Grasping for Paris Again

Do you have a favorite place you have visited? Where is it?
Jet Pack Prompt 12/6/25

“A walk about Paris will provide lessons in history, beauty, and in the point of life,” (Thomas Jefferson)

In making my choice of Paris, France as my favorite place to visit, I think of those momentary shifts in my mindset from spending time immersed in the present moment on those short term stopovers spent there. Most often these personal transformations have taken place along self guided walking experiences to and from planned tourist site visits. Feeling more energized then, my attention shifts in surprisingly new directions.. Three examples described below stand out vividly to my mind.

With my first illustration, I reflect back to those leisurely times when I’ve strolled along the picturesque Seine River during day or night. In those moments, I often envisioned myself as an inspiring landscape artist who so keenly captured detailed impressions of extraordinary details in my painting efforts then.

Consider as well the strong emotion I felt absorbing the natural beauty on spectacular display at Luxembourg Gardens in spring or fall. For these relaxing respites from the more hectic surroundings of the park’s urban surroundings often opened my mind to an ecologist frame of mind committed to preserving the landscape of public open space for all to enjoy.

Presenting my last example, I turn to those dark days of rampant Jewish anti- Semitism that existed during Nazi occupation of Paris during World War II. For on past walks along the Marais district in Paris, I’d deeply empathized with the Jewish people as their visionary advocate who’d overcome such historic pain to restore their cultural and religious identity in this region.

Thus I’ve set a personal goal for Ruth and me to again visit Paris in 2026 on an extended stay. For make no mistake about it. I’m seriously overdue!