 07/29/2015

CONTENTS

Introduction

Black-and-White Christmas

Texas Pecan Trees

The Girl with the Hat and Cigarette

Dogs Pyrenees

My Neighbor’s Cat

Una Minus, Christmas at Jauche

Dark Christmas

L’ascension

Ascension

De Natura Rerum

Belgian Dentists

African Shoes

INTRODUCTION

While on a trip to Belgium during the winter of 2009, Joyce Peters was introduced to Philippe Evrard by a mutual friend. During conversation, Joyce and Philippe discovered they both had a mutual love for writing. Joyce had written poetry for many years, and in recent years some of her poems had been published. At the same time Joyce was writing poetry in the United States, Philippe was in his country of Belgium writing short stories from his actual life, beginning at a young age.

Joyce and Philippe exchanged e-mail correspondence periodically, and before Christmas of 2011, Joyce received a story from Philippe titled Black-and-White Christmas. Philippe had written this story years before in French during the time of World War II. He remembered many happenings from the impressionable age of six. Years later, Philippe rewrote the story in English for his family and friends to read.

Secretly, Philippe dreamed of having his stories published in the United States and continued to write stories inspired by things he saw and experienced during his day-to-day life. Joyce eagerly read the story and was very impressed with the way Philippe described things that had happened during the war, in colorful and imaginative clarity, while holding her absorbed interest. After reading the story, Joyce immediately wrote to Philippe to praise his insight and description of what he remembered as a boy. She encouraged him to have the story published.

Philippe laughed and told her okay. I appoint you as my personal editor.

Realizing that Philippe was serious, Joyce began inquiring about publishing companies that would be interested in possibly publishing a book for Philippe. Meanwhile, Philippe was eagerly rewriting other stories from French into English. Philippe sent other charming and interesting stories to be combined with Black-and-White Christmas.

iUniverse was interested in publishing Philippe’s stories in one book as a short-story collection. Philippe’s excitement was infectious; Joyce helped with the rewriting and getting the stories to the publishers. She was excited for Philippe and proud and happy to help him fulfill his dream.

Unfortunately, Philippe became sick in the spring of 2012. After numerous tests, visits to the hospital, and some surgery, Philippe was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Joyce did not initially know the severity of Philippe’s illness and continued to write e-mails encouraging Philippe to fight to get well, telling him he had the book to look forward to, asking various questions about certain characters in stories, and learning what certain French words meant.

Joyce was so very shocked and devastated when he wrote to give her the news. After a day of thinking and wondering what to do, Joyce threw herself into writing and corresponding with the publishing company, trying to speed the possibility of getting the book published in the hopes that Philippe would realize his long-awaited dream. Joyce promised Philippe that she would do everything in her power to see his stories published.

Sadly, Philippe did not live to see his dream fulfilled. After a short time, Joyce received an e-mail from Philippe’s daughter Laurence who also lives in Belgium. Laurence was instrumental in helping gather other stories her father had written, information about her father, and family pictures. She also had a great interest in getting her father’s stories published. With Laurence’s unwavering help, the book became the long-awaited treasured collection of true stories written by her father, Philippe Evrard.

Joyce feels humble and thankful to have had the pleasure of befriending such a talented man who obviously possessed a witty and memorable personality, with a true and wonderful zest for life. He lived it to the fullest. Thanks to Philippe, his stories are a lovely legacy to his family and friends. He will live on through his own words, read