This is unreal, but true.

I was only supposed to be in Paris for two weeks. Je suis arrivée le 15 juin. Then, I added the Taylor Swift concert in Amsterdam at the beginning of July, (the 4th! 🇺🇸) which was to be the “end of my stay.”

Dream come true!

Nathalie and I then met for lunch, and she said she’d love it if I could stay and watch Luigi again this summer. I thought about it for like a minute, and started to make arrangements at home.

And here I am.

So, I started thinking, why not try to get a ticket or something for one of the sporting events. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, right? I mean, I’m here.

The first ticket I bought was the Gold Medal final women’s basketball game.

The second ticket I bought was the Gold Medal final women’s soccer match.

Both were purchased before the Games even opened. (And by the way, I went to the Opening Ceremonies, too!)

And now it’s August. And omg, as I live and breathe…

The American women in both basketball 🏀 and soccer ⚽️ are now playing in those Gold Medal matchups and I’m going to see them.

I cannot believe my good luck! This is just crazy!

Tomorrow (Saturday) I’ll be watching the American women in soccer. And Sunday, I’ll be watching the American women in basketball.

Again, I bought only two tickets at the outset of these Paris Olympic Games.

(I was also gifted with a set of Volleyball tickets along the way!)

UPDATE: Lillian and I watched France beat Belgium tonight ! What a game! We were so excited and high-fives realizing our two countries will be playing for the GOLD! This is crazy!

Hélène and I were in Montmartre when I learned the American team had advanced in soccer – and I was thrilled! She and I began searching high and low for an American flag or t-shirt. I hadn’t packed for this. lol! I have enough red, white, and blue – I can pull something together, but nothing screaming « FAN! »

And then I found a flag! 🇺🇸

Later, the next night (I think!) I watched the American basketball team 🇺🇸 play against Nigeria 🇳🇬 at a local restaurant.

A fun fact is that the colors of the flag of France, le tricolor, est bleu, blanc, et rouge! Ça marche pour moi!

I bought “French” face paint/makeup – in the form of the tricolor – that you see French fans wear (3 stripes), and figure I can paint USA on my cheeks or something using the crayons. Right?

Alors…

Today, I had another mission.

Every time I visit, I buy a blue and white Parisian address plate for each apartment I’ve lived in, here in Paris. I had two more to buy on this trip, and the Bouquiniste près de la cathédrale de Notre Dame has been closed. tHis is the only place I’ve ever (!) found these pieces, and I count on seeing him when I visit. I was getting nervous. He’s been closed.

I already have 45 (Saint-Placide), 17 (rue Servandoni near Saint-Sulpice), and 61 (Rue de Seine) in Saint Germain des Pres – all on my wall at home.

I now have 13 (Boulevard Henri IV), 32 Rue Saint-Paul, et 5 Rue Jean Beausire.

Mission accomplished, I decided I wanted to see the Team USA House.

A few métro rides later…

Well, I enjoyed a cocktail 🍹 and looked at the American Team House. It’s the Bourse – which is an enormous facility. I laughed out loud when I saw the enormous a/c units and water jugs outside and knew before I saw the front of the building that I’d found the Americans.