![]() | |
The American Cemetery in Normandy |
My dad and Claudia at a private salon, 2003 |
Evening river cruise on the Seine |
In 2003 my dad had a chance to accompany Claudia Hommel, a Chicago-based singer who specialized in French songs. I celebrated my 53rd birthday on the flight over to Paris in 2003. This means John was 63, my mom was 75, and my dad was 78. And to put these numbers into perspective, I am now 67 and John is 77.
My mom was so frail and so small and so blank for her last years. So to see this picture from our trip 14 years ago is joyous. We were in the Luxembourg Gardens having hot chocolate while my dad and John went to the Louvre. When John and I arrived in Paris two weeks ago, our hotel room wasn't ready so we went out for a walk - and there we were: right by the Luxembourg Gardens.
A truly memorable event on the 2003 trip was returning to Paris from the Dordogne on a train that broke down. We had to wait 45 minutes for another engine. So what did my dad and Claudia do? They performed. A few left the train car, but several more came in. And my mom muttered - with Claudia translating for those around her - "Ive been married to this man for over 50 years. He's played gypsy funerals, Easter Bunny breakfasts, wedding, bar mitzvahs, but this is the first broken train. "
We spent an afternoon at Giverney, and it was delightful. There is beauty in an autumn garden, and I recall that we pretty much had the gardens and Monet's house to ourselves. But just recently in Giverney we encountered a mob scene. Granted, the gardens were gorgeous and in full bloom. And everyone was there. 90% of them had selfie sticks - pretty annoying. What a contrast from October 2003 to May 2017!
The last time I saw Paris? It was good. Very good.