A Bad Day in Paris is Still Better Than . . .

Thursday, October 4. I hesitate to call this a "bad" day but certainly relative to the rest of the time I've been here, things did not go according to plan. In ascending order of importance:

First, Camille was supposed to come today for another session of Remedial French Verbs because he will be in Egypt next week but he overslept! So he's coming tomorrow instead.

Then, during class at the AF, one of the "administrators" comes into the class to announce that the afternoon session is going to be closed after today's class because there are too few students in it (there are four of us). So our choices are either to go into the morning session of B2.4 or switch to a different level. I really don't want to do the morning session because I like having the time to write and catch up on other things. So I've decided to switch to B2.2 in the afternoon. Even thought it's a lower level class, there are so many things that I've forgotten (in the 35 years or so since I last studied French!) that I'm sure it will still help my overall fluency and comprehension. Fabiana wasn't in class today (she's gone to New York for the "weekend" for the baptism of the child of her husband's cousin - a big family event); I've sent her an email. Daniel and Jing Jing are going to switch to the morning session of B2.4 (as they have already been through B2.2 recently) and Fabiana probably will too. So we'll meet occasionally for coffee in between the morning and afternoon sessions. Tres dommage. It's been such a good group but, hey, I'll get to meet even more people! At least I'm going to check out the class on Monday and see how it goes.

Lastly, tonight Jean calls to say she's leaving the firm to take a job with Connecticut Legal Services. I'm happy for her but what will happen to my adoption and ARTs practice? I fear this means its imminent demise.

So overall, it's not been the best of days but . . . I'm still in Paris. And Eleanor calls and we talk for a long time so that was at least one really good thing!

After class, I shop at my little food boutiques at Saint Placide and have dinner at home. Finishing up Le Misanthrope because I'm going to see it tomorrow night. I've also started another book, Sindonie ou le Francais sans peine. Written by Salomon Reinach in 1913 and published by Hachette, it's a minor classic consisting of twelve letters to a young girl on French language and grammar. He also wrote Eulalie ou le Grec sans larmes and Cornelie ou le Latin sans pleurs! Reinach was from a very scholarly family (he and his two brothers were phenomenally accomplished in many spheres of influence) and was a celebrated literary and intellectual figure prior to his death in 1932. Of course, I've never heard of him!

Noted on walk to Metro today: There is a truck with a flatbed behind the cab and a trailer behind, both designed to carry bicycles: specifically Velib bikes. Maybe they re-distribute them around the city when there are too few or too many in one location. Also, there are two men maintaining the bicycles at the station, checking the air in the tires and (I'm not making this up) cleaning the wheels. Tres soigneux.

Weather: ni froid, ni chaud, mais lourd. that means it's in the high 60s and slightly muggy! Pedometer: 3,857.