A Nor’easter, a Canceled Ed Sheeran Concert, Doggy Time & a Finished Book

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  This was not how I expected the weekend to go. There was a Nor’easter rolling through Rye, New Hampshire . The wind was whipping sideways off the coast, the rain had settled in, and then came the notification: Ed Sheeran was canceled. Well. There went that plan. A Little About Rye If you’ve never been to Rye, it captures a beautiful stretch of New Hampshire’s very small but mighty Seacoast. The town has eight miles of coastline, the longest of any town in the state, with sandy beaches, rocky headlands, salt marshes and my favorite view toward the Isles of Shoals.  One of those special places is Awcomin Marsh , protected by the Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire. And there’s history here, too. Odiorne Point was the site of the first permanent European settlement in what would become New Hampshire, established in 1623. Today, the area is home to Odiorne Point State Park and the Seacoast Science Center . Follow Route 1A along the coast, something I like to do on ...
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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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