And if you hadn’t been there, I wouldn’t be here reading this now, with wet eyes, remembering my own year abroad as an eighteen year old CHILD. Gosh, the things I would do differently. Or would I?
Mary, this post brought me to tears-your beautiful descriptions, your raw honesty as always, your reference to Rumi ( countless times I’ve read that poem since Joe died), memories of my own time in Paris with Joe, your writing about our journeys and how the unplanned ones shape us, often in ways we might never have imagined. I am on that journey now, exploring the gifts of grief which I know may sound strange, but if you open up, I know it to be true. Lastly, that joyful photo of you and Anna, is a balm to my heart. I love you both very much. Thank you for your words always. They made me feel a little less lonely today.
I love this post so much, and not just because I was quoted. 🙂 I appreciate how well you weave different threads together to make for consistently impactful pockets. Enjoy the rest of your trip!
I just finished a partly unplanned week in California, including a delayed flight on the way home, and it was full of dismay (altitude sickness and waking up to a bloody nose while sleeping in my rental car on a forest service road) and delight (hiking a full day on The PCT with my friend, feeling awe beneath giant Sequoias, and getting to bathe in back-country rivers). I'm hoping all the delays and dismay are behind you now as you enjoy the rest of your time in Europe!
As always, a lovely 8 minutes spent on a beautiful Sunday morning. Happy, safe travels - greetings from the Pacific Northwest, Port Townsend with the Olympic Mtns out in full glory : )
I love this! I have always wanted to go to Paris but have yet to make it there. Thanks for taking me along on this adventure and for sharing what you learned from it.
Thanks for sharing your reading in your own words💕🎉. (I do prefer when authors will do that…even though I read along when I can.)
Also, the contents of the story opened a floodgate of memories that flashbacked over the past 62 years & a scholarship that bought me a Eurail Pass that extended the original 6-weeks of Spanish class in Madrid. It was that pass that allowed me to get to the Louvre.
It was so amazing to be able to see the pictures that I had studied in an art history class that had just wrapped up.
Climbing up the steps of the Eiffel Tower, and having my photograph taken with my boyfriend, who is on a tour of Europe as a graduation present from his family.
And now you know the motivation for me for going back to the scholarship donor to ask if a Eurail Pass might be included so I could get the most value out of the airfare & classes.
Sometimes it pays to ask…and it never hurts to ask. That was 1972.
The overview of the history & the present of those 13 countries the Eurail Pass was good in, instilled a flexibility, a confidence, and a traveling etiquette to always try to learn some basic manners in the language of the people whose lives & history we have the privilege to explore.
In those moment we discover the common threads & the source of some of our knowledge, skills, attitudes…
The Parisian French were not fond of arrogant Americans who expected everyone to speak English. I was grateful my friend had Parisian relatives. I am sure our time as 18-year olds for those few days was much better because of that fact.
I agree with you about learning some basic phrases and customs. I wished I knew some basic German after my travels as I so enjoyed speaking French in Paris, but I was at a loss in Munich, and in the future, I plan to prepare for that.
Missed opportunities that were really trainings for the future. I did not know we had this in common. I spent a day in Paris when I left the tour I was on and joined my then boyfriend and we ended up in Paris just as you talk about we saw the beautiful Eiffel Tower from a distance. The Louvre was closed for the holiday and we stood outside watching a bride pose for photographs on a windy September afternoon. It was magical. I treasure all those memories. I thought who goes to Paris for a day I’ve always beat myself up for not staying longer. But what a day it was! So happy you got to do a do over with your daughter and look like the elegant traveler who knows how to speak the language, I’ve always heard that the French mostly are so happy that you’re trying at Least to wrap your tongue around the French language. C’est la vie!
This is a wonderful story. My eyes are also watering.
I am so glad you are all looking out for Chelsea. She and I have a LOT in common. I am sure she wants to keep track of her things.
This story reminds me of missed opportunities. I spent a month in two different summers in Europe when I was in high school and early in college.
I toyed with the idea of staying for a year but was too tied to my boyfriend, tennis team and friends. Of course the boyfriend was temporary, ans tennis and my friends would have waited.
LOVED this story. Your consistent high quality writing is an inspiration and a reminder that our stories matter and connect us.
Thank you for reading and for the kind words and for sharing some of your story here. I think it comes back to the learning that happens just by going through things.
And if you hadn’t been there, I wouldn’t be here reading this now, with wet eyes, remembering my own year abroad as an eighteen year old CHILD. Gosh, the things I would do differently. Or would I?
I love this. Thank you, Mary.
Yes… I’m so glad it resonated with you. Totally true about being a child and how that also affects things.
Mary, this post brought me to tears-your beautiful descriptions, your raw honesty as always, your reference to Rumi ( countless times I’ve read that poem since Joe died), memories of my own time in Paris with Joe, your writing about our journeys and how the unplanned ones shape us, often in ways we might never have imagined. I am on that journey now, exploring the gifts of grief which I know may sound strange, but if you open up, I know it to be true. Lastly, that joyful photo of you and Anna, is a balm to my heart. I love you both very much. Thank you for your words always. They made me feel a little less lonely today.
🥰🤗♥️ Thank you for reading and for this beautiful comment. We love you so much too!
I love this post so much, and not just because I was quoted. 🙂 I appreciate how well you weave different threads together to make for consistently impactful pockets. Enjoy the rest of your trip!
Thank you! Whenever you compliment my writing, it means so much. And yes, you are really funny too. 😂
I just finished a partly unplanned week in California, including a delayed flight on the way home, and it was full of dismay (altitude sickness and waking up to a bloody nose while sleeping in my rental car on a forest service road) and delight (hiking a full day on The PCT with my friend, feeling awe beneath giant Sequoias, and getting to bathe in back-country rivers). I'm hoping all the delays and dismay are behind you now as you enjoy the rest of your time in Europe!
Thanks for sharing this. I’m so glad you have all those beautiful memories along with the less comfortable stuff. We are having an incredible trip.
As always, a lovely 8 minutes spent on a beautiful Sunday morning. Happy, safe travels - greetings from the Pacific Northwest, Port Townsend with the Olympic Mtns out in full glory : )
Thanks for reading Karen. We are Switzerland today so from one mountain to another…🥰
I love this! I have always wanted to go to Paris but have yet to make it there. Thanks for taking me along on this adventure and for sharing what you learned from it.
Thanks for reading Lynda. You should go! 🥰
Thanks for sharing your reading in your own words💕🎉. (I do prefer when authors will do that…even though I read along when I can.)
Also, the contents of the story opened a floodgate of memories that flashbacked over the past 62 years & a scholarship that bought me a Eurail Pass that extended the original 6-weeks of Spanish class in Madrid. It was that pass that allowed me to get to the Louvre.
It was so amazing to be able to see the pictures that I had studied in an art history class that had just wrapped up.
Climbing up the steps of the Eiffel Tower, and having my photograph taken with my boyfriend, who is on a tour of Europe as a graduation present from his family.
And now you know the motivation for me for going back to the scholarship donor to ask if a Eurail Pass might be included so I could get the most value out of the airfare & classes.
Sometimes it pays to ask…and it never hurts to ask. That was 1972.
The overview of the history & the present of those 13 countries the Eurail Pass was good in, instilled a flexibility, a confidence, and a traveling etiquette to always try to learn some basic manners in the language of the people whose lives & history we have the privilege to explore.
In those moment we discover the common threads & the source of some of our knowledge, skills, attitudes…
The Parisian French were not fond of arrogant Americans who expected everyone to speak English. I was grateful my friend had Parisian relatives. I am sure our time as 18-year olds for those few days was much better because of that fact.
I agree with you about learning some basic phrases and customs. I wished I knew some basic German after my travels as I so enjoyed speaking French in Paris, but I was at a loss in Munich, and in the future, I plan to prepare for that.
I’m so glad you enjoy the audio Helen. It helps me to know that, so thank you! Thank you also for sharing your story here.
Lovely post!
Thanks for reading! 🥰
Ps love the pics of you and Anna.
Thank you! 🥰
Missed opportunities that were really trainings for the future. I did not know we had this in common. I spent a day in Paris when I left the tour I was on and joined my then boyfriend and we ended up in Paris just as you talk about we saw the beautiful Eiffel Tower from a distance. The Louvre was closed for the holiday and we stood outside watching a bride pose for photographs on a windy September afternoon. It was magical. I treasure all those memories. I thought who goes to Paris for a day I’ve always beat myself up for not staying longer. But what a day it was! So happy you got to do a do over with your daughter and look like the elegant traveler who knows how to speak the language, I’ve always heard that the French mostly are so happy that you’re trying at Least to wrap your tongue around the French language. C’est la vie!
I love this story and that we have this in common. I think the French get a bad rap.
Just lovely Mary! Hope Chelsea made it safely home! 😁
We are still here, but she’s still here. 🤗 She was the star of the yodeling show last night.
This is a wonderful story. My eyes are also watering.
I am so glad you are all looking out for Chelsea. She and I have a LOT in common. I am sure she wants to keep track of her things.
This story reminds me of missed opportunities. I spent a month in two different summers in Europe when I was in high school and early in college.
I toyed with the idea of staying for a year but was too tied to my boyfriend, tennis team and friends. Of course the boyfriend was temporary, ans tennis and my friends would have waited.
LOVED this story. Your consistent high quality writing is an inspiration and a reminder that our stories matter and connect us.
Thank you for reading and for the kind words and for sharing some of your story here. I think it comes back to the learning that happens just by going through things.
Love the beautiful picture of you two. I can remember missing you desperately while you were away……
Awww!!🥰