But we're ready and I'm about half way through my good-byes. July has hit Paris, vacance has commenced, and lots of our friends are out of here. Who wants to spend July in Paris? I guess we're the only ones, plus the billion tourists.
Oh well, here we are and now let's get on with the game, part one...
1. My new group of fabulous friends, Miss! I've met some of the most amazing people on this adventure, many of whom saved my ass when I was ready to book a one-way ticket home back in '09. I have formed a wonderful support group of fun, interesting, and exciting people that are either in the same boat as us with temporary lives here in Paris or are here for the long run. They have all been great, have added so much to my life, and will be greatly missed.
2. Dog poop and cigarettes, Not Miss! There's just too much of both all over the place in Paris. My favorite is the one, last, mother of all drags performed before stepping on the crowded train/tram. Must you blow that smoke out right in my face? Come On! Not only do I get a face full of smoke, but I gotta stand next to stinky guy for the ride. This is a big N.M.
3. Rush hour at the boulangerie, Miss! (Well, just boulangeries in general...I'm sorry, I'm a huge bread snob now. I may need to go on suicide watch as I transition back to life without my fabulous 85 cent baguette that is warm and delicious and just heaven!) Today was especially awesome. Allow yourself to picture this....it's 18h30 and everyone is on their way home from work. Alas, before you hit home, if you live in Paris, you must stop at the boulangerie and pick up the nightly baguette. So, the line is out the door and winding its way around the block. And the smell drifting from the boulangerie is just heaven in and of its self! Our mouths are watering and we're ready to get that baguette in hand and be on our way. However, tonight for some strange reason there is only one worker, (at rush hour???) and she is swamped, of course! I'm next in line and gearing up for my order when the woman in front of me orders a few pastries and a small cake. Seems like a non-issue to the untrained Parisian. To those of us in the know, this is going to turn into a 15 minute preparation for the Best Looking Wrapped Box of Cake and Pastries you've ever seen! It's really awesome...this lady is going to wrap the cake for her customer as if it were a newborn and it's going to look amazing. (Only to be torn open like Christmas morning but still, it'll look good for the walk home!) The rest of us will all wait, patiently, for our turn. I love it!
4. Feeling like a stranger and not understanding a thing, TBD. Sure, I'm am so so looking forward to landing in the States and being able to understand every person, conversation, sign, radio announcement, billboard, it all! I'm Not going to miss the constant wonder of it all. (Well, the conversation part might be okay. I sometimes celebrate that I can't understand the conversation between the crazy teenagers on the train. Sure, it's all in french but I've been around kids that age for too long now and no matter where I am in the world, I know I don't want to have to listen to what the latest world ending crisis is about....) But how boring will life be when it's all in english? Plus, the experience of struggling yet always surviving life minus words has been good for me! I mean, there's nothing better than making that call to the doctor's call service to make an appointment for the ladies and actually getting an appointment. I have yet to show up for a rendezvous at the doc's office sans rendezvous. And that's something I'm very proud of!
Yet, I do wish I could have understood more. I wish I could tell our favorite boulangeie ladies that we are leaving for the States, for good, and will miss them. They were so good to us and always treated Elise so nicely as she worked up the courage to order her own pan au chocolate, (and pay for it!). They were there for us every day after school, same ladies, for the last two years. That's pretty huge! And all I got out on Friday, (they are leaving for vacance and closing shop. Did I mention it's July in Paris. I guess July is the new August...), was a "Bonne Vacance" and "Au Revoir". Dork! They deserved so much more! Deep down inside, I hope they know how much we appreciated them. Even though I don't know their names or a thing about them, they were our daily goûter and we love them! (Mmmm, goûter! That's a miss...but more on that later, thus the part one.)
I wish I could just be myself with people and express my thoughts and feelings better in french. Instead I'm living in a world of limited communication with lots of smiles and hand gestures. And that makes me feel badly about myself and my lack of commitment to the french language. But then I remember that I came here with my ladies to hang out in Paris, travel the continent, meet lots of people, and I just LIVE! So I didn't master the language, who cares? I can get by, I survived, and during it all managed to obtain health care, call the house-call doctors, and understand a lot more than I could have two years ago. So, it's not the worst and I am a better, more understand person because of it.
Alright, enough for now. Part two is coming soon. Now, I'm off to relax on the couch with a nice glass of rose. Mmmmm, cheap, delicious, fabulous wine....what do you think, miss or not miss? :)
Happy 4th of July!
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