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 wedding perhaps? I am picturing a bride and groom standing on the steps of the church, surrounded by friends and family as the celebrate the religious part of their wedding that would (in France) follow the requisite civil ceremony at the Mairie. I'm glad, for their sake (assuming there is a wedding) that it's not raining this afternoon.
In the end, though, it doesn't much matter why the bells are ringing. I just like that I am living in a part of Paris where it is quiet enough to notice a thing like church bells in the middle of the afternoon. Living where we live, I hardly ever hear the traffic, sirens or garbage truck noises I used to notice in the 15ème. We can even hear birdsong in the wee morning hours, if the window is open. Hearing the bells just gives me another reminder that I love living here: "here" meaning (in order of priority) with Georges... in my new quartier... in Paris... in France.
I know, we've all heard church bells in our lives. Nothing to go on about. Yet somehow, these bells even sounded French.
