I was 25 years old when I moved into a third-story apartment overlooking Peachtree Street in Atlanta. As many of you know, this is the main thoroughfare through the entire city. A very busy street.
Exhausted after a day of moving I crawled into bed sometime around 2:00am. A few hours later, I got out of bed, frustrated that I couldn’t get to sleep. The constant roar of traffic and finally, the siren from an ambulance kept me awake the entire night.
As I commiserated with my neighbor, Paula, she offered me some very intuitive advice. “Oh, give it a menstrual cycle. A woman can get used to anything in 28 days.”
She was right.
Today marks my two-week point in Paris. I woke up homesick, missing my family and all things familiar. I’m over depending on this spotty WiFi. I’m ready to burn the few clothes I brought. And I’d give my right arm to be able to walk in a restaurant and get what I thought I ordered.
But as I showered I knew my day was about to turn around. I was going to get my new laptop today. I had confirmed yesterday that when I returned home, my Atlanta Apple Store could switch the French plug for an American plug. So, problem solved, I was easily an hour away from being able to write blog posts, download my photos, access my bank account, and most importantly, plug in my back-up drive so I could access my Atlanta work files. My ‘working’ life here in Paris was about to get so much easier.
Off to the Apple Store I went.
As I told the clerk what I wanted, she asked if I wanted the French or the American keyboard. Yes, they are different. And no, they can’t order an American one and let me pick it up at their store.
So, I’ll order one online, find a UPS store somewhere in the ‘hood, and have it in 5-6 working days. Bummer.
I can just hear Paula saying, “If you’d just wait a menstrual cycle, you’d get used to NOT having a computer. Then you could REALY enjoy Paris.”
10 Responses
love you- we miss you too! our daily walk…right past your house- pray for you everyday!!!
Heard u brought in my garbage cans! Thank you so much!
For me, chocolate cures everything. Much more quickly than having to wait 28 days! I’m very excited about your new Apple purchase. Sorry you have to wait a few more days for it.
Grrrrrrrrrr!
Hang in there girl! Following your time there is such an inspiration! What wonderful gifts are coming to the three! Can’t wait to hear more. Lots of Love and hugs are blowing your way.
Oh but testing my patience.
Your Paula gave very sound advice, though not easy! Loving following your adventures with my cuppa each morning, it’ll work out in the long run…or should I say…walk? Love ya, connie xo 🙂
Are you training for the next Olympics? Running hurdles perhaps?!?
Sorry you’ve hit another one. But what’s another 5 days…
Make the most of being UNplugged. You may see things you wouldn’t have.
Love and miss you!
Think of you every day and always with much love and a prayer for all good things! Nobody I know could do this with the determination, joy, gusto, honesty
and sense of fun like you are doing….apple or no apple! hugs!
Sounds about right. I love Paris and am excited to be returning next week (and plan on staying for a 6 month visit after retiring) but I would never want to buy a place there or try to make it my permanent home! Reading “Paris to the Moon” made a big impression…