Bonjour… SOME THINGS ARE STRICTLY FOR FUN

I have a bucket list and one of the things on that list is a summer in Paris. I’ve been there once before but only for four short days which is not nearly long enough to explore all the wonderful back streets, book stores and cafe’s. During that four days I fell in love with the city and it’s people.  Of course I vowed to come back and spend a much longer time.

On that first trip, I expected to see great works of art and historical sites, but what I didn’t anticipate was the warmth and friendliness of the French people. When we stopped to ask directions, one young lady walked with us for five blocks to assure we’d find the right metro.  In a fractured version of the handful of tourist phrases I’d learned before we went, I asked for directions, she laughed and answered me in English.  The truth is that most of the people in Paris do speak English, but they are very appreciative when you at least try to converse in their own language. Parisians are justifiably proud of their city and their language; so when a tourist shows the respect of trying to speak French, they reap great rewards.

We are planning another trip to Paris next spring or summer and I am truly looking forward to it. Last time I learned only a few of the more common tourist questions, but this time I am determined to speak to these charming in a more fluent tongue.  I have downloaded a Rosetta Stone program and am now studying French. I can already identify a cat dog, boy man , girl woman, car newspaper. I’m on a roll!

With long work days and endless hours of editing, it may seem like this is one extra thing I need not do; but the truth is I’m doing it for the fun of it. It is challenging, but rewarding. Learning something new is a great stimulator for the brain. It keeps your gray matter a more colorful pink and has you feeling a WOW sense of accomplishment each time you complete a lesson and move to the next one. The truth is I’m loving it.

I loved the metro, not only did it take you to where you were going, but so cool to look at.

I hope you continue to visit with me and enjoy these stories as I start off on another new venture. Just hang on tight, because it’s sure to be a wild ride.

I guess the truth is that you can teach an old dog new tricks, and the fun part is I’m begging for more!