So on sunny chilly days I like to eat at my favoriate ramen place in the 9th and then go sit afterwards in a reclining lime green cintrafil chair in the Tuleries with Angelina's hot chocolate in hand.
And this is what I did the day after I turned 36. I catch a glimps of La Defense as the metro leaves the northwest suburbs crossing the seine and dipping back underground into Paris.
The change at Saint Lazare immediately reminds me of the rush and energy of the city with it's underground artist and numerous diverse passengers in transit.
As I leave the metro and step into the opera neighborhood I am greeted by the Haussman architecture and make my way to the ramen place.
Irasshaimase!
The smell of miso and shoyu accompany the burst of warm air as I open the door and walk into the restaurant. I am seated at the counter giving me full view of the kitchen as they prepare my ramen and gyoza. I feel the occasional burst of cold air as people make their way in and out of the restaurant but I don't mind as the hot miso broth warms me.
The ten minute walk to Angelina's helps me to digest in preparation for the copious dose of Angelina's hot chocolate I was aboue to receive. The waitress smiles as she hands me my hot chocolate to go in her prestine white uniform and immpecabble makeup. I leave the shop, bag heavier with the bottled hot chocolate I had bought to bring home to my husband and daughter.
The sun was shining full force as I made my way past the tourist and cheap souvenir shops and into the Tuileries. There I found what I as looking for: A cintrafil reclining chair, it's lime green finish shining bright in the sun. I sat down, leaned back and introduced the velvety hot chocolate to my belly, already full from gyoza, ramen, and baby number two.
Moments like this are rare now where I am by myself and left with my thoughts. I was now 36, past mid 30's and a year closer to 40. I imagined myself 40 looking back at my 30's. Would I look back and think about care-free days like when I look back now at my 20's? Or will I be more seasoned and think back at my 30's as the decade of big changes: a wife, an apartment owner, and a mother.
As I finish the hot chocolate the baby kicks either from sharing in the enjoyment of the hot chocolate or protesting at the place it's taking in already cramped space. Maybe both. I gather my things, greatful for these kinds of moments but also looking forward to sharing the hot chocolate with my husband and daughter, at home.
And this is what I did the day after I turned 36. I catch a glimps of La Defense as the metro leaves the northwest suburbs crossing the seine and dipping back underground into Paris.
The change at Saint Lazare immediately reminds me of the rush and energy of the city with it's underground artist and numerous diverse passengers in transit.
As I leave the metro and step into the opera neighborhood I am greeted by the Haussman architecture and make my way to the ramen place.
Irasshaimase!
The smell of miso and shoyu accompany the burst of warm air as I open the door and walk into the restaurant. I am seated at the counter giving me full view of the kitchen as they prepare my ramen and gyoza. I feel the occasional burst of cold air as people make their way in and out of the restaurant but I don't mind as the hot miso broth warms me.
The ten minute walk to Angelina's helps me to digest in preparation for the copious dose of Angelina's hot chocolate I was aboue to receive. The waitress smiles as she hands me my hot chocolate to go in her prestine white uniform and immpecabble makeup. I leave the shop, bag heavier with the bottled hot chocolate I had bought to bring home to my husband and daughter.
The sun was shining full force as I made my way past the tourist and cheap souvenir shops and into the Tuileries. There I found what I as looking for: A cintrafil reclining chair, it's lime green finish shining bright in the sun. I sat down, leaned back and introduced the velvety hot chocolate to my belly, already full from gyoza, ramen, and baby number two.
Moments like this are rare now where I am by myself and left with my thoughts. I was now 36, past mid 30's and a year closer to 40. I imagined myself 40 looking back at my 30's. Would I look back and think about care-free days like when I look back now at my 20's? Or will I be more seasoned and think back at my 30's as the decade of big changes: a wife, an apartment owner, and a mother.
As I finish the hot chocolate the baby kicks either from sharing in the enjoyment of the hot chocolate or protesting at the place it's taking in already cramped space. Maybe both. I gather my things, greatful for these kinds of moments but also looking forward to sharing the hot chocolate with my husband and daughter, at home.
