Description
Paris holds such a special place in my heart and in my life – as it does for many people. It’s an extraordinary city. And I find that by following my desire to go there, I end up going, really as if by magic. The most remarkable was when I was just separated from my first husband. I wrote in my journal that if we did end up divorcing, I wanted to go to Paris for six months. Nine months later I was on a plane – to Paris – for six months! A more modest version of that happened this past fall and winter. In November I heard on the radio the director of the Musee D’Orsay talk about a huge – largest ever – Monet exhibition that was going on at the Grand Palais until sometime in January, while the Musee d’Orsay was being refurbished. I thought to myself “it would be so great to go to Paris to see it.” I mentioned this to my mom. She has a dear client and friend, Perry, who works for an airline who had just been stationed in Paris. One thing led to another and we had tickets and a room in Perry’s apartment right next to the Jardin de Luxembourg – the week before the end of the big Monet exhibition. Mom and I had a wonderful week in Paris taking in over 300 Monet paintings (!), the gorgeous window displays, old and new friends – and FOOD! We visited all the big fancy food places, Fauchon, Mariage Freres, Le Bon Marche, and Hediard – where these jellies are. This painting was scary – all those white spots! No big washes here, just lots of squiggles and dots. A new fun way to paint – and I found it quite meditative. They are “happy little aliens” as my friend Vicki calls them! And more than one person has said they make their mouth water. I guess this means I’ve done my job. Thank you Perry, thank you Paris!
June 2011
