The first time I went to Paris I was two years old and my parents took me and my older brothers on a six (or was eight?) week European camping trip adventure of insanity. Those are some of the best stories I’ve ever heard tell of a family of five camping across Europe, missed connections, meeting up with friends, getting arrested, sleeping in a downpour, dosing sick kids with valium (or something or other didn’t speak the language) at the hospital but it was prescribed, dragging small children through the palace of Versailles and so much more. I don’t think my life would become what it’s been without my brave parents spending the summer of ‘78 in an orange Volkswagon van trapsing across the continent.
The second time I went to Paris was the summer before my junior year in college when I went to study abroad for the year in Granada, Spain. I wanted to travel a bit before heading south into the Iberian Penninsula and Paris was one of my destinations. Probably one of the best trips I’ve ever been on and it’s all thanks to my friend Natalie who, when I told her that afternoon at the cafe that I had bought a ticket to Paris and it was super cheap, she got off work that day, bought herself a ticket and we decided to go together. We had so much fun. I remember beautiful blue skies, drinking delicious coffee with our delicious croissants every morning, picnicking on the green in front of the Eiffel Tower, the fountains, the gardens, the magic of it all. I think we were vibing so much on the awesomeness of simply being there that we didn’t do a hell of alot besides go to the Louvre.
Then later that year, while following a boy to Nancy, I spent a grey day in Paris waiting for a train. I had an umbrella and an overactive imagination, one free day and nothing to do. This was an odd day, but a very good one that, in the long run, became the template for all those days to come when I would dream of Paris in winter. My go to dream on dormant days is Paris in winter. I remember so well how quiet the city was compared to when I was there in the summer. The rain fell, the streets were empty, the big spaces wide open for me and my eyes and my spirit to roam and, while Nancy proved a bust, Paris stayed beautiful.
How many times have i been to Europe between then and now? Many many times, but it took me 16 years to return and, when I did, it was with a group of teachers getting trained to take groups of high school students on international trips. Me and 40-odd teachers descending upon Paris Thanksgiving weekend to get a taste of how to lead the high school kids.
I sat in a cafe one evening on the Il de St. Louis writing a song and recording it for my Real Women Real Songs projects while the wait staff rolled silverware and swept the floor. I bought French perfume (of course I did!), visited the Palace of Versailles, took a walking tour of the Latin Quarter, the Louvre and wished it could last forever.
Our life is neutral, it’s just the thoughts around our life that create the ups and downs. My thoughts around Paris are magically guarded by a magical dragon guarding the kingdom from intruders of all kind. When I think of Paris I think of beauty, expansion, art, creativity. Have you ever seen “Midnight in Paris?” I am the hopeless romantic dreaming of the cafes filled with Picasso, Hemingway, Miro, Machado, Lorca, all of them. When I think of Paris I think of ease of living- the balance between work and rest, the appreciation of slowness and beauty, attention to detail, food that tastes delicious, the walking from here to there. The spirit of all those intellectuals and artists ghosting the grandeur and inviting inspiration.
Next Wednesday I get on the plane to go again and I am very very excited and thankful to be landing on French soil once again. I am going to be so thankful and energized reading the metro map, arriving at the right station, trying out my terrible French to buy pastries and coffee, smiling at strangers who don’t smile back, walking down a street under cloudy skies, drinking cheap red wine from a cup I borrowed from the hotel beside the Seine with my friend, Jana, dreaming big dreams. You wanna come? All you have to do is look around with Paris eyes to the beauty of ease and rest and work, attention to detail and slowness of life that is available to each one of us no matter our country code. Be as though you are in Paris no matter where the day takes you. And I will too. High five.