America.

This American girl living in Paris has now become this American girl living in, well, America.

Fifteen days ago I arrived in the great state where I grew-up, Montana.  Since then I have been in my hometown (population: 4027…er, now 28) re-adjusting, re-acclimating and rehabilitating from reverse culture shock after 19 months in France.  Perhaps other than a small village on the Tibetan Plateau, I don’t think I could have chosen a place more unlike Paris to re-wet these American feet.

So here I am in the the country I am proud to be from and the country that I call home. So why can’t I stop thinking and dreaming of Paris?

Maybe because I think I belong there.

In Paris I told people that I would be happy to die there. Granted that is not the most upbeat of declarations from this sunny personality (I would always preface my statement with, “What I am going to say may sound bizarre…”), but it was meant to show my true contentment and comfort in The City of Light.

Falling in love with a city is much like falling in love with a person; your senses come alive, excitement heightens and you discover new pieces of yourself. Possibilities are endless. And like with a cherished lover, over time feelings strengthen, you become more yourself in their presence…even a better version of yourself, and it all just feels right. In Paris, it just felt right.

So what do I miss?

Her streets…

Her language…

Her elegance…

Her beauty…

Her sophistication…

Her flirtatiousness (or was it mine?)…

Her timelessness…

Her cuisine…

Her people…

My people…

Her opulence…

 

Her wine…

 

Her icon…

I also miss the little things that made the city feel like it was mine; the patisserie shop worker that would wave and smile to me each time I passed (also alerting me when the citron cheesecake was in!), my walk to the American Church in Paris each Sunday afternoon, visiting my favorite cave du vin to select  a wine for dinner at a friend’s house, settling in at 17:45 to watch my favorite t.v. show, Un Diner Presque Parfait, gracefully navigating cobble stone streets in heels, and…a certain corner of a couch on Rue Budé (*wink*).

While I am indeed happy to be home reconnecting with all my wonderful family and friends here, Paris me manque.

 Home…for now.

 Home…forever?

Can’t say yet, but I think anything is possible.  

In the meantime, I will be spending the holidays here in Hamilton and will move to Seattle in early 2013.

AND a new adventure I am priming to start is my own business – J.J. Caprices! It will be an online boutique that dazzles visitors with delightful and unique jewelry pieces and home decor from my travels around the globe. I want it to enchant and inspire.  I will share more details soon! Eek!

The day before I left for Paris on May 10, 2011, I wrote a blog that ended with the below quote:

Il n’y a que deux endroits au monde où l’on puisse vivre heureux:  chez soi et à Paris.

(There are only two places in the world where we can live happy: at home and in Paris.)

-Ernest Hemingway

I followed it with, “Let’s go find out!”  Today I can exuberantly say that no truer words have ever been spoke.