An Invincible Summer - A Woman's Journey

Home now. Just getting a few memories written down.... After a long day of walking and touring, we enter Notre Dame Cathedral in order to enjoy a concert of Vivaldi that was advertised. Good music and a chair to sit in sounded fantastic. The Boy Scout with metal knees and a bad foot is tired and limping. I hurry in and quietly take a seat near the back.  He catches up and I say, “Would you like to get a little closer?”  He nods, grabs his bag and then proceeds to create a small slipstream behind him as he rushes forward. I’m surprised papers weren’t following the draft he made. I felt like a grandma trying to keep up with her 3 year old grandson.  He goes past the first and second sections. Breezes by a roped off area that has a sign that says “PRAYERFUL ONLY” and proceeds to sit his ass, front and center. A priestly mob of 5 come out and start prayers, and then a gal with a lovely voice sings in either French or Latin (not sure which). The peeps around us start r...

Today we attended a church service at Saint Eustache in the 1st arrondissement of Paris.  The church has wonderful French gothic architecture and gorgeous windows. It’s current form was built between 1532 and 1632. The Inside artwork is stunning but darkened by years of being on a busy street as well as candle and incense burning.  Inside this massive church there are towering arches overhead with rays of sunlight coming from every direction. The choir is singing and though they are few considering the size of the church, their voices fill it well. The congregation, which is not over 150, are dwarfed by the sheer size of the place. I’m watching some parishioners on their knees on the solid, cold marble floor and wonder how hard it will be for some to rise. Interesting to watch an older women stand at an immense pillar with her forehead against it as if in penance.  Don’t know if that is a common occurrence or not.  As the priest spoke, in French of cour...

As you might remember, I am going to see U2 on my 55th birthday. Just reviewing, catching up and remembering why I love them so much.  I’d have a hard time grading my favorite songs but if I did, this one would be in the top five.  I related to its loneliness and lost feeling, I was so incredibly lonely in my marriage those last 7 years. But this song has an underlying hope. Also, if you are lucky enough to listen to it on an excellent stereo the drumming at the end can  be felt in your heart.  Tell me what you think?

WORD FOR THE DAY As i walked down the avenue, the late afternoon sun was turning the lovely and dying sycamore leaves into fragments of brilliant stained glass, and i said to myself, "This alone is worth the price of admission to our broken and glorious world." LINDA LARSSON This quote reminds me of a certain moment in life a number of years back. We were taking what would turn out to be our last “family” vacation. I knew the kids were spreading their wings and, deep down, I knew that we were falling apart. So in fulfilling a long held dream I booked 6 tickets to Paris and did a home exchange with a family of like size. It was both a wonderful and horrible trip. The special moment I referred to was so incredible. For a reason I do not recall, I was standing alone at the corner of Place Saint-Andre des Arts and Place Saint Michel. The weather had turned slightly cooler but a warm breeze surrounded me for a few minutes. It was light hearted and gentle and it swir...