Paris in a day

When I traveled to England over the summer and then on to Paris for a last minute one-day trip, I had hopes of taking some really great pictures. It was the chance of a lifetime for me to be so close to Paris, and so I decided to opt for the train under the ocean for the day trip. I knew it would be hectic, but to see the Eiffel Tower, The Arch de Triumph, The Louvre Museum, The Cathedral Notre Dame de Paris, and The Sacre Couer Basilica were all just too amazing to pass up.

However, what I found was that when you happen to be someone that really likes to take pictures, it is best to go it alone. I found myself being forced to conform to what others wanted to do, and sadly I missed some of the picture opportunities that I had really wanted to get. It was a lesson learned, and one that I won't repeat again. I did get a few which I am really proud of, and I did get to see some incredible things along the way, so all was not lost.

I only had a day in Paris, but it would have been so easy to have stayed a entire month just at the Louvre Museum alone. My eyes wandered every where I looked, and I found it hard to take it all in. I was so close to so many amazing things, but did not get to closely examine things because of such limited time restraints.

I had even tried to freshen up on what little French that I knew, however, the first time someone spoke to me in fluent French, I completely fell to pieces. Slow simple French, no problem, but a fast fluent Frenchman...impossible !

I happened to be in Paris the day of a National Rugby championship which meant that the streets were field with thousands of Rugby fans in Paris for the day. The streets were filled with vibrant colors, like the one below which made for some fabulous pictures. They were chanting in the streets, and it made it a very festive day. I had brought my large Canon camera, (which made me look like paparazzi), so every time I raised my camera, the rugby fans would pose without effort. I recall one group who stopped me and started speaking fluid French to me. All I could do was look at them and say, "I am sorry, I am American, I speak English !" they looked at each other and said "Oui, Oui...I LOVE YOU !" it was quite fun. American phrase that transcends any language, and obviously something definitley in English !

A Southern Crawfish boil....

Just for fun.....

This evening I found myself reading through some famous love letters written ages ago. What I found so interesting was that the majority of ones that are published, were written by men. I do hope that there are still men in the world that do write such beautiful things to the women that they love and that this passionate act is not sadly just a thing of the past. I hope that you will find this as charming as I do.

Here's a short one that I thought I would share;

To Anne Boleyn

My Mistress and Friend, I and my heart put ourselves in your hands, begging you to recommend us to your good grace and not to let absence lessen your affection...or myself the pang of absence is already to great, and when I think of the increase of what I must needs suffer it would be well nigh intolerable but for my firm hope of your unchangeable affection...

Henry VIII (1528)

Profound Events - Part I

I have been asked if the photos on my site are those which I have taken, and the answer is yes, these are photos I have taken. Each of them do represent a moment in time that I will always cherish and are treasures of days which I feel fortunate to have had.

I do appreciate the comment regarding my profound statement (even if I really don't find it very profound). Over the past few years, I have struggled with the balances of life where the things we must do out of necessity tend to overshadow the things we do for own self fulfillment or development.

Being a mother, as many of you are, I have become painstakingly aware that my life has been defined by the actions I have taken as a parent, being both mother and father to my two children. Although this is not an uncommon thing, it has been challenging to stay focused on the wonders of life and not be distracted by the responsibilities that abound us. My children are wonderful blessings and I may not have been motivated to accomplish certain things in my life had I not done so out of the single necessity to provide for them. I will always owe them for my enduring perseverance and problem solving nature. However, out of that great determination and movement through life's many obstacles, I have realized that I may have lost a part of who I am in the process.

Turning 40 this year was a point in time where I looked around and said "who is this person ?" And no, I would never describe this as a mid-life event, but maybe as an awakening just at a time when my children are becoming more independent. I am a hard working professional by day and a mother by night (really 24 hours a day), but who am I really without those things ? Although my commitment as a mother will be forever, I do not wish to look back upon my life and have any regrets that I did not accomplish something more or failed to have certain experiences at an age when I was young enough to appreciate them.

I realize that many moms may take offense to this and may see this as a selfish thing, since we do indeed make a choice to bring children into the world. I know of many women who look at motherhood as self-sacrifice and I will always have the utmost respect and admiration for them. However, it is also that same selfishness which drives us to procreate and allows us to continue the circle of life that we do find so fulfilling and wonderful because selfishly it makes US happy. Being a mother is very rewarding along with the great blessings that children and grandchildren can bring into our lives. But trying to find the perfect balance in life that allows us to keep a sense of who we are as individuals and also continue to be Superwoman to our children, is a very high mountain to climb. (for me anyway)

Until recently, I never realized just how important it was to make those moments that are truly for me alone, no matter how small. I have a great desire to allow myself the opportunity to recapture the person that I envision being and the goals that I long ago wished to accomplish for myself as an individual. The happiness and contentment of that accomplishment will indeed bring a more self-assured and happy mother to my children. My wish is that they not only learn from my mistakes, but that they will also learn from my example to be independent and self-aware. I want them to know that it is okay to enjoy life from many different angles and elevations. I do believe that the only limitations that we have, are the ones that we place upon ourselves.

I welcome your comments, as I am sure someone else may have faced similar events. I would love to hear your stories.

More to follow....

I will admit that finding those incredible moments which some how become a wonderful part of our history is quite mesmerizing to me. These moments may be little ones, the ones when you simply see something that catches your eye and it makes you smile, or you meet a person whom captures your heart. Moments....those incredible ones which define us then become a part of how we each move forward in our lives. These are the moments that we seek to share.

Seeking incredible moments is like a clock ticking away until it hits a specific time like striking midnight, which we have waited so patiently for. A very special moment can sometimes become a single great event that we carry with us like a trophy. Sometimes in silence we revel in these moments keeping them to ourselves, like a divine secret destined to be revealed at a later date and only to be told to those worthy of keeping our treasure hidden. Other times, we shout them to the world with great joy and want them recorded for posterity.

Finding incredible moments in our life is essential, it is the nature of our happiness. It is not about thrill seeking or finding enduring everlasting love which is a plus, but it is about the culmination of moments that fulfill us and make us whole. The lessons learned by each and every moment are the rewards that define us as individuals... creating our compass and show us the way forward.

Aged through unknown years

This photo was one of many taken at Lake Tahoe in the Mountains for an album that I fondly refer to as my "dead tree" collection. For some strange reason, I was drawn to take photo after photo of these massive trees which have quietly watched the world go by for an unknown number of years. They still stand with such grandeur, but have withered to their current state of aged beauty. I find them ironic and a symbol our own divine journey on this earth.

This is my entry into Carmi's Thematic Photography blog http://writteninc.blogspot.com/

Fast Forward to NOW

If we could fast forward and see into our future, what would we see ? From time to time, we find ourselves daydreaming and wondering where we may be in the future, lets say five or ten years down the road. While imagining that what lies ahead for us may bring us some comfort and it may also motivate us in some way, it can also be a little intimidating as well. If we envision our future and what we want that to look like along with how we plan to get there, what exactly does that mean ? Does it mean that we are great planners, eternal optimists, or maybe we we just aren't so content to be in our present-tense ?

The future looks great....but what about today ? Everything we are programmed to do from the time we are very young is about planning for our "future". We are taught to prepare for school, college, a job, maybe marriage, save for a home, and possibly children....yes, it is all right there in the "this is how you plan for your future book" that we are each given ! Well, I do agree that you can probably find books on all of those topics and it is very important to plan for your future, however we may simply miss the biggest fundamental in my opinion, which is that while you are planning and figuring out your distinctive path into the unknown future, you should also focus on the "NOW".

Living for the future is what we are taught, learn, and work very hard for, but it takes an even greater determination to focus on today and find those things which make traveling into the great unknown future worthwhile. After all, it's all about the journey that we are on, the one which is happening right now !