Just Look Up
When I was still working as a flight attendant, as the purser my job was to take care of the pilots as well as passengers. I would make sure they were feed and hydrated and allowed them bathroom breaks by covering their spot in the flight deck etc. I was obligated to introduce myself to them and to do a preflight briefing which usually happened with the entire crew. At the very least I would introduce myself to the crew. It’s less formal for domestic trips (flights within the US) than for international flights but it is still a requirement. Often times, as I introduced myself the question would pop up “ so where do you live?” I would say “Paris... France not Texas” I needed to make that part clear. The response that I received after my revelation was mixed. Some would say France??? As if I had said I live on Mars. Or sometimes I’d get “ oh wow! That’s cool”. And sometimes there was the micro-aggressive responses that I truly find distasteful. Things like… “was your father in the military? Or is your husband French?” Im not sure what my father’s military standings or husband’s nationality has to do with my choice to live in France. I would get, “why do you live there?” My response would be a cheeky well why do you live in Tampa? Sometimes I would hear “what do you do all day there?” Which to me has to be the dumbest question ever? What does one do all day anywhere that you chose to live on a daily basis? Hmmm lets see… After I’ve tossed on the proverbial beret, I grab a baguette and parade through the streets in my Louboutin stilettos dressed like Emily in Paris and take selfies. I do on average 4 or 5 loads of laundry per week. I go to the gym sometimes. I grocery shop and market often. Food doesn’t have the same shelf life in France as it does in the US because its super fresh and mostly preservative free. I take walks almost daily. I clean. I cook. I eat. I make coffee in the mornings. I talk with friends and family on WhatsApp and FaceTime during the week. I write or I paint. I work on business stuff. Sometimes we go out to dinner or meet friends. Every so often we have apéro at home. We drink wine and champagne on the regular. We go to quiz night at the local pub. We watch movies on our big screen TV. I even put ice in my water bottle! Seriously? What a very peculiar question!
Walking and marketing almost daily is probably one of the most foreign concepts of them all for my American friends that haven't spent much time outside of the US . I get it. Americans, most Americans anyway, don't do that. I dont do that when we’re in our US home either. That is probably one of the things that I enjoy the most when I’m in Paris. My neighborhood shop owners all recognize me now. I’m met with smiles and bonjours and ca va(s)? I chat with the cashiers about this to that. Our butcher knows just which size roasted chicken I want and the cheese man already is aware that I’ll need a St. Nectaire with my order because that’s my husband’s favorite.
When I’m outside, and I love being outside; I always look up. Anyone from a big city will tell you that if you want a different perspective of a city you have to look up. There is a lot going on up there. Especially in Paris. Even if you are in the countryside look up. We spend so much time looking down at our feet and watching our steps or looking at our phones, that we forget to look up. The rooftops of Paris are quite interesting. There aren’t skyscrapers or glass buildings in my neighborhood. Each building has its very own unique flavor. Each time I look up I discover something new. The irony of discovering new things in such an old city never escapes me.
So the next time you’re out walking about try it. It’s an intriguing point of view. You will not be disappointed. I promise you. Just look up!
