8.03.2010

# Comme les Français # France

My Last Day in Paris



Thank you so much to everyone for all of your lovely messages about the baby. We are all thriving and doing very well. Our baby girl is changing so much every day I am savoring every moment and am filled with gratitude.

Many of you have asked what we named her. I have decided to not announce her name publicly as baby connoisseur knows only too well the importance of maintaining an air of mystery. I will say that we chose a very traditional, whimsical and good old fashioned English name for her… and I must say it suits her very well!

On to other news…

This week I found a large envelope on my doorstep. It was from Madame Sportif and inside was a copy of French Elle à Table (pictured above)- a magazine she had told me about during our many cooking sessions together. It is a cooking magazine filled with beautiful recipes for everything from strawberry tarts to carbonaras. Included with the magazine was a note saying she had asked one of her friends from Paris to bring over the magazine especially for me. Then she told me news of her travel plans and informed me that she and her family will be sadly going back to France next week.

My heart sank at this news. I knew the Sportifs were only here for a year but during that time I forged a great friendship with Madame Sportif. She is truly a wonderful and thoughtful lady. How kind and considerate that she had one of her friends bring me that magazine all the way from Paris! I wrote her back to say that I will miss her greatly and if she ever finds herself in California again, to be sure and look me up.

The sadness I felt when I read Madame Sportif’s note was similar to the feeling I had on my last day in Paris. I’ll never forget it. Famille Chic was on holiday in their country estate in Brittany and I was alone in their 16th arrondissement apartment. My heart was filled with such conflicting emotions. On one hand I was excited to travel back home to California to see my family and friends again and start to live my new life as a daily connoisseur of the French philosophy. On the other hand I knew that I would never have this experience again- living in Paris with a French family- learning their secrets, exploring the city- exalting in life as a student without any major responsibilities. The cafés, the art, the food, the dinner parties, the new friends, the romance of it all…

On my last day in Paris I did not walk by the Seine or go see Notre Dame for the last time- I did not take a solitary stroll down the Champs-Élysées, instead I stayed inside the apartment of Famille Chic. That rich apartment that I had so grown to love. I made myself a small lunch, I played the record player, I drank a glass (or two) of port and I packed my bags. I left a note in the hallway for Famille Chic, thanking them for an experience most magnifique.

My last day in Paris was bittersweet but I also knew it was a turning point in my life and that I (much like the famed character Sabrina) would return to California a completely different girl.

And so I did…

13 comments:

M.Lane said...

What a lovely opportunity for you and how well you took advantage of it!!

I so enjoy your posts.

ML
mlanesepic.blogspot.com

BonjourRomance said...

What a lovely way to spend your last day, savoring the time you had spent with your new friends.
So glad you and your new baby girl are thriving! What an exciting time for all of you. All my best!!
Bon soir,
Mimi

ScentScelf said...

I am smiling at the beauty of turning points.

As I am sure you are looking into the eyes and smiling at one of yours. :)

The Elle is indeed a thoughtful gift, and reflects both on the spirit of Madame Sportif and of her gift recipient. Baby Connoisseur will benefit well from the accumulated layers of interest in her mother's life.

Rose said...

Glad to hear you and the family are doing so well but it's a real shame about the family Sportif moving back. I really enjoyed hearing about your last day in Paris, it was very well written, it seems you took some of Paris with you.

Josephine Tale Peddler said...

You are full of surprises and mystery. I would have wagered your baby girl would have a name like Amelie. Her name sounds beautiful as I'm sure she is! Enjoy these lovely golden days. Hoping you are getting some sleep. xx

the gardener's cottage said...

i think you are wise not to publish her name. my son won't let me publish my grandaughter's picture at all b/c it is unsafe as to where her image can wind up. so i understand completely. i can tell you her name though - stella. i love it! hope you and baby are doing well.

~janet

BigLittleWolf said...

Each time I go to Paris, and subsequently leave, I echo those same bittersweet feelings. There is always the welcome sensation of returning to whatever place you call home, and especially, the people you call "home." But leaving France for me is always a bit like leaving home, and not knowing exactly when I'll be back.

Like you, I much prefer the quiet moments wherever I may be, enjoying a coffee with friends, or just looking out on rooftops, and feeling filled.

Anonymous said...

I too am sad when friends leave. I hope they will stay in contact with you. BTW Petite Connoisseur is lovely. I hope you will post more pics of her. OOOO I wish I lived closer so I could hold her. She looks exquisite!

This message is coming from LindaH. I have posted many times on your blog but some reason I have to choose "anonymous". GGGRRR.

TryingHard said...

OK my bad I figured it out and now I can post without looking like some kind of stalker:) I still love your blog and I hope you will still now have time to post now that you have a petite distraction but what a lovely distraction. My congratulations to you and Monsieur Connoisseur.

Carolyn said...

Beautiful post. You have such a wonderful way with words.
I'm glad to hear that you and the baby are doing so well :) That's the best news of all!

Carolyn

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Thomas Orlando said...

Good night, cool blog. Maybe you want to read about the struggle of my delicious life.

Cheers,

Thomas

The Daily Connoisseur said...

Thanks everyone! I am managing to find more and more time to write... I just needed to get the hang of life with a newborn baby. I hope you are all well and that summer is bringing you abundant gifts xxxx