in memory of allyson

"I am a tear of the sun." --Lawrence Ferlinghetti from the poem, "Autobiography"

While traveling this week, I learned that a young friend & coworker of mine died suddenly due to complications with a brain aneurysm. It is so hard to understand when anyone dies, but especially those who seem to go "too soon." Allyson Thrift would have turned 34 years old tomorrow. Today I dedicated my journey and adventures to her. It was a day filled with tears and delight. I hope she would have liked it. These are for you, Ally.

stained glass at notre dame

saint joan d'arc

the center candle was lit for allyson at notre dame (next to joan d'arc)

silhouette at pere lachaise

sunset over the seine

paris musing #5...don't make the louvre gods angry or...

...how the Venus de Milo got revenge.

It was Monday morning and most museums in town were closed except for the Louvre. It would be crowded, but Tess and I had our plan. We called it “the bullet approach.” We had mapped out the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo. We would arrive early on our direct bus route (after, of course, stopping off at Jean Millet for croissants and café au lait). Our museum passes in hand, we would “shoot” in and out and save the rest for another time.

We were excited, giddy even, like two kids who were about to do something naughty. Everything was going according to plan. There was a line by the pyramid for ticket purchases, but the guard pointed to our special entrance…no lines…no waiting. Perfect. We were in! We picked up our museum guide (just in case) and headed up the stairs. Before we could even prepare ourselves, there she was…Venus de Milo…in all her glory.

I reached in my bag for my camera, hit the power button and it was at that exact moment that Venus decided to get her revenge for even considering “the bullet approach”. Like a slow motion film clip, the camera started to slip through my fingers. I reached too late and heard the crash of metal against granite. Not a pretty sound. Quelle horreur!! The camera hit the hard floor just as the lens was opening and just like that (in the blink of an eye; the slip of a hand) my photo taking adventure had come to an end.

It was a sad, sad moment. Frustrating. Maddening. An attempt to dampen my sense of humor, mais non (but no). With Tess’ handy camera in tow, we completed our “bullet” tour (even adding Winged Victory) although the timing was slowed down a bit due to much pushing of buttons and fiddling with lens to see if we could get the camera to work again.

"What next?" you might ask. “ From where have all the photos continued to come?” Well, the ones you see here were taken with Tess’ camera. We spent the rest of our morning in search of 1) a camera repair shop and/or 2) a camera store. It definitely led us to parts of Paris we had not intended to visit and we met several helpful people along the way who we would not have met otherwise. We kept reminding each other that every day is perfect in it’s own way!!!

Repairs for my simple camera would take 3 or 4 WEEKS! However, the earnest young saleswoman who spoke no English would not give up and called in 'back up' to help with my camera issues. Between the four of us (Tess, one sort of English-speaking salesgirl, one French-speaking and me), I am now the proud owner of the new generation of my broken camera. It uses the same battery and digital cartridge thus allowing me to miss only the shots in the museum (which Tess covered) and the ones along the way during our camera hunt through Paris.

Crazy stuff. Again feeling blessed in so many funny little ways. I am glad to share this with you and very glad to be able to continue photographing this delightful journey!!! One word of warning, however...if you ever decide the visit the Louvre consider carefully how you will approach it. Arms or no, Venus has amazing power!!!

And, just one more thing…Mona Lisa did NOT disappoint, but that’s another story ☺!

why paris?...musing #4

Tess asked me yesterday why it is that I was so drawn to Paris to come on this grand adventure. Initially I said, "I don't know." We then talked about how if we do have "other lives" then I think at some point in time I was French. I have thought that in some way most of my life. As a little girl (and now a grown up one), I discovered that my family has very little knowledge of our ancestry or heritage. And so I have often felt quite assured (by myself at least) that someone in my long history came from France.

When I started "creating" a couple of years ago in the "Awakening the Creative Spirit" program we were asked to write about our muse and this is the poem that popped out of me. Hmmmm...

My inner poet is French. Tipped beret and Mona Lisa smile. Her voice rings out with playful laughter, her arms wide open, leaping into darkness and light. She is beautiful and earnest. Seductive and serious. She was born on the wings of angels and birthed out of pain and suffering. I recognize her in the first morning light by the gentle shores of the sea. She is bathed in God’s fragrance and surrounded by belief. What does this inner poet know for sure? She is light. She is dark. Complete and unfinished. A creature of God. A glorious paradox. This poet lives hidden from sight. Covered in blue scarves and white. Peeking through the window and knocking on the door. She lives at home inviting others to come and sit by her fire. Her imagination is infinite. She dreams of knowing and being known, of embracing and being embraced. She desires community, fellowship, peace and solitude. She must speak of everything. The resonant and the dissonant. The beauty and the depravity. The joy and the sorrow. The fullness of life and the darkness of death. She sits on the sidewalks of Life, holding a thin cigarette and dreaming her dreams. Her voice speaks in a beautiful accent. Tipped beret and all-knowing smile. My inner poet is a romantic. She is French.

Last night as I was trying to wind down after another fabulous day, I considered Tess' question again and thought "how could I not be drawn to Paris?" It has all of my favorite things right here (except, of course, my dear family and friends.)

The art is amazing. There is beauty everywhere you look; whether in architecture, God's greatness or "real art." Water...it flows through the city in the form of the Seine and periodically falls from the sky to wash everything clean. You can walk everywhere and even in the midst of this large international city, it feels like a neighborhood. This has become home for me in just a few days. There are great buses and who knows maybe I will revive my bus stories while here. Oh, and the food...beautiful, interesting, delicious and sometimes a little scary. I could go on and on, but I will stop with this one confirmation that I am supposed to be here. Paris is the City of Lights and for those of you who don't know it, Lucy means Light!! How perfect is that?

I just wanted to share this little morning musing with you. Once again I am waiting for Tess to arrive so we can go for our cafe au lait and croissant (more later about this fabulous little spot we have found.)

I hope you have a wonderful day today! I know I will!!! Au revoir!!

(more at lucy creates!!!)

les deux magots--paris musings #3

"This cafe still trades on its self-styled reputation as the rendezvous of the literary and intellectual elite of the city. This derives from the patronage of Surrealist artists and young writers including Ernest Hemingway in the 1920's and 1930's, and existential philosophers and writers in the 1950's." Today they were able to add two great writers of the 21st Century to the list...guess who? drum roll please...lucy (c'est moi) and Tess!!!

Yes, it is true. The two friends who met in the blogosphere well over a year ago were united today in glorious, sunny, fabulous Paris. Hugs were exchanged amidst astonishment that we were actually in each other's presence. Waiting for a table at the very busy cafe, we commented on the amazingly chic hostess and the waiters dressed in tuxedos pouring wine and Evian for the wide array of customers. We sat inside at a great window seat with a French father, mother, daughter and little white bulldog beside us. (No poodles in sight.) It was all so Parisienne.

After lunch, we made our way to the Seine where Tess had her first look ever at the magic river. We continued our walk along the quai where we strolled next to the infamous "Left Bank booksellers." Our next stop Saint Chapelle with it's amazing stained glass windows depicting over 1100 scenes from the Bible. Breathtaking to say the least!!!

Finally we hopped on the local bus back to the rue Cler area (my home away from home) where we picked up Tess' luggage and strolled past the Eiffel tower to find her hotel in the 5th arrondissement. Making my way back, I stopped at the local pastry shop to pick up my dinner of Salmon tartine and Framboise Tartelette. Vie, c'est bon! (Life is good!!)

Time to say bon soir. Tess and I are meeting for breakfast in the morning and a visit to the Musee d'Orsay...and who knows what else? Stay tuned for more...

(be sure to check out lucy creates for pictoral updates!!!)

friday top ten--musings from paris #2

coming up the stairs from the metro to see sunshine, the seine & notre dame. breathtaking!

the sheer holiness of notre dame. i carried a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes as i wandered slowly, listened to the haunting music and offered up prayers for friends and family.

ile st. louis...all of it! the scarf shop. the sandwich. lunch by the seine.

watching the eiffel tower "dance" in the clear night sky. (once it is fully lit, there is a light show every few moments. spectacular! i had to pinch myself to know i was really there. (actually i have been doing that ever since i got here. i will be black & blue for sure!)

the magical spinning of the carousels. i know there is a horse with my name on it waiting to meet me ☺.

being mistake twice in one evening as a French person ☺.

English conversation on the train with the two college girls from america.

sweet white wine and fromage quiche in the afternoon.

listening to the soundtrack of 'once' while viewing pictures of the day.

my cozy little apartment and the wonderful comfy bed next to the red cyclamen i purchased at my neighborhood flower market!