Off we go! — June 20-22

Jun24

Packed and ready to go, Cat and I took BART to SFO Tuesday morning with a suitcase each under 40 pounds, oh, yeah! We are SO ready, although I must admit that “winging it” as I am for our Ireland visit is just a bit scary. We have the first two nights lodging, plans made for how much we want to tackle, and a plan to express-bus ourselves to Londonderry by week’s end. Let’s see how it goes.

SFO to NJ to Dublin, what a trek. A humungous 777, brand spankin’ new. We slept as much as our bodies would allow which was good because the flight to Dublin took longer. Before we get to that, our seat mate was so sweet. Miriam L., a Dublin native, flew home from the summer to be with family after six months dancing in the North America/Canada regional company of “Riverdance.” She was a delight! Cat and I decided we would see the Dublin performance in which Miriam will dance and she will meet us at the side stage door after to say hi.

Having settled event on-flight, we ended up sitting on the tarmac in Dublin for over an hour due to IT flight problems between North America and Dublin. When we finally disembarked, we quickly collected our luggage and headed to Dublin town. An easy airport coach delivered us into an ancient city centre, lovely cobbled streets, narrow sidewalks, super colorful shop fronts, and a pub on every corner. Lots of people enjoying the hottest day on record since 1974 — a sweltering 93 degrees Fahrenheit!! Cat and I literally melted. We checked into The Central Hotel, napped a bit then went out to explore.

Thursday was a terrific day. Sleeping in till past 10 a.m., we picked up breakfast at a local coffee shop: scrambled eggs and Irish sausage with toast and an Americano coffee for me and a chicken Caesar wrap for Cat. We wandered around the neighborhood, between stores, pubs, and shoppers before heading back to The Central to meet Caroline Dee Brown, a longtime, dear friend of our friend Fran. Caroline was lovely – she took us a few blocks down and around to the National Museum where we saw ancient relics from early days of invaders, beautiful bronze metal necklaces and cloak clips. After a few minutes of looking, we headed to the cafe where we enjoyed delicious Irish tea and yummy pastries. It felt like we’ve known her longer than the time we spent catching her up about our recently retired Fran and sharing news about our families. A super wonderful time for both me and Cat meeting a new friend!

More window shopping and a nice dinner at the Boulevard Cafe that included refreshing rose wine to toast the beginning of our journey. Relatively quiet compared to the 2 a.m. PARTIES from all the pubs that surrounded us… but that’s another story.

Day 17 – La fin des mes vacances a Paris

Oct16

Today is it, my last day in Paris, France. Or Saint-Mande.

It started raining last night, it woke me. French rain. And the chill outside, but I was cozy and rolled over to sleep again. When I finally woke, Denis was up already, poised and ready to continue working on his laptop. And Adine was busy in her room. Denis and I agreed to have un petit dejeuner ensemble, which would include some of the brioche I made yesterday. He started the kettle and I fumbled with the French coffee press for me.

Lord, have mercy on me. The 50 pound baggage limit bites! So I’m lugging my carry-on with many goodies, memories, and this laptop. I plan to leave by 8:30 a.m. to lovingly roll my bags to Reuilly Airport (CDG) and get there with time to RELAX from this workout that I expect it will be. I was blessed to share a car with Marian coming into the city but going the opposite direction, I’m taking the Metro train. Should be simple, the transportation here is so smooth and dependable. I hope it won’t be so bad. The unexpected… (please, no strikes tomorrow.)

Denis says over the days and weeks, he saw me change from being the tentative, solo tourist from America to a visitor with more confidence and adventure for what lay out in the City of Light. That’s true, because I’m finding my own feet again in the world. The trip to Paris has been a point to prove to myself that I henceforth am alright. Different, than the past few years but just fine. Experts say not to define yourself by a role you play or to label yourself. But I think it is fine to declare, I’m a student, a daughter, a sister, a friend, a mother, a wife. I say (or said) those roles defined me because each one means something very special to me. And then when you lose one, it is lost forever. Sometimes it can be replaced, but what is lost is lost. Finding new things in life that bring new happiness will replace or fill the gaps. It just takes time.

Paris was definitely a great gap filler for me. I came alone to be alone and to spend time with the City and all its wonders. I wasn’t ever afraid of coming here or when I was here but I must admit to being confused a few times when I became lost in its alleys, streets, or off the main causeways. Then I wished someone could help me sort things out and find my way. Sometimes I wanted someone to talk to, to share a new experience with, to go to a bistro with and sit shoulder to shoulder with other people and have conversation and a glass of kir. But, I may not have missed much. It’s been more important that I spend this time by myself, with myself. I’ve thought about making changes and continuing to quest for what I want in the future. Clearing the deck, starting fresh, and expecting good things to come. With purpose and intention to guide me and in all things, with love.

I’ve enjoyed seeing the historic buildings and streets and hearing and practicing the language that I studied as a young student. Walking beside the River Seine, thinking about the centuries of people who have lived, loved, and struggled in this ancient city, seeing beautiful art and people, praying in cathedrals and chapels, making wonderful, new friends, shopping for trinkets and tokens, missing, sometimes aching for, the people I love back home, appreciating the life I have, these are things that I’ve done in Paris which are in my memory. I came here wanting to be changed by Paris. I think I am.

Thank you for following me all these days. I’ll see you again or, as a French woman would say, A bientot, chers amis!