Day seven was my last full day in Paris. I retraced steps on this day, revisiting places to get things like post cards and a carry-on for all my loot.
At the end of every vacation, I become sad. This time I was more depressed than usual. Part of it was was the tragic event with the woman in the street. You can’t witness violence and walk away unaffected.
I had time to really think about many things in my life, too. As this vacation ends, some of the liberation with being a stranger is lost. When you travel, you can be anybody and you can think anything. Back home, I have a job, a house, a cat, friends and relatives. All provide comfort, true, but all also encourage me to be conservative rather than take risks.
I admit it will be nice to sleep in my own bed. It will be nice know what I ordered for dinner is the same as what I thought I said I ordered for dinner. I’ll admit many things are nice about having a home and about returning to it after a long journey.
At the same time, I also need to find a way to keep the edge that I feel now. It’s not comfortable; it is literally being “on edge” at the moment. However, it’s creative and productive and it makes me think about who I am and what I want. That’s something that can easily be lost when sleeping in my own bed….
Once I quoted the phrase “Wisdom is becoming” and it would be foolish to lose (and worse if I don’t consider) what I’ve become as a result of this trip.
A different time I quoted the phrase “Take heed, do not squander your life” and I’ve been thinking alot about that. This trip to Paris was part of my own effort to start acting and stop coasting.
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Here’s hoping you made it (can make it) to the airport ok given the current Strike in Paris.
Too tired to comment on the heavier ideas other than to say I understand.