Toulouse. These retirees live on the streets
Violette and Karim F. will not forget this date of September 17, 2021… In the evening, they were evicted from their apartment on avenue Jules Julien, no longer able to pay the rent… Since then, they have been counting the months. Installed rue des Filatiers, a few meters from the Place des Carmes, the couple spend the day on two makeshift seats, with their small package, a box with a brief explanation of their situation. Because they are reluctant to make the sleeve understood… It is undoubtedly useless, their sign is enough to catch the eye of passers-by. Karim worked for a long time in aeronautics, in civil aviation as well, while being a reservist of the Air Force. Descendant of Spanish Republicans, former fighter pilot during the Gulf War decorated by François Mitterrand, speaking 5 languages, he does not call, preferring to smile, and attend the first payment of the old age allowance. All these difficulties, he brushes them aside with the wave of the hand… “Quoting Confucius willingly, he intends to” remain enthusiastic “especially to talk about his old professions which he would so much like to be able to still practice if the retirement age does not exist. “When a bad thought occurs to me, I try to chase it away” he smiles. Despite the modest ten euros that the couple receives on a daily basis. The help of neighboring bakers, the conversations with passers-by, complete with happiness the few euros which are enthroned on their luggage.