Flower Show

The gardening equipment was gorgeous.

A Parisian Flower & Plant Market

Today we left early to go capture the sights, sounds, scent and energy of Paris! First on our list was to go to a plant and flower show just outside of the outskirts of Paris at Manson Saint-Jean de Beauregard. It was a beautiful warm day and everyone was out enjoying the weather and snapping up deals!

Our balcony

It's wonderful to sit outside & have our breakfast in the morning looking out over the Paris rooftops.

Good Morning Par-ee !

Bon Jour-

The flight was.....well, let's put it this way, I'm here!

As the taxi brought us in from CDG, we were crossing the Seine and there she stood...the Eiffel tower all lit up seeming to welcome us to Paris!

We slept with our balcony doors flung wide open all night and woke to birdsong in the morning!

. The birds know it is Spring in Paris!!! There must of been hundreds of finches & chickadees in our little hotel courtyard.

Blossoms

Blossoms are all around me today. Late yesterday afternoon after I finished packing, I poured myself a glass of wine and went outside to water my lovely little potted flowers. It was a beautiful Spring evening and walking around my garden always has a soothing effect on me. I pay attention to the details. I notice what needs my attention, what's beginning to bloom, I listen and watch the birds, I notice the light changing color and I mentally plan what changes I might make in the garden or in my life. It's a transitioning time between a busy day and getting ready for evening.

Today however, I am trying to embrace this fear I have of flying.  An old habitual fear? Or maybe I'm just overwhelmed with the idea of the chaos of traveling in general? Or the notion of uncertainty?  But whatever it is, I need to examine it and embrace it.  As Pema Chodron says " We are all very familiar with the experience of fear escalating, or the experience of running away from fear. But have we ever taken the time to truly touch our fear, to be present with it and experience it fully?  Do we know what it might mean to smile at fear?"

Today I will walk on that plane with a smile!

I know I have used this quote before but it seems especially appropriate today......

"And the day came when the risk it took to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."  --Anais Nin

Travel

Why is traveling such a mixed bag? It's exciting to plan and shop for your trip as well as read about all of the places you want to visit. But then a little fear slips in, a little homesickness (even though you haven't even left yet). Maybe it's more of a "what will I miss while I'm gone....the roses will just begin their first bloom and the Wisteria too, I'll miss opening day of baseball, how about what's going on with friends and family, oh and I'll definitely miss my home and Mr. B and my lovely friends, my doggies and my painting classes...... 

 I proceed to not sleep at night because I am worrying about the flight (I'm a very nervous flyer) and I wonder if I'll get to see and do everything on my list. Then... when I'm just about ready to POP, I'll get on that airplane and spend an uncomfortable 19 hours in flight & hauling luggage around airports. 

Then I'll arrive at my destination just giddy with anticipation! I'm here!! I love it! I've left  behind the cooking and cleaning, the bills and laundry, dental appointments and errands. For a few days or weeks I'll have no real schedule. I'll live in the present and enjoy every second! When it's time to head home, I'll be a little disappointed that I didn't go to every museum, park, restaurant or shop that I wanted to. I'll cry a little because I'm excited to see my family and friends but disappointed that the party is over.....at least for awhile.  Does this ever happen to you? I guess that's why I keep going back to Paris. Because I'll never see or experience it all! How wonderful is that?



Sacre Coeur from the d'Orsay



"Fear is a natural reaction to moving closer to the truth" — Pema Chödrön