I've been trying to encourage an interest in photography.
He's not biting.
But he did take this photo.
It's great, don't you think?
Technically, I couldn't speak as to whether or not this is the case.
But my aesthetics tell me it's a good one.
Artsy?
Avante garde?
Do I even know what that means?
Or just plain cool.
What is curious to me is that I was driving when he took the photo. He was sitting directly behind me as I handed him the camera and casually said, as we were approaching the Eiffel Tower,
"hey, why don't you take some photos..."
I was hoping something inside him would spark.
He took this photo first.
Then I quickly glanced back and realized that he was shooting through the window...
Inside, I'm thinking:
"This was not what I had in mind, dear son!"
...so I suggested he put down the window.
And of course with my handy-dandy multi-window car controls,
I rolled down his window myself, after which he continued to take a few more photos:
These were all taken in order and
you can decide for yourself...
They're nice
but I'd say his first shot was the best.
It's interesting.
It has character.
It captures light,
the speed we were driving,
and
it has a sense of magic to it.
Those last three?
Standard. Lovely and still cool but
standard.
I took from this a lesson.
My son had an inclination.
Granted, he took the photos because I asked him.
But HOW he took them was a decision he alone determined.
Until I inserted my opinion,
or rather, my expectation on how
he should do something,
(take photos 'out the window')
(I never said 'roll the window down-before you take them...')
It's Mother's Day in the US today. Here in France I send my mother, Vera, the very best Mother's Day wish I can muster from thousands of miles away and in front of a virtual audience.
My mother is the best mother
Anyone could ever wish for.
I know this because
I've watched her make sacrifices for me,
All of my life.
First, most important but only the beginning,
She gave me life.
She was a thoughtful mother...
Which is something I appreciate now as an adult mother...
Trying to be conscious myself.
She is a loving wife,
She is a loving soul.
She is a wonderful Nana
to her grandchildren.
She is passionate.
She loves the earth.
She loves nature and hiking.
She loves sustainability.
She loves Goodwill.
;-)
She brought with her a heritage I am proud of
Not only a fascinating history of Russian, Swiss and Welsh ancestry...
I just have to say that I have the best kids ever!
Ever! Do you know what they did tonight? They were thoughtful, kind and great hosts... I was SO impressed with them tonight!
Let me tell you about it:
Our friends from Ireland, Zélie, and her two kids, Aaron and Inés, who recently moved to Paris, came for their first visit to our house this evening. We had just finished a walk around the neighborhood and showing them around, when it was getting dark and it was time to wrap up the evening.
As we entered the kitchen for a brief sit down before they left, Joshua and Sasha, who had made crêpes for breakfast this morning and had leftovers, offered to cook some up! Who would turn down homemade crêpes by Joshua and Sasha? So Sasha turned on the stove, cooked up the crêpe itself and Joshua dressed the crêpe with a very old family favorite:
le crêpe citron - butter, sugar and lemon.
I watched them as they organized themselves, as they served Zélie and her kids, making sure it was just they way she wanted it,
and I was just so impressed, and so proud.
Maybe I'm being presumptious, but...
It warmed my heart tremendously to think that they really are watching us, and they really are learning ...even when we're not paying attention.
Oh, the pressure. Not really.
Just a reminder. To be aware...
that while they learn about the world
from the perspective of their
own individual and
unique selves
our impact as parents is tremendous.
and we do them a disservice to underestimate this.
I have long believed that we are the lense through which our children learn to see the world.
We drove in to Paris Friday night to take Joshua to a writing workshop for kids age 12+ at the American Library, which as it happens, is a block from the Eiffel Tower! As we drove in, we passed this incredibly cool Art Nouveau builting just as we were about to turn the corner to park at the Library. I had to walk back down the street and take some photos! After a little online research I discovered that this is called the Lavirotte Building, designed by architect Jules Lavirotte, and is one of 9 of his buildings in the 7th arrondissement. It was built between 1899-1901. The photos just don't do it justice:
As I turned around to meet meet up with the family who had already entered the Library, this was the view which greeted me:
Dropping Joshua off at the Library for his class, we crossed the street to enter the park, the Champ de Mars where lies the Eiffel Tower. It was about 7pm on a Friday night. His class was only two hours and I didn't realize we had a little treat waiting for us. It was simple, it was sweet, and if I hadn't been paying attention, I would have missed it.
Walking through the park, I marveled at the activity at the foot of this world renowned monument. People picnicking in the mood of the Friday night end-of-week/beginning of weekend joviality, two guys, literally, walking a tight rope on a strap they tied between two trees and the guys selling their miniature Eiffel Tower key rings on huge metal rings, making them stand out a mile off.
Walking up the path toward the Tower, it struck me, how on a Friday night at the end of September, this place was still packed...the line to get into the Tower was still a mile long, folding on itself multiple times until they reach ticket counter.
We wander up to the Tower, under it and through to the other side. It was all very simple. We headed straight for the carousel and crêpe stand on other side of the street. The festive mood reached even across the street. Such a funny guy, looking high above him, with food in his mouth, swinging his arms...the Eiffel Tower is E's moniker for "Paris"....while driving to Paris...he's looking for the E.T.!
It couldn't be helped. This was Paris, after all.
As twilight approached and the sun set the lights of the Eiffel Tower came on
I buy some crêpes
and I look over to Paul who had just purchased tickets for Elijah to ride the carousel.
Joy Beauty Sweet and Simple
All this even despite the Angry Crêpe Guy, who really was just ready for a career change. So I didn't take it personally. Angry crêpe guy's associate kindly gave me my savory crêpe for free. He understood.
So I go back to my family with my free crêpe and share.
Night is falling Festive mood ensues All is well.
Happy children decent crêpe Carousel rides.
Under the Eiffel Tower, I played with my husband, daughter and son as the sun went down [while the other son is being intellectually enlightened]. The lights take on a dramatic feel as the sun sets and the sky blue of the day turns to dark indigo, then black.
Set against the night sky, the Tower is so striking. Awesome. If you think about it, it's really just a pile of iron. Oh but really, the magic, the awe it's tremendous.
I saw people taking photos of themselves with the tower in a way that previously hadn't occurred to me. I thought, oh why not! Being a generally modest person, I didn't do things like this, but hey, this was Paris and I was at the Eiffel Tower! So I took a photo of myself against the Tower! Then I grabbed Sasha! Magic...I could feel the joy in the moment. I loved my daughter so much! This was one of those grab moments. Take it before it's gone.
Back to the carousel, we jump on, trade off with the little guy for his 5th ride! He knew the joy, and needed no words.
Trading back and forth, I'm now waiting and watching Paul and E going around and around. Sasha was chasing them around the carousel while it spun, the night was falling and the magical carousel had us under it's spell.
Almost time to return to pick up our big brother in his writing workshop. We begin to head back, walking under the Tower once again, the line and crowds as long and packed as ever.
As we get to the other side and by now it's dark, I'm struck again at how many people are still picnicking at the foot of the Tower, and they're not necessarily the same people as before!
Some came prepared for the mood. We passed a couple with a little candle on their blanket as they ate their dinner.
This must be Paris. And this fact gets by no one.
As we leave the Tower and park behind us, we return to the Library to find Joshua having thoroughly enjoyed his writing workshop. The teacher was a published author and walked the kids through the process of finding their topic, and researching their subject. We didn't know when we dropped him off if this would be a one time thing or not. We were thrilled to discover that he really liked it and wanted to return.
I guess this means we'll have to come back next Friday.
