Bliss

Sitting in a café in my neighborhood in Paris (that’s how I think of it, my neighborhood), the Marais, I feel complete, overwhelming joy. Bliss, really. I look around me and cannot remember, or imagine, feeing happier. I want to stay here forever. I’ve been to this city and this neighborhood many times before, but somehow, this time I‘m hooked. I can’t help smiling. Then grinning. Then crying those tears of irrepressible joy that sometimes come upon you unexpectedly.

Let me describe the scene playing out in front of me. Men and women of all ages pass by me hand in hand, arm in arm, chatting cheerfully. Even dressed down, they look effortlessly chic to me, the way I want to look. They walk their dogs - always little dogs - and oh so many French Bulldogs, a breed I’ve come to adore! Everyone seems to be either smoking, or eating ice cream - yes, even the man in the business suit is eating an ice cream cone with two scoops! The tiny streets are filled with Minis and Smart Cars and an array of motorbikes. There are a half-a-dozen cafés within a block, and the sidewalk tables are all full of smiling, smoking, drinking Parisians. Quelle joie de vivre!

Being in such a blissed out state of mind, I'm finding even the most trivial things are making me euphoric. I had brought with me a classic cashmere sweater I'd bought in Westport a couple of weeks ago. It was on sale as it was missing its sole button. I'd sewn on a plain mother-of-pearl button before leaving home, but wandering down a Parisian street the other day I stumbled upon a shop devoted entirely to buttons! Beautiful buttons! Talk about an embarrassment of riches! I had my choice of buttons, formal or jaunty, brass or pearl, plain or decorative, even antique. I settled on a bone colored button with a charcoal floral pattern. Strange how finding something so small and simple could make me so happy, but it did.

Yesterday I visited the Luxembourg Gardens. I’m embarrassed to admit that in all my trips to Paris, I’d never taken the time to go before. I was always too busy sightseeing, or more likely, shopping. What a wonderful place to enjoy a relaxing afternoon, taking in the extraordinary gardens themselves and just plain people-watching. Especially watching children playing - children dressed up in charming (yes that's about the only word for them) outfits - that my niece and nephews would rebel at having to wear to even the most formal occasions, let alone for playtime in the park.

In fact, I’ve found that I get the most enjoyment when I just sit and watch the world around me. One of my favorite people-watching spots is the fanciful fountain in front of the Pompidou Centre (my favorite fountain in Paris). I love to sit in the lively nearby square, which attracts street performers, tourists, students and families, who revel in the pure weirdness of the fountain's sculpted lips, elephant, bowler hat, snake, and mermaid, all shooting water as they merrily rotate for the assembled crowd of onlookers.

I also took some time yesterday to acquire another perspective on Paris, one I'd never had the nerve to get before. I climbed to the top of Notre Dame Cathedral, a place I'd not yet ventured, not because of a fear of heights, but because I'm irrationally phobic of those worn down stone steps that lead to every Gothic spire. While these were no different, I found myself somehow more confident this time (though ridiculously exhausted by the time I reached the top - note to self - must spend more time in Racquet Club gym). The payoff was spectacular: not only divine views of the Parisian skyline and landscape - the Eiffel Tower, Sacre Coeur, and the Seine, but an up-close-and-personal visit with Notre Dame's rightfully famous gargoyles.

With all this bliss, however, I'm a little wary. My father believed that the Universe acted like a giant scale. If you got too many good things on one side, you were bound to have some bad things happen to balance them out. Although I hope that this dualistic view of the world is unfounded, I'm careful to be thankful for every good day that I get and to live in each moment recognizing that they might not always be so perfect. For now, however, I'm savoring the happiness the Universe has sent my way. I think I'll go have an ice cream.