Dreams do come true - Meeting "Just Another American in Paris" for lunch.
Our lunch at Etete. Deliciously spicy! |
Anne of "Just Another American in Paris" is witty, perceptive, funny, honest, adventurous and exactly the kind of person you hope to cross paths with if you're an expat in a foreign land. Her blog was my lifesaver during the early days of our move when I didn't know diddly squat about living in Paris. Equipped with information gleaned from her posts, I felt like an insider when I told Stéphane about SOS Médecins, the doctors that make house calls, or that the Hôtel de la Marine, the headquarters of the French navy, was for sale because the navy was moving to the 15th arrondissement after spending 220 years in luxurious digs at the Place de la Concorde. Even though it was a virtual, one-sided relationship, "Just Another American" (I never presumed to call her Anne!) was there when I needed her most, every morning while I drank my first cup of tea and mentally prepared myself to start another day on my own in the big city.
So, imagine my disappointment when I realized that "Just Another American" was leaving Paris just as I was getting settled. Poof! Gone were my fantasies of a chance meeting in Tang Freres or Notre Dame. I would never have the opportunity to meet the woman I had grown to admire. Or, at least that's what I thought until we arranged to have lunch together in Washington DC last Thursday. Feeling giddy and nervous with excitement, I pulled open the door of the small Ethiopian restaurant and saw Anne waving her hand in welcome, just as her blog had greeted me when we first moved to Paris.
Thanks for providing me with the information I needed to start my new life in France, Anne, and for being my blogging mentor. You'll never be "just" another American in Paris to me!
After a much appreciated vacation in the USA, Stéphane and I landed at Charles de Gaulle airport yesterday morning. As soon as my internal clock adjusts to European time, I plan to return to blogging on a more regular basis. In the meantime, please check out my recently created Facebook page to see photos of things that catch my eye and links for interesting articles about Paris. Out and About in Paris on Facebook.
What a nice tribute, and I'm glad you got to meet up.
ReplyDeleteAnd welcome home!
Me, too. And best of all, Anne is every bit as wonderful in person as she is online!
DeleteThanks for the welcome home - it feels good to be back. I only hope that I'm not on FB again at 2:00 in the morning because I need to get some sleep so that I'm ready for your upcoming visit to Paris!
Welcome back MK! I'm glad your date with this legendary Paris blogger was a success!
ReplyDeleteSee you soon! : )
Legendary is right! Unfortunately, I spent the first 20 minutes sitting there grinning like an idiot because I was so happy/pleased/dumbfounded to finally meet Anne. And then I spent the next 20 minutes stuffing Ethiopian food in my mouth! If you like spicy food, we should see if we can find a good Ethiopian restaurant when you get back.
DeleteWow oh wow. Am speechless at the accolades. Thanks so much Mary Kay -- for this post and for our e-friendship. It was a pleasure to have lunch with you and a more frequent pleasure to read your blog which helps keep me connected to Paris. A la prochaine?
ReplyDelete"A la prochaine?" Most definitely! As I was driving back to Annapolis after our all-too-short lunch, it occurred to me that I still had lots of unanswered questions about places you liked in Paris, blogging, etc. I'll save them for our next get together.
DeleteÀ bientôt!
Looks yummy! Good luck getting over the jetlag. You're right that the trip from NZ is looooong, but sometimes (as long as you don't land early in the morning), I find a complete 12ish hour shift can be easier to adjust to than just a few hours.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting that you mention that 12 hour time shifts can be easier because I was thinking that I never had as many problems with jetlag traveling from Asia to the USA (12 hours) as I do when I return to Paris. That 6 hour time difference is hard to deal with, especially when I want to go to sleep before 2:00 am!
DeleteHow wonderful to meet a hero. So glad the reality was a success.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back to Europe. Look forward to more posts from Paris, although I wil miss your reports from Anapolis.
Have I mentioned I am going to Boston soon!!!
Love Denise
Boston? Really, Denise?! I love how enthusiastic you are about your upcoming trip to the States and only wish that I would be there to welcome you and show you around. I hope that you plan to blog about your adventures. At least that way I'll feel as if I was there with you!
DeleteHow fun for you! I, too, enjoyed Ann's posts before I moved to Paris and was sorry that she left before I got there. Glad you got to meet her in the flesh!
ReplyDeleteI arrive Friday and hope to see you soon.
Safe travels and let me know when you're settled! The WICE and AWG schedules are out. They've planned some interesting visits, including a WICE trip to Hermes (!).
DeleteI have very much enjoyed your posts while you have been away from Paris Mary Kay, but I also welcome you back and I look forward to feeling part of your Paris neighbourhood once again.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the warm welcome home. It feels good to be here, even though our bakery is still closed for the month of August! When I finally get my hands on one of their crusty baguettes, it's going to taste amazing.
DeleteWelcome back to Paris Mary Kay. It's wonderful you were able to meet Anne. Your photo in on my post today. The scaffolding has arrived so we had the bloggers' breakfast just in time! That is a stunning picture of the Eiffel Tower. Your photos are very inspiring.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear that the scaffolding arrived in front of your apartment before you expected it but at least you can take refuge at your lovely home in Blois. I only wish that we would have had the opportunity to catch up over coffee before you head to Australia.
DeleteThis is great Mary Kay, how wonderful that you were able to meet your "Paris mentor"!
ReplyDeleteI also read Anne's blog and that feeling that you get when you reach the end is like saying goodbye to a friend (even when you've never met them)It's happened to me with a few expat's blogs, you get so interested and involved that you don't want it to ever end.
Blogs like yours, Anne's and many others', are not only a fantastic read but as you've mentioned, they are also an invaluable practical manual to living in a foreign city.
I've become a "blogmaniac" in the last few months, and loving every minute!
Thanks and welcome back to Paris, I hope to be there soon.
:)