Paris and Then Poof

I know that I promised more details of Paris, but there isn't always time for memories. There are times when I try to figure out life. How life doesn't like to be known, it likes to be experienced. And in these times when you're a little lost it's good to step back and remember what led you to the spot in the woods, because in doing that you allow yourself to find your way back out of the woods.

I'm in love with a woman, her name is Laura. There isn't a single way to describe her. I woke up to her everyday and everyday I knew I was blessed. Like all couples we fought from time to time but in the end I knew I had someone special in her. Her eyes never failed to make me smile and the Jersey Italian in her made me laugh even when I was being yelled at. She knew me, better than she knew let on at first. I always had to be better, I always had to be true to the words that came so easily. And I succeeded. It's hard to understand why this was so important to me, except that deep down inside it is what I needed and I always knew this. Always.

I can't tell you how lucky I felt the more I realized that she was the one. She pushed me to be greater. And when I thought I had succeeded she kept telling me it was just the beginning and it was time to push harder. It's not that nothing was ever good enough for her, it was that she saw so much greatness in me that she wouldn't let me settle for the little things. She wanted to be great and she knew what I was capable of and demanded that I meet the next challenge.

When things went wrong, and really it was one thing that is big and needs to be addressed by me, she held me accountable and left me. It's weird, because I hate it and yet love it at the same time. I don't like that I was always able to talk my way out of things especially because I couldn't stop myself at times. I'm not certain that Laura really broke up with me. I know it sounds delusional yet in spending time with her afterwards (we were living together), I see a lot of confusion in her eyes and heart. It is a challenge, a call to be the man I am supposed to be. If I succeed I might, MIGHT, get to be with her again. Fail and I will be fail myself, her, and us.

So here I am, deep in the woods and having trouble finding the path I need to travel. I know my way back and when I turn and look and see I feel a certain comfort in the way things were. I smile to myself and shake my head. Even though I'm having trouble with the path, I'd rather keep going deeper and find the better part of my life.

Paris- Reflecting on the City of Lights

Paris Day 1

Traveling has always been my passion. I'm curious by nature and I thrive on the challenge of finding a new path. I get lost along the way, but that only feeds into the adventurer in my heart. Laura and I had a late night flight, that way when we woke up we'd be in Paris. At least that was the plan. Of course we had some babies on the flight, in fact there was one right behind Laura who cried for about four hours straight! Naturally I did the honorable thing and I fell asleep. Granted I was getting over a cold, and that statement does not make me sound any more manly.

I did let her have the window seat and I did occasionally exchange annoyed looks with her. That's some contemporary chivalry right there.

When we final got to Paris and Charles Du Galle Airport we were privy to that stellar French security. There was a guy who gave stamps. And a sign pointing towards the exit. That is all.

Once we got past the Great Wall of....signs in French....we made our way to the real security of Paris, the subway system. I had always had an easy time using the subway system before, but there is this one station called "Chalet Les-Halles", and every time throughout the trip when we got off there we got lost. Every. Fricking. Time. "Sortie" means "Exit" in French. Or maybe mission in military terms. Either way we took it as a way to get out and go up to the street level. Too bad we never made it there.

Imagine a scenario if you will. Pretend you didn't get any sleep on the plane. Pretend there was an irritable baby behind you that the mother was ignoring. Then imagine lugging two suitcases around on no sleep. Also picture a multi level subway that doesn't have any type of escalator system for irritable Americans and you get 35 minutes of happy time success. Then you finally get out and find your way to the hotel and you remember that your room is on the Fourth (Read Fifth) floor. And the stairs are narrow. And there isn't an elevator. And you're stupid enough to try and carry both at the same time. Not my shiniest moment. Then, nap time.

After a couple of hours of glorious sleep we finally got the chance to roam the city. Laura and I walked the river and took in the sights of the City of Light. Dinner was simple Tartines, which is just an open face sandwich with cheese on it. And man was that DE-licious! Holy crap do the French know how to bake bread. It never ceases to amaze me. We also had a cheese plate which meant our dinner was really just bread with some meat on it and a whole lot of cheese. Friday ended up being an early night for us due to tiredness and so we headed back to our hotel room to sleep...

Since I didn't do this as it came I'll have to write up some blogs over the next few days. I'll be posting them as the week progresses!