It was good to get back again today to La Samaritaine, the enormous, every elegant department store on the bank of the Seine in Paris. Nine months ago Susie and I discovered it by accident. We had never heard of it and it had been closed for many years for renovations. It had now been open for less than a year. When we walked in we were blown away. The framework of the original facade around a huge five story atrium with cast iron balconies all the way around and a huge stained glass ceiling goes way back. The original store was built in the 1870’s. All the goods are luxury goods at inflated prices with names like Chanel and Vuitton. I had never realized that a department store is really many, many boutique shops, one for each luxury brand, all put together in one place. Originally it was aimed at a growing middle class that was rapidly growing in size and buying power. Now it is aimed at the very rich. (All of this from Wikipedia, the photographs are mine.)
It was good fun to be here again. Although Todd’s inclination was to escape to the exit Susie showed me around using FaceTime. What strikes me then and strikes me now is how European it is and how different from anything anywhere in the United States. This must be partly because 1870’s USA didn’t have any of this elegance except for some of our railway stations. By the time the United States exploded with wealth, the time of art deco was past and we were producing a different kind of glitz. Or that is my guess, not really knowing what I am talking about. But when you get to Paris this is one of the things you should see.
Addendum
A couple of days ago the young woman at the desk in Urological Associates, affronted by my saying about the offered date of an appointment, Feb 6, that I might be dead by then, who then abruptly in a huff hung up on me leaving me hanging did me a favor. I was left high and dry with no appointment. Yesterday when I went to see my doctor for a follow-up, Dr. Baumgarten, he said he would arrange my appointment and did. He called me this morning and it is Monday, January 16 at 9:20 a.m., the soonest possible time. So soon I’ll know how out of kilter my bladder is and when I can travel again. (For all of the people who are so eager to know about the state of my bladder. )
BILLYBABA’S WANDERING 
I think that I shall never see, A poem as lovely as “Paree.” Thanks for sharing; I’ll never get there in person.