leaving Paris

Paris. One last walk this morning. The rains pause for a few hours. Umbrella packed, everything packed and ready to go.

I come down to breakfast.

 

 

Then I go out. To walk the neighborhood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One last time.

 

Everything about the trip back is straightforward. Flight to Detroit -- on time. I watch three French movies, two quite beautiful (Brothers, and Like a Son). Detroit airport itself is chaotic, but I had quite the surprise at passport control: the agent checking me in said -- "you know you're partially approved for Global Entry." Well yes, I did the paperwork for it two years ago, but then I let it slide because there are no interviews anywhere near Madison for this. But, in Detroit, there sits an officer in the afternoons, right at the entry point and he will do an interview if you're partially approved. I thought my application had expired, but it hadn't. And so there you have it -- I got my speedy border entry permit today. It is possibly the least useful thing I own, as the entry lines in Detroit are rarely long, but still, as a frequent traveler, I have some pride at finally having completed this one step toward a smoother process. Long flights and layovers are tough. If you sprinkle the journey with little perks, you feel a heck of a lot better -- disproportionately to the service you receive! Us humans like to feel special!

Flight to Madison -- leaves on time, arrives on time. I do have a bit of a delay at my arrival, because I've been around enough people in planes trains and automobiles, museums, restaurants, buses, subways -- often masked, to be sure, but still, I test for Covid before meeting up with Ed. Thankfully I seem to have stayed clear of the coughs sneezes and snorts that are so much a part of fall and winter travel.

Home. I ask Ed for updates. Everything's quiet -- he tells me.

With so much love...