//
don't eat bananas on the metro.
apparently this is taboo.
everyone eats on the metro- EVERYone.
i don't.
i find it a little gross.
people stink, someone's reading, a lady talking loudly on her phone.
bite, bite, baguette, crumbs.
on a rare morning, i was both hungry before noon,
and running late to class.
i grabbed a banana,
and in my own seat,
on a not so crowded metro,
i took a few bites.
i look up to find EVERYone staring at me.
women looked appalled, men looked creepy.
seriously people?! a banana.
you mange your baguettes all day, every day,
but a banana is where we draw the line.
good grief.
i'm used to people looking at me on the metro.
i wear headbands and sequins and color and print.
i stand out in paris like a red balloon.
so- i just happily finished my banana and dramatically carried the peel between my fingers, arm extended as i exited at my stop,
discarding it like a used condom.
//
i've started reading on the metro.
there are three generations of folks:
the people my age listen to their IPhones/IPods with dramatic statement headphones,
the generation just ahead of me plays candy crush like it's their job,
and our parents' generation and beyond, reads.
over the holiday, my uncle gave me 'Me Talk Pretty One Day'
which i've always wanted to read.
i started it on the plane, and carried it to and from school,
reading it on the metro.
in just a simple 20 minute commute, i was able to finish the book in 3 weeks time.
pretty rad.
i'm already halfway through my next book & will likely read more in 2 months than i collectively read in the last year.
i especially liked this book because for several chapters he's an older american in paris,
taking french classes.
it's kindred in this season of my life & made me laugh.
when explaining movies with french subtitles, he writes:
someone might say, "get your fat ass out of here before i do something i regret!" and the
french subtitle will read: "leave."
it's so so true. i was busting up. where we have a full sentence, they have one word that means the same thing.
anyway, i finished the book and gave it to my coffee shop guy.
he said he wanted to read it, and i was done, so no point in him buying it.
when i gave it to him, his response wasn't 'hey thanks' or something like that,
but rather 'do you have a crush on me?'
(eyeroll) no. why?
well because i'm australian and french.
ok.
and i own my own business.
ok.
and you gave me this book!
yeah, sorry to disappoint your ego, but i was just being nice. it's kinda of a foreign concept here in france i know.
don't you think i'm handsome? he replies.
oh boie. look- i'm not trying to hurt your feelings, i was just trying to give you my discarded book. take it or leave it buddy.
ok, well thank you i guess.
you're welcome.
//
oh baby, babies.
when you're far away,
you're both a little more and little less aware of everything going on back on the home front.
one thing that i'm constantly blown away by right now,
is the amount of wonderful people making and baking babies.
such an exciting time!
forget year of the horse,
2014 is the year of the babes.
here are some recent and projected littles i can't wait to meet!
McBaby
tiny baby harps
kayleigh joy
ashton loiland
mr castle
lil girl novy
lil boy cross
baby bauman
my nephew pugh
baby weber
mini bernstein
and the list goes on and on and on.
from my most recent count,
27!
of my friends have just had or are having littles soon!
my my my, those times are changin.
bring on the next generation!
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