Valentine to France
Cindy on February 12th, 2009
“The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time.” — James Taylor, American songwriter
Traveling in provincial France and Paris for our 25th anniversary, my husband and I had a rare chance to observe a lifestyle noticeably different from our own. The best souvenirs we brought back home weren’t the trinkets we’d collected from museum shops, but the sweet lessons we gleaned in French cafés. I’m sharing my “French lessons” in this Thursday’s Midpoint column in The Oakland Press.
– Click here for last week’s introductory “Midpoint” column. –
February 12th, 2009 at 10:26 am
I so enjoyed your article. Oh to have a romance with ordinary life, to find love and peace at a Cafe pace. I’m definitely keeping my eyes open for a Cafe sign as well, the perfect reminder.
February 13th, 2009 at 6:00 am
What a perfect reminder to “be” – not just “do” – heading into the weekend and time with family. Cindy, your words transported me to the French cafe in my mind – and I thank you!
February 13th, 2009 at 10:02 am
Cindy, I love your observations about life in France — and your quotation from James Taylor is one of my absolute favorites. Thanks for the smile!
February 13th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
Sounds like a wonderful time, you captured it perfectly. Such good points about savouring the moment!
February 16th, 2009 at 1:59 am
We loved lingering over a drink at the streetside cafes in Paris, too.
I also noticed the warm affection (evidenced by the physical closeness of things like friends strolling arm-in-arm) that you mentioned in your newspaper article in both Paris and the Basque country where we traveled there several years ago.
February 16th, 2009 at 8:47 am
Thanks for your nice comments, everyone! Here in Royal Oak, we’re lucky enough to have quite a few sidewalk cafes where you can eat, drink, and people-watch. (A sure sign of summer is when they open up for the first time on a warm day!) My neighbors and I are vowing to meet more often at those places this year … can’t wait for summer. Viva La Royal Oak! — Cindy La Ferle