what surprised you today?

a question to ask before you fall asleep...

Bonjour-Bonjour,

Yes, we saw that green bird—a Rose Ringed African Parakeet— in Paris! What a surprise! You should have seen us on Les Viaduc des Arts, my husband pointing for me…okay, look just to the left of that thick branch, see the window box, now lift your eyes a tiny notch…we were a bit ridiculous. But what a joy to see and hear the parakeet!

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I love to ask, “What surprised you today?” It is an open ended opportunity to be delighted, not only in my own mysterious day, but also in the mystery of my friend’s day. Plus, if I know the question is coming at the close of the day, Type A—high achiever me is going to keep an eye out, right? I want to get a good grade on my answer.

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Here are a few recent surprises:

The painting spotted at the brocante… I don’t know what’s with the eyes? Was it a portrait or a decision or an accident? And these adolescent boys at the Musée D’Orsay, copying the waterlilies… my little Grinchy heart grew two sizes! And, this tiny painting by Édouard Vuillard, Marthe Mellot en bleu. I love it so much, the shape, the chapeau!

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These little sniffers in cafés so you can smell your coffee beans before you choose your drink. Giant hot cheese on the Blvd. Saint Antoine! And, look at this deliciousness: tinned fish in beautiful packaging, from la belle-iloise.

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Sealing wax at L’Ecotoire! For those of you inspired to write letters by THE CORRESPONDENT, doesn’t sealing wax seem perfect? Of course it made me think of the surprise packed poem, The Walrus and the Carpenter, by Lewis Carroll:

"The time has come," the Walrus said,
"To talk of many things:
Of shoes—and ships—and sealing-wax—
Of cabbages—and kings—
And why the sea is boiling hot—
And whether pigs have wings."

And, would you look at the way they stack this paper in this papeterie! (I had my hand slapped for taking the photo so I choose not to tell you the name of the shop.)

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The floor! The fleurs! This painting, Bouquet de fleurs des champs, by Philippe Smit. I love the way the flowers are clumped together in the painting, and the gold and green? Chef’s kiss.

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Please, tell me, what surprised you today? No, seriously, please tell me:

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If you missed the last few jewels… no fear! Here are a handful everyone seemed to love: re: coffee cups. beans. boobs. doors. mistakes. new friends. do.the.thing.

To stay in the loop:

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Here’s Stanley, always a delight and surprise:

Tell your people you love them, and take care of your skin!

merci,