Sounds like, apart from the arm-sciatica, that you are doing really well in your new Parisien life, and I’m very happy for you! 👏👏
I lived in the 16th too (the noble sounding Ave.Pierre Ier de Sibérie!) before my husband and I retired to the S.West. Great view of the Eiffel Tower if you hung over the balcony! 🤩
In my old apartment, old as in last month!, when the Eiffel Tower twinkled on the hour, it would bounce of the windows of the building across the courtyard. Quiet the entertainment!!!
Being a magnet for visitors (family and friends, 98% of whom were welcome!) who for them, natch, visiting the E.T was a ‘must’, I finally made a vow NEVER to go up the E.T ever again much as I love it! I took my visitors there and told them I’d wait for them down below, where it was a great opportunity to enjoy People Watching! 😁
I am so thrilled for you, and of course a little envious too!! Although I lived in Paris for a couple of years, it was in a rented apartment in the quatorzième, a working class neighborhood with its own charm, but was also a three story walk up I couldn't possibly face now!1 I know this pain will ease soon, the further you are from the move and the more you live into your new home. So brave, so wonderful. All the best!! Kathleen.
I think it takes ten years to really feel at home in a new country. There seems to a tipping point around a decade, a letting go of your roots from the past. Welcome to the club xo.
loved this piece so much. And I'm happy for you. Hope that arm recovers soon and you can get back to unpacking those boxes. I love that you created this life for yourself. No idea why you took the leap in the first place, but it seems to me a huge leap from Oakland to Paris. When a person says they have found their home--well, that is the goal. I'm imagining you in your beautiful space. What IKEA chair did you buy? I need a new desk chair! xox
I'm so excited for you! You're living my vision--or a part of it--I love where I live here in Pennsylvania, surrounded by nature--it's wild here, peaceful, always changing, and wild. But--my vision is to spend two months a year in France, particularly Paris. I even married a Frenchman. He passed away in April, and I miss him. He did not want to go back to live in France, and at the end of his life, two years before his death, actually, we took a trip to Paris. I could see how hard it was for him--he had lost all the important people for him in France. But I still have an excitement for France, and Paris, so I hope to see you again there, Sara--it was lovely to see you two years ago, and I hope to see you again.
My friend, you sound very Buddhist - the word is "equanimity"! You write,
'The arena of “not knowing” and accepting it if it’s uncomfortable, is hell for me. Yet, what can I do? Right now, I am so grateful for my aparment, my beautiful new home....
Sounds like, apart from the arm-sciatica, that you are doing really well in your new Parisien life, and I’m very happy for you! 👏👏
I lived in the 16th too (the noble sounding Ave.Pierre Ier de Sibérie!) before my husband and I retired to the S.West. Great view of the Eiffel Tower if you hung over the balcony! 🤩
In my old apartment, old as in last month!, when the Eiffel Tower twinkled on the hour, it would bounce of the windows of the building across the courtyard. Quiet the entertainment!!!
Being a magnet for visitors (family and friends, 98% of whom were welcome!) who for them, natch, visiting the E.T was a ‘must’, I finally made a vow NEVER to go up the E.T ever again much as I love it! I took my visitors there and told them I’d wait for them down below, where it was a great opportunity to enjoy People Watching! 😁
I feel that way about friends who want to “do” the Louvre in 2/3 hours!!!
Sara, I couldn’t be happier for you in your beautiful new apartment! It sounds like a dream come true.
Thanks Kit, Hope to see you on the 11th!! I'm bringing George Saunders as close as I can get him!!!
I am so thrilled for you, and of course a little envious too!! Although I lived in Paris for a couple of years, it was in a rented apartment in the quatorzième, a working class neighborhood with its own charm, but was also a three story walk up I couldn't possibly face now!1 I know this pain will ease soon, the further you are from the move and the more you live into your new home. So brave, so wonderful. All the best!! Kathleen.
I think it takes ten years to really feel at home in a new country. There seems to a tipping point around a decade, a letting go of your roots from the past. Welcome to the club xo.
loved this piece so much. And I'm happy for you. Hope that arm recovers soon and you can get back to unpacking those boxes. I love that you created this life for yourself. No idea why you took the leap in the first place, but it seems to me a huge leap from Oakland to Paris. When a person says they have found their home--well, that is the goal. I'm imagining you in your beautiful space. What IKEA chair did you buy? I need a new desk chair! xox
I'm so excited for you! You're living my vision--or a part of it--I love where I live here in Pennsylvania, surrounded by nature--it's wild here, peaceful, always changing, and wild. But--my vision is to spend two months a year in France, particularly Paris. I even married a Frenchman. He passed away in April, and I miss him. He did not want to go back to live in France, and at the end of his life, two years before his death, actually, we took a trip to Paris. I could see how hard it was for him--he had lost all the important people for him in France. But I still have an excitement for France, and Paris, so I hope to see you again there, Sara--it was lovely to see you two years ago, and I hope to see you again.
My friend, you sound very Buddhist - the word is "equanimity"! You write,
'The arena of “not knowing” and accepting it if it’s uncomfortable, is hell for me. Yet, what can I do? Right now, I am so grateful for my aparment, my beautiful new home....
Exactement!!
PS - just loved living in Paris and still miss it!