Day Two Paris, Friday

On our second day, Scott got up really early and went exploring before the rest of us stirred. When he got back, we went for a breakfast crepe at our familiar place on the corner. As we were standing there, a group of young people noisily approached. I took one look at them and thought they were probably still out after a night of debauchery. They were loud and marched to the front of the line, the leader demanding a crepe. He obviously knew the owners and was talking rapidly, trademark French cigarette in hand. Then I noticed a frail, thin, scantily clothed man with the young people, shivering and looking haggard and bewildered, sheltered in the center of their hip young group. I listened to what the brazen young man was saying and he was asking for a crepe for the old man. He said the man needed food quickly. One of the young girls was crying. It was a painful reminder of how quick we are to judge and how often we're wrong. What would it be like to wake up cold and hungry with no prospect for anything to fill your belly? Can you imagine never getting warm, never getting full? That hungry old man was surely one of what Victor Hugo called "Les Miserables." Those young people could very well have saved that man's life, the night had been so cold and he was so thin and ragged. But what about tomorrow, and what about the others? There is so much human suffering, it's overwhelming. It's sad to be enjoying a beautiful vacation as you step over a woman begging for coins. Freestone gave many a euro to beggars who were holding sweet little dogs. There was one man who didn't have any legs. Little Freestone has a tender heart and wanted to help each unfortunate soul. I wish we could. If a group of youngsters could save a man in the early morning hours with a crepe, the least we could do was to acknowledge each beggar with a few coins as we went on our way, living our own happy lives parallel to the suffering of others.  Such is life.

The first thing Freestone wanted to do was visit the Eiffel Tower.  He was surprised at how much bigger it was than he expected.  On the way to the tower, he got an Orangina.  Again, he was surprised at how delicious it was.  This kid is easy to please!

I love this picture.  I love these kids.  This is me.  I'm a mom.

Freestone noticed all the militia guys walking around at the Eiffel Tower in their fatigues, carrying machine guns.  He asked me, "Why did we have to come here during hunting season?"  We laughed about that one the whole trip!

Freestone was determined to catch a pigeon the whole trip because Scott told the kids last year at the beach that he would give them a hundred dollars if they could catch a seagull.  I finally caught one the last day, but it was greasy and it was flapping its wings and I got scared, so I let go.  Scott said it didn't count.  But it sure kept Free entertained the whole trip, chasing birds.

 Taking the bus back to the apartment, we met one of the many people who loved Tziporah.  this grandmother told us about her three-year-old grandson who lives in Nantes or somewhere.  She must miss him because she insisted on holding Tziporah the whole way.  People were eager to interact with her and tell us about their families.  I noticed that many of the people who smiled at Tizzy did it with a hint of nostalgia or longing, maybe regret.  Some told us they never had children, some spoke of their own faraway families.  I felt so lucky to have Freestone and Tziporah there with us.  Never again will I have the chance to sport a baby in Paris.  It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for us to have our little miracle baby there in a city where babies rule supreme.  Too many people are forced to live far away from those they love, too many trick themselves into believing that other things are important, and too many live with regret as a result.  Many don't have the opportunity we have had to raise children.  At every turn on this trip, I was reminded how very blessed we are.  The French really seem to cherish the idea of childhood.  You have to; it's so brief and lovely.

 Refueling with juice!

 Downtime at the apartment.  We loved the apartment Mom picked out.  It was on a little side street just off St. Michel between the quai and St. Germain, but right off the quai.  It was the perfect location, and light and bright and modern inside.

 Freestone wanted to go to the top of the spiral staircase in our building to see what was up there.  A big window with a gorgeous view.  We felt like we were in a lighthouse!

 Lunch was at Coco and Bill's favorite spot, Cafe Panis, right across the street from Notre Dame.  I got chicken tandoori and mashed potatoes.  It was so delicious, we went back again another day and I ordered the same thing.  Tziporah got restless in restaurants, but big deal.  We took turns walking the streets with her. 

 Great street performer.  When you throw a coin, he sweeps it up.

 After lunch, we walked to the Ile Ste. Louis,  stopping at the WWII Holocaust Memorial where the Jews were deported from on the terrible night when they were all rounded up.  None ever came back

We walked along Ile St. Louis and looked in all the nice shops.  Free bought a piece of  glass candy and decided to start a glass figure collection.  That started an obsession that became the hallmark of our trip.  There was a glass shop right by our place with glass-blown animals.  Later he bought a glass walrus there after much deliberation, and we visited the glass shop frequently all week so Freestone could "build his collection.".

 The clouds and the light as we strolled were beautiful shades of steel and metal greys.There were pastries, there was laughter, there was a break dancer.  What more could you ask for?  Freestone even danced with the break dancer.

 Happy birthday, Scott.  How are we going to top this one??

And at the end of the day, Scott and Trajan went to the Radiohead concert!The ticket was his birthday present, but we could only afford one, which is fine because I don't fully appreciate Radiohead even though I know they're good.  Scott and Trajan had a great time at the concert, and I got to wander around Paris with my kids.  We got pizza with Coco and Bill for dinner.  Mine had shrimp on it and Bill's had goat cheese and eggplant.  David's Pizza doesn't offer those choices!