Hemingway's Paris, My Paris

"If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast." ~ Ernest Hemingway

I have just completed reading “A Movable Feast” by Ernest Hemingway. He is one of the authors I have come to love over the years, and have even read several of his books more than once. I recently took the time to read this book for the first time, and I was immediately transported back to my vacation in Paris in the spring of 1985.

A dear friend of mine, Sandy, came to visit us when we lived abroad. She had been traveling through the various European countries and enticed me to visit France with her. I had two small babies, and at first decided my place was at home with them, but Jim surprised me with a Mother’s Day card filled with French Francs so off we went!

We took the midnight train from Mannheim, Germany and arrived in Paris in the early morning. The next several days were spent exploring the highlights of Paris. I have to say this was one of the many trips I took in Europe where my gastronomic curiosities began. This is where I learned about turtle soup and snails, with much coaxing from my friend, but enjoyed each delicious bite. From eating in the outdoor cafes, to long walks through the Louvre (seeing the Mona Lisa), the nightlife of Paris “City of Lights” (seeing the Folies Bergere), and absorbing the local culture, I loved each and every minute of Paris, and can fully understand Hemingway’s love of it.

Past and present merge and I realize that what this book really represents for me now is an atmosphere, an attitude, a youthful feeling about Paris, about the possibilities of life, and a very dear friendship. For here is Hemingway, in the autumn of his own career, writing about the spring. How ironic. His descriptions of Paris match my memories of a wonderful time.

We all have our own Paris. It may not be thought of as geographical geographical; it's the place where life first came vividly to bloom for you, where you walked out the door and fell in love, where you couldn't believe the exquisite beauty of the buildings, or even having the chance to share a great time with a friend, whose friendship has lasted a lifetime, long after our trip to Paris in the spring of our lives. I will always have Paris. I cherish my friend and her friendship. And I am truly thankful, for both.