Paris 14 November, 2015

Paris is in mourning today.  When I boarded the train in my Paris suburbs hometown, I was shocked to find not a single soul in my wagon.  I have never seen this.  The train is usually full, even packed with people.  Where was everyone?

We are in shell shock.  We can not understand.  We are lost.

Once in Paris, there was a bit of activity but nothing close to a typical Saturday in the City of Lights.  As I exited the metro station at Jardin Luxembourg, another shock:  the park was closed.  Gates firmly shut with no sign of life inside the very large gardens.  And then just as if on cue, an old man playing a violin next to the closed entrance began playing “La Vie en Rose”.  I had to hold back the tears it all seemed so sad and senseless.  How does taking innocent lives solve anything?

I was in Paris for a mission though.  I had come in to record the latest episode of Turning Points with Mama Loves Paris founder, Claudette Parry Laws.  She and I had spoken earlier in the morning and agreed a typical radio segment was not the right thing to do after the horrific events the night before in Paris.  We came up with the idea to simply talk about what we were feeling, our observations as expats and how we were explaining the sad events of the 13th of November to our children.  We knew in our hearts it was the right thing to do.  The result was a soul searching show that strives to explain and possibly begin to heal the pain. (Show air date coming soon.)

The conclusion of our conversation?  The only way to obliterate the dark is to shine the light.  The only way to see the change we want for the world is to be the change we want for the world.  To act for the positive in whatever way possible.

As I left the recording studio, I stopped for a coffee.  The place was empty.  I asked the barrista, though I already knew the answer, “Has business been this slow all day?”  He told me it had been, then went on to explain he had been advised not to open today.  He said if he had done that though, he would have been giving in: ‘We all need to take some sort of action at whatever level we can or else they win… so I opened today.’  The coffee was ok but the conversation was powerful.

Then as I was changing from the metro to my train home, two more signs of the distress Paris is feeling.  First, an announcement I could not understand, even though it was being given in both French and English.  Finally, I understood:  ” Due to last night’s events, the Disneyland Paris park will be closed today and tomorrow.”  Even the Magic Kingdom was mourning.  Then another announcement after waiting for quite a while on a train that was not leaving:  “Suspicious package.”  All trains temporarily cancelled and my normal trainline was fully closed down as officials handled the possible danger.  Luckily after a bit of waiting, alternate routes were opened and an hour later, I was heading home.

Of course Paris will continue to be the City of Lights but for the moment, her lights have been dimmed as we deal with the darkness that invaded the city and left us all questioning “Why?”  It will be up to us to choose the light, up to us to not let fear rule and up to us to create the change that needs to happen so that peace can reign where darkness has passed.

Time to Heal.  Time for Peace.  For Paris, for the world.