Paris Journal 2009 – Barbara Joy Cooley Home: barbarajoycooley.com
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Well, things could be
better. I had a bad fall
yesterday. The last two times I fell
it was my fault; I was wearing inappropriate shoes while taking down sound
equipment and carrying it to our minivan over not-so-smooth turf. This time, it was not my fault
at all. A cheap stepstool was made
with particle board on top, covered by laminate so one could not see that it
was particle board, and the screws used to fasten the particle board to the
frame were the wrong kind and were too short.
Someone should sue the manufacturer, but I guess it won’t be me. I was using the step stool
appropriately and carefully, to put clean sheets away on a very high shelf on
Friday night. The top came off of the
step stool right under my feet. I was
fortunate not to be hurt more than I am, but this is bad enough. Today, all day, I’ve felt like I was in a
car wreck yesterday. On the bright side, I’ve
lamented the size of my upper arms for years – they beefed up from all the
long-distance swimming that I do – but now I am so thankful for all that
muscle. It is the reason why my upper
arms are not broken. They’re just very
badly bruised, and one of them has a stab wound in it where an errant screw
went in. Other injuries include
something akin to whiplash and a very sore right hip. At least I did NOT bash my head in or break
my teeth or glasses. I should have gone to the
emergency room, but who wants to spend Friday night in a big city in the
emergency room? Today, Tom rose to the
occasion and did the lion’s share of the housecleaning and packing and hauling
of suitcases. We’ve moved over to the
apartment in the 6th arrondissement. Now he’s taking a much-deserved nap. I did what I could today, which
amounted to spurts of activity and intervals of rest, flat on my back. Before that Friday night
disaster, we had a nice dinner at La Gauloise. We made a reservation, were treated like
royalty, and consumed the daily special –
tender, tasty bits of beef “onglet” cooked on a brochette with peppers
and onion. I indulged in a moelleaux au chocolat and Tom had the
assorted dessert plate. When the cleaning and packing
was all over with today, Tom left me on the ground floor with the three
suitcases, two briefcases, and assorted bags while he went to find a
taxi. This, we’ve learned, is easier
and more efficient than calling for a taxi on the phone. Soon he had returned with a
friendly driver and his air conditioned taxi.
We don’t really need air conditioning today – it is a gorgeous 73
degrees outside. But still it was nice
and peaceful, driving across the 15th, 14th, and 6th
on the rue Vaugirard, in a cool taxi with soft classical music playing on its
stereo. We arrived on the rue Canivet,
and our driver was enthusiastic about the address. When he peeked inside the courtyard as we
pulled all of our luggage through the ancient, large doorway, he told me that
it was very pretty here. I agreed with
him. We paid and tipped him
generously and he was even happier then, as he smiled, waved, and drove off
through our neighborhood, the land of the Three Musketeers and Dartagnon. One for all, and all for
one. We’re here! |
Saturday, August 29, 2009
A
view through the Tuileries toward the Place de la Concorde and the Arc de
Triomphe at the end of the Champs Elysées.
Lavender
growing in the Tuileries. |
