I Still Don't Sleep At Night

AH PAREE!

I watched Lance Armstrong clinking his flute of champagne against the television camera and I was overcome with emotions. I was reminded, of course, that he has survived testicular cancer and still won this grueling race five times. I remember the drug rumors to which he replied, "What am I on? I'm on my bike." If Tour de France were as popular in this country as basketball he'd be as big as Michael Jordan.

I was out to dinner a few months ago with a friend of many years and her family. My friend's adult daughter Elizabeth, who had just come from playing soccer, asked each of us if we could do it over what competitive sport we would work to excel at. I didn't have to think about it too long. For about 20 years my French racing bicycle was my prized possession. I would crank up my Sony Walkman to ten ( what did you say?), and imagine I was racing in the Tour de France. I lived in Southern Illinois at the time and there were some big hills that served as my mountains. I didn't own a car then, as I don't now, and that bike and I went everywhere we had to go, and a lot of places we didn't just for the fun of it. I loved that bike. I still have it. Up until a few years ago I was still taking it out to the bike trail and cranking it up with my tunes three times a week. But for now it sits in pieces in the basement while I ride a clunker. I am afraid to see if it can be fixed for fear it can't be restored to its former running glory. I don't care how it looks. It is pretty old now. I will keep its gears, chain, handle bars and frame like petals pressed in an old scrapbook.

This brings me back to the present and the flute of champagne in Lance Armstrong's hand at the Champs-Elysee and Paris. It's the end of July and I haven't taken a vacation yet. I've decided the blog and I will go to Paris. My dear friend Ellen, who is French, just returned from there and is ready to go back in September. She has a lot of family in Paris. My one trip to Paris was memorable but way too short.

So let's celebrate Paris shall we. Did you see the new beach on the banks of the Seine? Leave it to the French to use their joie de vivre to create a temporary beach in the heart of city. They have placed barge loads of sand on the banks. Voila! The Paris Plage. People need no more encouragement than that to show up with their chaise lounges, books and sun-tan oil. Wish I was there.

In the meantime, here is foto Paris. Here you can find some postcards to send; read about living aboard (not abroad), a boat in Paris ; make arrangements for your cruise on the Seine; discover the Paris underground--the real underground as in tunnels and caves; look at Paris from the webcam on the Eiffel Tower and so much more. And, what the heck, stop by Paris, Texas as long as we're doing all things Paris. I think I found this link over at Anne's semi compos mentis where you can find tons of good things. She gave me permission to help myself and I do.

Bon voyage cheri.

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