The Stories That Walked Through the Door

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  There is something a little surreal about rolling a suitcase full of books into a bookstore when your name is on every cover. You write them quietly. You edit them. You second-guess them. You work through covers, publishing, distribution and all the details no reader ever sees. Then one day, you unpack those books onto a table in a beautiful independent bookstore and wait to see who walks through the door. Saturday at Bookery Manchester , they walked through. And what a gift they were. A Perfect Day for a Bookstore It was damp and gray outside, the kind of New Hampshire day that practically begs you to wander into a bookstore and stay awhile. Inside, my table was filled with The Internal Fungus Among Us , Rooted & Renewed , and Watered & Whole , along with bookmarks, information about my wellness work, and a wellness giveaway basket filled with all three signed books, my Gut Health Grocery Guide, a journal, candle, eye mask and a few other little things meant to e...
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La Tour Eifel, Notre-Dame de Paris, L’Opera Garnier, oh my….

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La Tour Eifel, Notre-Dame de Paris, L’Opera Garnier, oh my….



After I finally reached the correct hotel (hello jetlag, you look good on me), I desperately tried to nap.

When that failed, I did what any American woman would do.

I called Uber Eats and ordered Hawaiian pizza.

Curled up in a bed, in a hotel room… in Paris.

So!?

As I sat there nibbling sweet pineapple chunks and crispy edges, I let out a naughty little giggle at my own choice.

Ah, but the night was young.

And Paris does not sleep.

There were pas mal de things to do.

A Night Out in the City of Lights

I gussied up and sashayed out of Hôtel de la Paix.

(Paix means peace, and yes, I chose it intentionally.)

Julie!

Allons-y!

Off we went to dine at one of the most superlative restaurants in Paris. Strategically placed near the base of the Eiffel Tower, Chez Francis was an absolute dream.

Flowy red drapery. Chic trendy light fixtures. Expressive paintings. And a waiter speaking in the most delightful oui oui French accent.

(I just like the way that sounds.)

Julie and I sat, sipped, and talked for three hours as course after course arrived.

Escargots.
Pâté de foie.
Saumon for dinner.

And dessert?

A mango sorbet… très bon.

Paris at Night

The sightseeing afterward was even more impressive under the glow of holiday lights. The magic of Paris in the evening, the shimmer of the city under a midnight-blue sky, awakened my inner child.

It was pure wonder.

A picture is worth a thousand words… which is unfortunate, because I still kind of suck at taking pictures.

But trust me.

It was stunning.

Merci, mon amie Julie.

And did I mention…

I found Tiffany’s? 🤍

Love & Light,
jMf

This journey eventually became part of what I wrote in Watered & Whole.

If this story resonated with you, you can explore more reflections on healing, growth, and faith in my book From Soil to Soul: Watered & Whole, available on Amazon.



The City of Lights, captured in a few moments.

















If this resonated with you, I share more reflections on gut health, healing, and whole-person wellness at Forward ThinKer Wellness. Follow along or reach out directly at forwardthinkerwellness@gmail.com — I'd love to connect.


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