The Cluny

Last Day

Unfortunately, I’m not feeling so well today.  I’m afraid that the combination of Angelina’s hot chocolate, several croissant amande du chocolates and all the rich food in Paris in general has just about finished me.  It is the last day, and darn it, I don’t want to miss anything, but I can’t seem to get out of bed.  I admit to you, this is being written from the plane.  I am feeling somewhat human again.  Somewhat.

I get the heebie jeebies even thinking about that hot chocolate.  I will never, ever have hot chocolate again!

I did make it over to The Cluny because I was going to see that tapestry room if it killed me.  I love the Cluny museum.  It is small and manageable and very, very old.  I know, all the museums are old here, but I believe this is the oldest, built in the 12^th century.  It is positively medieval and it fascinates me, especially the tapestry room.

I actually drafted this post sitting in the dimly lit, magical cavern type room.  There are six tapestries in total, each depicting a beautiful woman with a unicorn.  I love unicorns, they make me feel mystical.  In fact, this whole room makes me feel mystical.  I’m particularly taken with this huge tapestry in front of me.  (If the truth be known, it happens to be the one I can see from my bench, I’d rather sit today thank you.)  

I would not dare take a picture in here, I just heard someone get yelled at, (yes, an American), but let me attempt to describe it for you.  The woman is playing a harp, exuding calm and gentility.  There is a young girl with her; I am imagining it is her daughter.  The unicorn is in prancing flight off to her right, and there is a creature with a cat’s tail and strong haunches, but has almost a human face.  There are several small animals as well; rabbits, dogs and what appears to be another feline type creature.  It is soothing to me to be in here.  Just what the doctor ordered.

Paris is enchanting in its indoor spaces, too. This is an ideal place for creating time.  Rob is on the other side of the room sketching what turned out to be a gorgeous tree in one of the tapestries.

This is our last day and I’m so happy that we actually did what we said we were going to do.  We came to Paris, and I like to think we added to it in our own small way.  We each created something that emerged from deep inside ourselves.  We each have something tangible to bring back that we will have forever.  And dear readers, I can’t tell you how much it has meant to me that you’ve taken the time to share it with me.  I thought about each and every one of you as I explored my beloved Paris.  It was like you were here with me.

This writing about my experiences and fitting pictures to the words has opened up a whole new world for me.  I experience it all again.  Writing about it captures enough of the detail so that I can really feel it again. It creates a memory for me that I can’t get any other way.  It also allows me to actually participate in my experience by putting my personal stamp on it. I’m so grateful that I have found this form of expression.

I thought that I might get really sad on my last day.  Instead I feel renewed, re-created somehow.  I’m different as a result of coming here.  That’s why I travel.  But I’m looking forward to being back home with all of you, the dear chaplains I love so much, and of course, Pablo and Toby.  I thank you Lindsey and Katie so very, very much for caring for them!  You made the trip actually possible. (Never would we board Pablo and Toby!)

Paris is the most beautiful place in the world to me.  Coming here inspires me to create beauty wherever I am.  Living well is an art worth cultivating.  It takes some money, no doubt, but mostly it takes curiosity, imagination and the willingness to take the time to make things just a little nicer.  Everything is beautiful here.  They care about beauty.  They inspire me to care about it, too.

The Loot!