I'm Huge In France

I’m huge in France; it’s really where my primary fan base is. Hoards of children flock to me asking for my autograph, screaming fans, paparazzi everywhere. Not quite, but wouldn’t that be funny if it did? But back to my original comment, I am better in France - my stock rises, I am automatically an individual apart from everyone else because I’m not French but I speak French. Its like I am honorary French. I relax easily into the lifestyle here, the chatting, the coffees, cadence that the language rolls off the tongue.

I arrived here yesterday and didn’t even blink an eye as I scurried around trying to get enough “epece” to buy my metro ticket. When I fly into New York and something goes wrong, I get flustered, ANGRY even but not here in France. I am surrounded by a sense of calm that I can only attribute to the reason that I adore the French, I discovered it yesterday. The Reason being? The French don’t apologize for anything. The just are. It is what it is so deal with it. Time after time I get asked why I love France so much, after all they are impossibly arrogant, difficult and smelly. Well, I love that they are impossibly arrogant, difficult, well ok maybe I don’t love that they are smelly but that is what brought it to my attention that they don’t apologize for anything. Don’t have a smart chip on your credit card, too bad, you can’t buy a metro card. Not oh we are so sorry… just too bad. You don’t speak the language? Too bad. I love that! I have spent my ENTIRE life apologizing for different things. Oh I’m sorry that I worked really hard and won the competition. Oh I’m sorry I want to take a moment for myself and treat myself to something nice. What, isn't that the American way? I’m sorry our president sucks, what else do you want me to say?

Which leads me to love coming here. I can do whatever I want and not apologize, I can be flamboyant and irritating and demanding and everyone finds that endearing. They love me, they love that I have a goofy accent when I speak. They ADORE ME. Je suis une star!

Ok enough of the love for myself… Yesterday I spent the day in the least enjoyable manner. Hanging out with other American’s in Paris. I hate that. I like to lose myself here, blend in. Even if I never speak to anyone the entire time, I just like to fade into the background and eavesdrop on another way of life. So today I have begun my real adventure. I am on a train on my way to Saumur. I will spend the weekend with my French friends watching crazy people do tricks on horses. This is a slight bit tough for me to sit and watch as I’m delusional and think that I can still do it, you know, if I had enough time. Of course I could. I don’t see that much progression in the sport, I could still catch up. I could pull a Katarina Witt and make a comeback? Or could I?