APRIL 8, FRIDAY

SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL

Something else is slowly sinking in as it did in Greece in October. I have everything I need. I even slightly overpacked. I brought four pairs of socks and only need two. I only need two of everything so that I have something to change into when I am washing the other set. I need almost nothing and can almost fit everything I need for six weeks, not in a carry on bag, but in an under the seat personal bag. With both bags I have more than enough luggage space and no need to check luggage. This means that I can get around with my luggage much more easily. And with the two iPads I have all the music, movies, tv, books that I could want and instant access to friends back home through Facetime. The other night I was on a three way Facetime call with granddaughter Caroline if Raleigh, son Tom in Asheville and me in Montmartre. Everyone is right across the street, I have barely left home, I am in both places at once (unless I fall down the stairs when I’ll be very much on my own. No falling). Dying wouldn’t be so bad, you could have me be cremated and shipped home in a cardboard box.

The room that Susie and I will be in for the next week is small. But it actually is very well designed so that while everything is small, I have everything I need. The bathroom is small with the toilet, shower stall and sink all right next to each other. The shower stall is so narrow that I have to slide in sideways and keep my elbows at my side while showering. But the water is hot and the water pressure great. It is all I need. And a two burner stove is plenty, I never use the four burners on my stove at home and a huge oven instead of this toaster oven and a large refrigerator instead of this half size one seem a waste of space. The room is perfect for the pared down life. French cars are small because the roads are narrow without wasting space. There are bicycle paths filled with people on electric bikes, electric scooters and electric skateboards all whizzing along. Pedestrians have to stay in their own lanes or get run over. Grocery stores, all the stores, are small and a large grocery store like Carrefour where I do my grocery shopping is one fifth the size of Swannanoa Ingles. All of the restaurants spill out onto the sidewalks. Transportation is easy.