A "Sunday" Crepe in Paris

There is a line in one of my all-time favorite movies, re-made in 1995, called Sabrina. The Sabrina starring Harrison Ford, Greg Kinnear and Julia Ormond. The dreamy, romantic Sabrina I watch when I want to remember Paris visits when I strolled along the Seine in the Spring sunshine with my husband or munched our way through a farmer's market or sauntered our way through the Flower Market. I reminisce  about the mother-daughter trip I took with my mother Ellen when we shopped for salts and chocolate and ate almond-flavored Berthillion ice cream every day with joy and abandon. 

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Paris is the sort of place everyone should experience. Paris should be savored like an aged glass of whiskey or a really rich chocolate dessert. Paris should not be rushed... 

The Sunday Bastille Market is one of the most picturesque and interesting sights to savor. Buy a crepe. Better yet, buy three.  (You know, the thin pancake-like yummies. The word crepe (pronounced crep, where the "e" is like bed) comes from the Latin crispus, meaning curled and originated in Brittany in the 12th century. Crepes are thin and delightful. Now, where was I? Oh yes! What to do at the Sunday Bastille Market!) Kindly request the crepier top it/them with butter and sugar, lots of both and stroll the market as the butter and sugar drip down your wrist and onto the sleeve of your black leather jacket. Regret the decision to not take my advice and buy three crepes because now the line is long. Sigh and promise yourself to buy two more crepes before leaving the market... 

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Eating a "Sunday" Crepe in Paris is a metaphor for life I think. Savor the moment. Live in the now with joy and abandon. Far too often we get caught up in worry and wondering 'what if.'  We spend too much time thinking ahead. We walk about stressed and rushed. We scowl and get absorbed in our own worlds and phones.

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What if we lived one day, ok that's too much... What if we lived one moment in each day to the fullest? Just one little moment? Sound easy? Wrong-o!

​Savor the time spent reading this blog. Savor your morning coffee. Savor a treat like doing yoga or eating chocolate. Okay. Okay. Those are easy things to savor I know. (Baby steps.) Now, try savoring a moment spent in your garden, weeding. (I'm building up to harder stuff.) How'd that go? Next, try savoring a moment like, driving your child to school. (Yep. I went there. Straight to a difficult one.) Let's practice together. Remember to breathe.

Before entering the vehicle, take three deep breaths. React to the traffic with a smile and the lame-o's on the roadway to the school with patience, even if you're running late and your little darling(s) you are driving to school yelled at you up to the moment you got in the vehicle. Breathe again and let all that go... Take a sip of coffee you just spilled down your shirt, look over at your darling(s) and savor the time you get to be in the car with them. Breathe. See the drive to school as an opportunity to connect with your darling(s) because you will not see them again for several hours and you know; in your heart (no matter how much they may act like they don't, they love and value you) so send them off with a good start to their day. Celebrate you sent your darling(s) off with a good start to their day with a kiss and an 'I love you.' and "Have a great day!" (These are always the last words I speak to our children.) Now, breathe again because you probably forgot to when you spilled the coffee.)

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Cooking helps me become centered and to connect with myself. I also cook to nurture, care for and show my family love. Sometimes, in the "tired and rushed" mode we all ramp into at meal time, I forget to slow down and savor the moment of cooking in my kitchen. You know the moment? When you are alone in your kitchen, just you, a glass of wine, a knife and ingredients. (That sounds a bit scary actually.) The moment when you get to turn nothing into something and give your best.

Connect with the dough as you pat it into shape. Savor putting pepperoni on a pizza so it makes an attractive pattern. Place the peppers, mushrooms and onion carefully and lovingly. Put a cloth on the table and use the "good" glasses and plates. Light some candles. Pour another glass of wine. Decide to share the wine with your husband. (This last bit is optional.)  After all, all moments we savor are special moments, even the mundane like cooking or driving your child(ren) to school. Everyday can be a "Sunday Crepe in Paris."
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Please share the moment(s) you savor(ed) in the comments section.

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