E.T. and the Writing Workshop

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.

Darn.
Oh well.

Paris we love you!

See you next Friday...

Life Essentials - Clean Dishes / Dry Clothes

We've experienced two things in Ireland and now France which a typical American lifestyle doesn't always accommodate.
These are things which are completely optional, which are known to happen and are not shocking to your average American,
but...when you look around you, it's just generally not done.

Washing your dishes by hand.
Every night.


Air drying your clothes.
on dryer racks
or outside (preferable).
everything.
sheets, socks
and underwear included.


IOW - no electricity is consumed for either activity.
Inconceivable.

Oh, but it's true, madame!

#1
Washing Dishes
Together

for our family this has come to mean spending time
Together

Often it's crazy and I just wish I could throw
the dishes in the dishwasher -
like last night.

But most of the time
if I'm organized...
we go straight from dinner to the dishes

it's a rhythm
the children have come to expect

and this makes it easier
to get them to do it...
because
it's just what you do...
you know?

dinner
dishes
shower
bed

or some variation
thereof.

unless
homework has not been finished.

A recent revelation this year
was the fact that the two oldest kids
ten and twelve
are old enough to WASH and DRY
so I can go and do other things...

oh why didn't I think of that sooner?
(I was too busy doing it myself)


et voilà

REVELATION!!

The next and more beautiful benefit of this
SERVICE TO THE FAMILY
has been to discover that

Elijah

loves to wash dishes


if that's where his brother and sister are...



actually
he loves to wash dishes no matter
who
is washing with him.

and he has his vinyl covered apron
with Irish cows and sheep
to prove it!


and it keeps him dry!

but to see them interact with him
is so beautiful.

Many beautiful moments are created
in the course of

washing dishes
together.

For this -
I am very grateful.

#2
Drying clothes.
We don't have a dryer.
Neither do the neighbors...
except the neighbor down the hill
(in Ireland)
who runs a B&B
B&B owners MUST have a dryer
but not anyone else.

And so it is

in Ireland and France.

Much more mundane.
but
as with the dishes

essential
critical to life

dry clothes.

and
as with the dishes
getting the kids to participate
has been

beautiful to watch
critical to life

theirs
and mine
and ours.

To know that the wind
doesn't just

mess up our hair or
blow down our fences

(though it does
power our sailboats-
most critical if you're a sailor
which I am
(was)
as a teenager)

but

it dries our clothes
and is

fresh
and beautiful.

I love hanging laundry.
It makes me slow down.
It makes me pause

to enjoy my children.

and even though I sometimes miss the
convenience
of the machine dryer

I'm still glad
I don't have one
because...

I have to stop.

and the clothes still
need
to
be
dry
.

And so we hang them
and breathe deeply,
smiling.

a walk in the woods...

Yesterday morning, Elijah and I took a little walk

through the woods near our house.

Autumn is here...
and we've been enjoying ourselves.

heading down the road we stop
to enjoy
the old railroad station
from the bridge...

just feet from our house.

E loves the bridges
and moving water...

and on we go
over the river
and through the woods...

I love the cobblestones...
under the tarmac.

and the doors...


and the signs
telling us the season is turning...

onward we go
into the woods...

Lusciously smooth brown chestnuts popping
out of their prickly seed pods...
oh boy!

Autumn is here...
though in Paris it's still warm, except
when you're standing by the rushing brook,
feeling the cool air
rush through narrow spaces creating
negative ions.
freshness.
life.
vitality.

The forest of Verrières
is so beautiful
le bois de Verrières
est si belle

the way back home...

back home...