Hardest two days ever

The last two days in Paris were thick with emotion. In the short time I have been in France I have come to love the country of my great-grandfather. I wonder why he left such a wonderful place where he had such deep roots. I guess the grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence. I am thankful he did come to the US because I am thankful to be going home to the US. I told my friend Anna last night I will cry on the plane about leaving France and the friends I have made here. It's normal, I have been through it before. Leaving and saying goodbye are always hard. But this time there seems to be something different. Maybe I will figure it out maybe not. I felt it when I first got here. I felt a very deep with France and the French people.

Thursday I packed. I have excess baggage and it is always easier to send it back Fed Ex. It took me a while to get three boxes ready. I moved most everything from my closet to my suitcases except the clothes I was going to wear on the plane. I filled out the forms and put the boxes down at the front desk for pick up.

Later on I headed out to the perfume store I had been in a couple of days before when I asked about a particular scent I was looking for. It was closed by the time I got there. My client had called while I was walking there about coming over for a drink. They were at a place not far from work we lunched at a few times. I hung out with them and we chatted about many things not about work. I told them how much I loved France and how I was going to cry on the plane tomorrow. One of the gentlemen told me how at another company he worked for the people from the US could not wait to be out of France. I don't get it, how could someone even think that. We finished our drinks and I headed off to dinner.

We have a regular place we have used as a meeting place and watering hole called Les Agapes. As I walked over that way I soaked in the sights and smells of a walk I had made many times. I saw the Taxi stand, the rental bikes and the cat on a leash. We have seen this cat many times out with the man and woman who own her. As I approached Agapes I could feel it coming. I felt the tears start to flow. I had to stop a couple of times pull my self back. One of the owners of Les Agapes Joel has been so sweet to me. We went from the French air kisses on each cheek to one day he decided to kiss me on the lips. It has continued that way until tonight when I came in and did the air kisses. I could barely speak tonight let alone speak in French. I knew this was going to be my last meal in Paris. Tears were flowing freely now and he sat me at my table. I was at such a loss for words especially French words to tell him I am going home. I called one of my friends to explain to him what was up. He knows this women. I met her when I first arrived and she speaks French and English.

I had very nice dinner with some mushrooms in a garlic cream sauce. Yummy! For the main course I ordered the calamari. See the picture.

I was lucky there was only one other customer in the place so it was a perfect night to be there and not worry about everyone seeing me so upset. I was eating and I heard Bob Marley's No Woman No Cry come on the music he keeps behind the bar. Joel came over and said he put it on for me. More tears.

For dessert I ordered a little chocolate cake that was warm and has melted chocolate inside. Joel's daughter Melanie who is the chef brought it to me. She said "Chocolate is good for morale" I knew she was right from the first bite. It was a perfect dessert for my last night in Paris.

I gathered my self up and kissed Joel goodbye. As he was seeing me out the door I snapped our picture with my iPhone.















I had a wonderful last evening in Paris.