Chez Francis

I go to the Cabane à Huitres at least once a week. It's almost like home to me. My platter of oysters always contains a couple of extras and I never pay for more than one glass of wine. No, there's no romance going on. Francis and his wife Régine have been happily married for 45 years.

Where else can you drop in for lunch or dinner at a friend's place four days a week? Lunch or dinner, I always end up chatting with my fellow diners and I always come home happy.

Morning snow

Just a light dusting of snow here in Paris this morning, but a great day to visit the Andre Citroen park near my apartment.

Snow in Paris

I went to the Jeu de Paume this afternoon to check out the Kertész photography exhibit. So many opportunities here in Paris to learn from the masters! However, I didn't see the entire exhibit. It's snowing today and as dusk arrived I had to rush outside to take advantage of the snow, the early evening light, and the big ferris wheel that's been set up in the Place de la Concorde. Here are a few photos from just a short while ago . . .



Tuileries garden and Louvre in the background - seen from the ferris wheel:


Eiffel tower seen from Concorde:


Champs Elysees


And finally . . my bus goes right past the Eiffel Tower. Those aren't stars in the sky, they're snowflakes captured in the camera flash.

Weekend

I wish I had some steamy details of a weekend consumed with pillow talk, but alas, I had only a couple of hours to spend in conversation with Andrea and I found myself more in a listener/counselor role rather than something else. . . .

Andrea lived in Paris for ten years before moving to Barcelona four years ago, and his short visit to my place was sandwiched between other previously scheduled meetings and obligations.

Disappointed? A little. The hours spent in blissful anticipation were vastly outnumbered by the meager hours spent together.

At this point in his life he is looking for the love of his life and the mother of his future children, and, obviously, I am at a much different place in my life's journey. Nevertheless, I've enjoyed the hours spent with him and it's nice to be reminded that I am still desirable and "luminous" as he calls me ;-)

He doesn't return to Barcelona until Tuesday. Maybe I'll see him again before he leaves? But I won't stay home anxiously awaiting the musical tone signaling an incoming text message from him.

Anticipation

Andrea is coming to Paris this weekend.

Will the tasting be as sweet as the waiting?

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my American friends and family!

Today is just another Thursday here. It's a regular working day and most French people don't even realize that it's a big holiday in the U.S.

I'm not doing much today. I've made a few new American friends here, but these friendships are very recent, and I don't know of anyone nearby who will be celebrating Thanksgiving with a big turkey dinner.

I've decided to have my own Thanksgiving dinner. I bought a roast chicken and intend to mash some potatoes. I was about to write how I've never seen cranberries or sweet potatoes here, when, lo and behold, my local vegetable market had some for sale - just for today. No pumpkin pie though.

I have many things to be thankful for. It has been a wonderful year of discovery for me, and even though I'm alone today and thinking of my friends and family home in Denver/Boulder, I am healthy and content.

Enjoy the day. And enjoy each other!

Love from Paris,
Elaine

Dreamgates

I was somewhat vague about leaving Paris to participate in a workshop in the south of France near Montpellier. The course description may sound a little weird to some of you, but I've participated in Robert Moss workshops before and always come away with fresh insights. Anyway, this blog is all about following your intuition (pif) - you never know who or what you'll find. Besides, my drum wanted to go. Moss uses shamanic drumming in his workshops and invited participants to bring along their drums. Mine was lonely hanging on my wall in Paris and wanted to join some friends.


In addition, I've been having some odd dreams lately and knew that I could count on getting some help with dream interpretation. A main tenet of Robert Moss's writing and teaching is about trusting dreams, coincidence, and imagination. There are signs all around us - if we are willing to pay attention.
I was not disappointed.

I woke up Sunday morning after a very vivid dream: I was on the back of a motorcycle with a young handsome fellow with latin features. He takes a drink from a water bottle that has fresh flowers in it and the offers me a drink of the water. I adjust my helmet and we take off.

Now, if you know me at all, you know that I'm not likely to find myself on a motorcycle (or even a motor scooter). Too dangerous. And then . . . can you imagine my surprise upon arriving at the workshop and seeing someone across the table with the exact face of the person in my dream? He also instantly recognized something familiar in me. Neither of us could explain it, but we spent an amazing day (and night) together. His name is Andrea, and the front desk put us in the same room, thinking that "Andrea" was a woman's name. It isn't - at least not in Italy where he's from. He now lives in Barcelona, and speaks Italian, Spanish, French and English. I don't know how old he is, but he is younger than I am (but older than my sons!)

Anyway, maybe that is part of the reason I enjoyed the workshop? Even though we went our separate ways afterwards.
Will I hear from him again?

Oh, and the other messages from the workshop:
- live in the present - carpe diem
- pay attention to your dreams
- look for signs and synchronicities
- trust your intuition