The Bold Soul: A Writer's Life in Paris

Reminded

I am in my home office, diligently attempting to work on some client articles despite having what I now believe is a touch of bronchitis (Georges seems fine, fortunately). I came to this conclusion after a dizzy spell this morning while just sitting innocently at the desk, and having to lie down on a blanket on the floor until it passed. Bronchitis, as I know from far too many past experiences, just beats the hell out of me. So far this little episode not so bad, though. Not bad enough to keep me away from celebrating a new book with a fellow blogger tonight! (I will just have to take it easy on the champagne, which I'm sure is good news for the other invitées as it means more for the rest of them!) As I am typing away, immersed in my work, I slowly become aware of a steady, melodious sound. Church bells. There is a church nearby, and for some reason at about 2:45 on this Friday afternoon, the bells started ringing, and kept on pealing away for a good 7 or 8 minutes. Friday afternoon mass? I haven't noticed whether this is a regular occurrence. Or a... Read more →

Sharing

Part of living with the one you love is sharing things. The toothpaste. Half your Clementine. The covers. Your cold. Yesterday afternoon, I got hit by a "sneak attack" upper respiratory thing -- you know the kind I mean, the ones that come from out of no where and within an hour you are up to your eyeballs in muck (or at least that's how it feels). By early evening I felt like crawling under a rock, but I had committed myself to meet a friend for a yoga meditation class we are trying out, and I didn't want to cancel on such short notice after having told her just that morning I would definitely be at the fountain at Saint Michel by 7:15. I did the class and actually felt a bit better afterward, so that when I met Georges afterward for a drink, I thought I was shaking the darn thing off. Not so. Not only did I wake up feeling like an elephant was sitting on my chest, but I seem to have already passed whatever it is (Bad chest cold? Bronchitis? Too soon to tell, but I fear the latter) to poor Georges. Ugh. So instead... Read more →

Unexpected in February

In the cour where we live, some of the residents have created a lovely garden against one high stone wall with many potted plants and flowers. (Some of the children even discovered a huge cluster of escargots at the base of one pot the other day!) Seeing the crocuses and daffodils emerge is one thing. But what a lovely surprise to see these large pink blooms so early (too early, probably) in the season. It's not even anywhere near spring, yet... sure is nice to be reminded it's coming, though! Read more →

Inventing new excuses for not working

My telephone is here. My computers are here -- both of them. We have moved some furniture around to create a room, with a door that closes, which is now my office. I haven't moved all my things in yet, but I have enough things here that I can get by. I have no more reasons to sleep at my apartment now; the apartment is now just a storage locker. I think it's official. Georges and I are living ensemble. Yesterday was Day 1. Usually on a Monday morning, I get up when he does, and we take the train to Odéon together, grab some coffee and apple strudel from this little hole-in-the-wall cafe we know, and then he goes to his office while I head "home" to my apartment. Only this Monday, I already AM "home". So after kissing him goodbye, I rolled over and went back to sleep, thinking I had the house all to myself. Until about 9:40 am when I heard someone in the house. I knew who it was, of course; the nanny and the neighbors' two little ones. Georges' youngest shares the nanny with these other kids, but he's on holidays this week. However... Read more →

J'ai trois ans!

Oh, mon Dieu! I nearly forgot -- The Bold Soul is THREE YEARS OLD TODAY! It is hard to believe but it's true... I started this blog on February 25, 2005. My stated goal, in that first post, was that I wanted to be a writer, and to be a writer in Paris. I was shocked to get two comments on that first post, one from a dear friend but one from a total stranger; I still have no idea how someone discovered my blog so quickly. In those days, I thought I would write about what it was like to be over 40 and single in Paris. I never thought beyond the "being single" part, and therefore it was never in my "plan" to meet and fall in love with a Frenchman. It just shows you that sometimes, the Powers That Be in the Universe know what we need, better than we know for ourselves. And so, here I am, three very happy years later. In Paris. A Writer. And sitting next to the One I waited for my entire life, who just happened to turn out to be in the one place I always wanted to live. Thanks... Read more →

Public transportation would be just fine if it weren't for the public

So, I'm on the 95 bus heading cross-town from my apartment, where I have spent the afternoon packing up many of my things for the official upcoming move. Although we'll be renting a small van to schlep most of the heavier and bulkier items, I've been transporting certain things myself using a small suitcase and a shopping bag from Champion in Day-Glo Pink. Today it was various small electronics, some scarves (you can never have too many in Paris), a few more pairs of shoes (again -- no such thing as too many), and my American pillow. I manage to score a seat that will allow me to keep my baggage just in front of me without inconveniencing my fellow passengers. I decide to stay on the 95 all the way to Georges' quartier, preferring the scenic route to being trapped in the metro today, since the weather is so mild. The 95 is a great bus line as it slices right through the heart of Paris, and en route I spot many of the city's most recognizable landmarks: the phallic Tour Eiffel and the monolithic Tour Montparnasse; the Deux Magots and the church at Saint Germain-des-Prés; crossing the Seine... Read more →

Alone, at last

I sit in my apartment just off rue Labrouste, surrounded by the debris that comes from packing one's belongings into boxes, suitcases or whatever container happens to be handy (plastic trash bags are remarkably versatile in this respect, in case you didn't know this and are moving any time soon. They're not just for the poubelle anymore). I haven't really cleaned in here in at least a month, because I'm hardly ever here, so things are pretty... ah, NOT pretty... and now I am faced with cleaning EVERYTHING in the morning, because the proprietaire wants to bring a prospective new tenant here tomorrow afternoon. Suffice to say, I've got stuff to do, and lots of it. It is a Saturday night, and I am actually here alone. I haven't been alone on a weekend since the beginning of October (I don't count the times we were separated by necessary travel in December, because that 24 days of separation was too painful and we both prefer to block most of it out). My better half is presently on the TGV speeding south, a brief overnight trip to transport one child to visit with family for part of the winter school holidays.... Read more →

Small victories and big bonuses

Part of Georges and I mingling our two lives together into one, has been the process of his children and I becoming comfortable with one another. Statistically speaking, this can be a very painful process for a lot of people even when everyone is trying really hard to make it work. Sometimes it never really works out well and couples have been known to break up over this stuff, which is a scary thought when you're just at the beginning of merging your lives. From the outset I have been concerned about the impact of my presence on the children, and how they would feel about it, and about me. Georges has always been of the opinion that if we, as a couple, are loving with each other and the kids are witness to this, and if we are patient with them and let them find their own way in this new environment that will now include me, that they would be perfectly fine about it in the end, given some time to get to know me. I will now admit to having been a tad dubious, myself, about how this would work out. Not because there has ever been... Read more →

123ème page

Ah, I have been tagged for a meme that has been making the rounds of some of my favorite Paris blogs, and it's one about what I'm reading! (Thanks to La Page Française for the tap on the shoulder.) So how can I refuse to do something that requires me to read? Here goes: A) Pick up the nearest book of 123 pages or more. B) Find page 123. C) Find the first 5 sentences and read them. D) Post the next 3 sentences. OK, I'm already reading Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert but I'm only on page 41 thus far, so I think this qualifies. Plus, it was the physically nearest book to me in the room (Step A), a room where the majority of my OTHER books are already packed in boxes for my impending cross-town starting-a-new-life move. So I'm glad I had ANY book handy to do this meme, quite frankly. I have found Page 123 (Step B). Excuse me for a moment while I do Step C... ... Well. THAT was interesting. I landed smack-dab in the midst of the author's "Pray" part of the book, where she is in India seeking greater spiritual understanding.... Read more →

Apartment for Rent, Paris 75015

My apartment is up for rent for a few months, since I am leaving shortly to move in with my honey. The proprietaires (landlords) are a very nice Franco-American couple who live in their larger apartment next door. They are looking for a short-term renter for April through June, ideal for up to 4 people on vacation or a short-term work assignment for a single person or even a couple. They will rent by the week or by the month. They would also LOVE to find another long-term renter starting in the fall. The apartment was decorated by a professional designer, and is very light and airy. It's a one-bedroom with shower room, American-style kitchen with open floor plan to the living area, plus a sofa that converts to a very comfortable double bed (not one of those nastly folding deals, either, but a very cool innovation from Ikea). Dishwasher, full-size oven/electric stove, microwave and large refrigerator in kitchen with breakfast bar and 4 stools. All dishes and cooking utensils, sheets and towels are provided. High-speed internet, cable TV and a CD/stereo are provided as well, and a small desk in the bedroom is perfect if you bring your own... Read more →