Flying from Paris to Seattle means going back in time nine hours, as noon in Seattle is 9 p.m. in Paris. We left Paris in the afternoon, the sun never went down, it simply got more brilliant. Wish I could say that about myself.
Nor did I get any younger traveling backward in time. Perhaps a good thing.
As I gazed out the window at the endless expanse of white cumulus clouds, the wonder of it brought a peacefulness to surround me. The ice crystals on the window were exquisite. They glittered delicately as the air rushed around the plane.
Nutella, the chocolate hazelnut cream, is very popular in Paris. I sure get that, I don’t keep it my house as a jar is gone in a day. I had not seen Nutella B-ready treats before. O la la! A crunchy delight. I munched on a couple of them as I gazed blissfully through the ice crystals at the soft white expanse.
As the plane shifted direction a bit, the sun moved a tad more to the other side of the plane. In watching the ice crystals, I noticed the wing of the plane looked like a shark. A shark in the sky. Stay with me here.
What do you think?
Time on the plane with no responsibilities other than staying in my seat. My mind drifted, dozed, wondered, and remembered all the wonders of France. Of Paris. Of Chartres. Of Langres. Of reconnecting with my French cousins. Gathering all I could about Denis Diderot, my grandparents, the American soldiers in the Haute-Marne district during WWI (thanks to an amazing, dedicated man, Franck Besch, who has gathered so much information, artifacts and memorabilia for the museum he created and maintains in Marac, ‘Le Petit Musee du Doughboy’), and the ramparts around Langres.
Sparkling ice flakes, a shark, peace, connection to my family. What more could I ask?
Thanks for reading!
Yes, you can follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, and f/b. My novel-in-progress is set in Langres. O la la, I am planning the next trip.
Shirley Routliffe
October 11, 2023 at 6:15 pmLove this Mary! I will be in touch with you soon. Thank you for your email.
Mary
October 11, 2023 at 6:20 pmShirl! You are the best.
Terra Lea Dennis
October 11, 2023 at 6:28 pmCan’t wait to catch up! Glad your trip was all you wanted!
Mary
October 11, 2023 at 6:33 pmSo much, Terra Lea. Thank you~ Do I have pictures!
Naomi Wark
October 11, 2023 at 7:54 pmAnother beautiful piece. Thanks for sharing and thus, helping to make my day.
Mary
October 11, 2023 at 9:15 pmMy privilege, Naomi. Merci beaucoup~
Judy Ridge
October 11, 2023 at 9:33 pmEnjoyed the piece. Always enjoy reading your writing. So glad you had a wonderful time.
Mary
October 12, 2023 at 8:42 amThank you much, Judy. Best to you, and Lucia of course~
LYNDA CONDON
October 12, 2023 at 6:57 amDearest Mary, So happy you could go back to France and make so many connections and memories! Those long plane flight certainly don’t make us feel younger when we go back in time 🙁 Enjoy hearing about your adventures! Love and hugs, Lynda
Mary
October 12, 2023 at 8:44 amBlessing to you, thank you Lynda. You have your pilgrimage coming up, another long flight. We’ll have to compare notes! Safe and wondrous travels to you.
Aletha Jean Riter
October 13, 2023 at 5:32 amYes, as always, I too enjoy your writings…I am anxiously waiting for your novel, so I can see what you saw in your eyes. Shark…or maybe the back of a dragon?
Mary
October 13, 2023 at 8:43 amYay, thank you Aletha. Things we see in the sky way above the earth!
Donna M Rudiger
October 14, 2023 at 6:15 pmWelcome Home! Thanks for another inspiring message! Looking forward to hearing more stories as your writing adventure unfolds!
Mary
October 14, 2023 at 8:35 pmMerci beaucoup~ Our adventures!
Michelle Twigg
October 18, 2023 at 7:52 pmOh!!!! So that postcard really was from France! It had gotten a little water stained so it was hard to tell. So happy you got a chance to go back and reconnect with family. Glad you had safe travels and hope to see you soon ♥️
Mary
October 20, 2023 at 10:45 amThank you, Michelle. I bet you are getting ready for winter up there. Best to you~~