Sunday, October 30, 2011

... Nothing that is lost ...

Last night - true to form I lost my phone. The gang and I went out. After a calm relaxing evening with our new friends Frances and Will, we decided to go for one more.

Its always that last one that does you in. Everything is fine, but then you take it one step too far, and before you know it you're over the edge. You find your self slightly drunk crying in the middle of the street because you've lost your phone, can't find you keys, you've probably missed the last metro and your favorite lipstick is in the gutter, the cap gone never to be seen again. At least for me that's the routine. Lubrification and disater, two things that often go hand and hand, in my Murphy's law filled life.

Last night was not a total bust. Sometimes, when I get what I call " the mean reds" which is far worse than the blues, I have the tendancy to be a little bit distructive. I told one unassuming French man to piss off on the train, and let the another drive me around Paris. Fred, a sweet, 31 (potentially) Arabic/Italian/French guy was standing in the front gate entry way of the apartment. Some folks would call my next actions dangerous, foolish and unwise. I call it serendipity. Defenseless, and with out a cell phone, Fred asked me if I wanted to take a ride and I agreed. We went to cité, France's version of the Bank of America pavillion, or the 02 stadium in England, around serveral different arrondisments. I let the window down and let the cool fall air blow over me. I had had a shit night. I deserved for this moment at least to have fun. We walked along the canal St. Martin and under the moons glow with all the other young lovers Fred kissed me. His tongue swirled its way in and out of my mouth, and then he kissed my cheeks, my lips and my neck. Hand in hand we walked back to his car driving around for hours, we talked. In my most basic French I explained what I was doing here. While I tried to follow along as he spoke all to quickly about what he did. Apparently he owns a store, maybe.

Not that it actually matters. I doubt that I'll ever see Fred again. He was what I needed for the moment. A nice guy, to ride around in the back of car with, straight up USA style.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

... Because I'm Still In Love With You ...

You've heard that Neil Young song, he goes on and on about still being in love with his girl. If any song could some up my feelings today, this song would be it.

The last couple of weeks have been in short amazing. I feel like a real Parisian lately, taking in the sites not like a tourist, but like any other student/ foreigner/ ex-pat living in Paris. There is so much to see and do, your days and nights become packed in by taking in the city on the isle St. Louis, walking around the BHV, or simply sitting in the Jardin de Luxembourg knitting with two of your newest girl friends. There is nothng that you can't do here that doesn't feel amazing, and while I have started to settle into a routine; I am still in love with Paris.

A few days ago, I went to La Defense, Hemmingway noted in his book A Moveable Feast that Gertude Stein said that in Paris, " You can live very well in Paris, even if you're poor, as long as you spent your money on art, and not on clothes". I remember that while I was walking through Paris's best but only mall. I also thought about it when Sarah, Helen and I passed Gertude Stiens old apartment the next day on our walk to the park.

Thats Paris. A Hemmingway book - filled with places, and people who have been here and lived. In the past, I wondered if I was really living, and not just existing. Now, there is absolutely no question.

Monday, October 10, 2011

My favorite things

Sondheim once wrote about favorite things, and Julie Andrews sang them to us with her beautiful voice in The Sound of Music:
Rain drops on roses
And whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles
And warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with string...
Unlike Fräulein Maria's seemingly "the best things in life are free" list, I'm a bit more materialistic. If my ass were twirling on a mountain top singing, it would be about all the things I can not find here in France. Picture me in my heels, stockings, and slinky party dress (with a drink in one hand and a cigarette in the other) singing:
Chanel Mat Luminére
In color 160 chestnut
Pumpking carvings
Random email chains that go on forever
Bud Light or cheap beer in general
Mall shopping and sales
Forever 21 and my friends
Apple picking in the fall
These are a few of my favorite things
Yeah, that didn't rhyme or keep pace, I don't care. Of course there are things I don't miss, like the possibility of running into someone that broke my heart. Odds are very good that will never happen, er, not yet anyway. I love the new friends I've made, having anglophone girlfriends when you're so painfully in the minority is an absolute blessing. I understand now why immigrants from the same communities stick together in the United States, it's a welcomed change from every day living.
My new favorite things list is starting to include seeing the Tour Eifel whenever I want, knowing that on Wednesdays (my day off) I can go for a walk through the Touleries, the Luxembourg or visit any of Paris's hundreds of museums or parks. There really is nothing quite like living in this city, so while I may miss creature comforts I think I'm adjusting pretty well. Though if anyone wanted to send me
Chanel Mat Luminére in color 160 Chestnut I would not stop you. A girl has to look pretty, no? Tell 'em Julie!
I feel pretty, oh so pretty
But moreso if you send me my Chanel Mat
Sondheim was a genius. That is all.