I can’t keep up with myself or this blog!

Sunday morning here was gorgeous, and it was Satu’s last day. She wanted to get together for breakfast, and so we did. We ate at a sweet little bistro not far from La Cathédrale de Notre Dame, by the Seine.

This sweet young woman presented me with a bag of goodies from her homeland of Finland. She knew she was going to be meeting me in person here in Paris, and packed a bunch of traditional goodies. I was overwhelmed!

We had the best conversations – and she said she felt like we were soulmates – even though I’m old enough to be her mama. She didn’t care. She wrapped her arms around me and wanted me to go shopping with her.

Twist my arm!

And wow, can this girl shop! She was on a mission!

I think we walked 10,000 steps from the bistro to Les Galeries Lafayette, because we hit every store in-between. We even bought matching shirt-dresses in white denim, and helped each other find the right sizes for jeans.

Personally, I am in need of some jeans that fit. It’s all the stress combined with all this walking which has resulted in some weight loss – because I know it’s not the diet!

Baguettes, cocktails, patisseries, cheese, repeat!

To be fair, I eat a lot of salads here because the produce is just excellent.

Anyway, during breakfast, I told Satu that I thought I might want to buy myself a little something special on this trip – not just jeans that fit. Well, that was all I needed to say. She nearly burst into tears, and had the perfect idea in mind.

So, adding to the Dior perfume and lipstick I bought myself during the cell phone meltdown, I may or may not have purchased a very special pair of sunglasses.

Satu picked them out (she has a different pair herself!), and as soon as I saw them, I said, “I don’t have to look any further; they’re perfect.” She was very clear on the style she felt I needed for the shape of my face. Wow! I loved the 3-pearl accent next to the infamous double “C” logo. Heaven!

I took the Métro home because I was exhausted. Satu went on to an open air market with another friend. She invited me to come along, but I was good with the purchases I had made. We hugged and promised to do this again. (She does it on the regular! lol!) She told me when I come to Finland, I won’t need a hotel, because I will stay at her house as a guest. Amazingly generous and kind.

P.S. We both missed class on Sunday! But sent photos of our get-together to our teachers and classmates.

A few days earlier I ran into a young woman in the Couryard downstairs here, fussing with the stereotypic gigantic Parisian door that opens onto the street. I knew right away she was knew to these door systems, so I offered my assistance en français. Then, hearing her accent, I asked if she was American, and she said that she was. I told her I was, too. And paying it forward, I offered her my contact information, saying “Let’s meet up, because it’s good to have a friend here when it’s your first visit.” Her name is Olivia, and she had just arrived via Los Angeles. OMG, I cannot even begin to imagine that level of jet lag.

We had texted back and forth a few times in the ensuing days, and finally agreed to get together on Sunday night. After all the shopping with Satu, I washed up and headed out to meet Olivia for a walk, Apéro (drinks), and then dinner.

Olivia is a graduate student here, and she is studying conducting – instrumental, and really mostly choral. She sings and plays piano herself. What a bright young woman! We shared our stories over champagne and popcorn. Dinner followed. She was leaving in the morning for another part of France to begin her new educational adventure, and we are now following each other on Social Media (Instagram), with promises to stay in touch.