Au Revoir Paris

More Adventures Await

It may have started with unbridled enthusiasm, dipped to a scary uncertainty and rebounded to a final feeling of accomplishment, but as I write this, with shaking hands, due to my epic hangover, I will depart Paris in less than 24 hours.

Gifts have been purchased, the champagne has been drunk and our “almost” last little cocktail party has been had. I can’t say it didn’t end with a bang. Last night was a caviar and champagne fueled extravaganza at Caviar Kaspia—one of my most favorite places in Paris—complete with friends and my husband, who came to see me home. I think it’s time. It’s been a good run, and this last week with no classes and a parade of family and friends in town has been fabulous. But instead of having a purpose, I am now just on a vacation. And like all vacations, it must end. Mostly because it’s exhausting, and my liver is failing. If you are like me, you always need a vacation from your vacation.

Trying not to think like that I have squeezed in all of my personal “lasts”. Last visit to my favorite restaurant, last visit to my favorite museum, last beautiful walk in my favorite neighborhood. Really, I am trying to memorize it all because I don’t know when I will be back. Which gives me total anxiety, and is silly. Flight 48 on American Airlines goes from Dallas to Paris every single day of the week. And as we all know— Paris is always a good idea!

While the trash is still piling up and a strike is set again for this week, I have tried to not let that mar my final vision. I prefer to keep my rose-colored glasses firmly fixed over my eyes. Paris is timelessly beautiful, and these last few days have been glorious. I am finally outside without a winter coat, which is so liberating. And the light-which is always amazing-is starting to really become the star of the scenery.

A rainbow right over the Pont Neuf. It’s a brochure waiting to be printed.

Orion’s Belt over Notre Dame—a very good omen!

Sunrise out my bedroom window

Palais Royal

It is hard to leave but I am already mentally transitioning to being in Dallas. Excited for warm weather, green grass and the flowers in bloom. Lists are growing daily longer in my head of all the things I need to do that I have blissfully ignored for the last three months. The mountain of mail I fear has piled up in my office is really giving me nightmares, and will probably result in paper cuts. It’s funny how you can just forget about everything when something more important takes your focus. But it doesn’t go away-it just recedes into the background, waiting for the perfect moment to return with a vengeance. That moment is looming. But I am up to the task and good things await.

I am so excited to see my youngest son who was accepted to law school yesterday and celebrate this next step in his life. And see my beautiful grandchildren who will have changed so much in the three months I have been gone. And the dogs—God I miss the dogs!

I have slowly started packing, but my heart is not in it. I just want to leave everything here so it is just the same next time I return. There is comfort in that. Plus, I won’t need all the winter clothes that are overflowing my closet here, or my LCB uniforms. I am bringing home my giant knife kit though. I will be wielding my extra sharp knives, cutting up vegetables with military precision, every time you come over.

The takeaway is that it was a fantastic opportunity to live a little different life than the usual and those chances don’t come around that often, so grab hold and go for a ride! You won’t be disappointed—even if it turns out to be something you did not expect. We all need a little adventure in our lives, and as Jane Austen wrote, “If adventures will not befall a lady in her own village, she must seek them abroad.” Sounds like advice to live by. I, for one, will be seeking adventures in my own village and abroad. If one is looking hard enough, surely they will appear.

I loved being on this journey with all of you and so appreciate your support! It was fun for me to do it with you all by my side. This is not the end of the story—just the chapter. See you in Dallas!