And Their Hearts Were Filled With Joy
Posted by: justmebethb on: April 24, 2012
A few fears ago, I decided to sell my sleek looking convertible. The younger woman, who answered my ad, sounded pretty excited about taking the car for a spin. We agreed on a time and place to meet, as I wanted her to test drive the vehicle to make sure it was a true fit for her needs. Her dad came along for the ride, anticipating exchanging money for the car. One glance told me, they were a very closely knit family. He was from the old country. And he clearly adored his adult daughter.
She climbed into the drivers seat like she was a princess on a velvet cushion. Her eyes were filled with excitement as we made our way down the freeway. As we drove along, we talked, as strangers often do when they have first met. She had felt at one point, she would never marry, as the right guy simply did not come along. Then, one day, when she least expected it, a handsome man became part of her life. They married almost immediately.
The following year, a miracle happened. She became pregnant with the child, who would change her whole life. Her parents were deliriously happy and the newly married couple could hardly contain their excitement. Somehow, deep within the heart of the soon to be mom, she had a feeling that she would have a Down’s Syndrome baby. In her heart of hearts, she had always known this would be the case. Sure enough, the baby was born. And it was clear that their little bundle of happiness had fulfilled her mother’s expectations. She was special, indeed,very special, in every way.
The grandparents were bursting at the seams, filled with love for their precious gift from heaven. The infant’s mom and dad were every bit as exhilarated. They named her Joy. For this family, she represented the very best of all things we strive to maintain. She was sweet and innocent, with a smile that would light up any room. As she grew into a toddler, the family loved her more and more with each passing day.
As we pulled up to the insurance company to exchange paperwork for the car, I saw a delightful man, beaming ear to ear, wallet in hand. He opened the wallet and could hardly wait to show me what was inside. Photo after photo, of their beloved Joy. He explained to me that after many years spent in prayer, they had been sent this wonderful gift from heaven. She was the love of his life and their promise of a life of love and happiness.
I walked away that day with a renewed faith in the world. Never have I seen a family so truly and completely engulfed in their love for a single soul. And for the first time, I really understood what the word special was meant to look like from a distance. Not different or lacking in any way, but completely and totally beloved by everyone who crossed their path. And that is about as special of a gift as anyone could ever hope to receive.
Ray & Eleanor…A Valentine Love Story
Posted by: justmebethb on: February 14, 2012
Every man has one holiday they consider the most important of all. For Ray, that day was Feb 14th. He and Eleanor had spent their first Valentine’s day at home. An oncoming snowmobile traveling too fast, had caused a collision. His bride’s leg was broken in several places. As their marriage was new and being thrifty was considered to be a good thing, they set in place a tradition for all holidays that would follow.
Each year Ray would choose from his small collection of cards. Eleanor would do the same. They would look for a card that expressed how they really felt about each other. Rules like that sometimes inspire the best of behavior. Year after year, they opened the same cards from each other, marking only the new date and perhaps a small note. Decades came and went and they continued to really enjoy their little tradition.
Eleanor loves candy. Not just any candy will do. She really, really loves Sees candies. It did not take long for Ray to figure out what made her eyes sparkle and shine. Each year he lovingly chose her card and made his way to stand in line for the beloved box of Sees. Life being what it is, Ray passed away at the end of June. His 84th birthday would have been tomorrow. Needless to say, today promised to be a very tough one.
At Christmas time, Eleanor decided to set aside half her box of candy for Valentine’s Day. She also knew she could not be trusted. In an effort to save the candy from herself, she wrapped the box in enough sealing tape to look like Fort Knox. She hid it away, out of sight and patiently waited. Valentine’s Day could not come soon enough. !!!
I awoke this morning to my mother’s smiling face with a devilish grin that told me she had been up to mischief. As I walked into the living room, I noticed a large Valentine’s card standing in front of the framed picture of Ray that graces the living room table. After a few moments my mom appeared and announced that she had gotten a Valentine from Ray !!! She had also chosen one from her to him. She was eagerly anticipating digging into the box of candy she would open after we returned from the movies. Of all the movie choices she could have made, she picked “The Vow”. Our movie was a real tug on the heartstrings. We returned home just in time in sneak a few pieces of candy before dinner.
Ray loved daffodils more than any other flower. In the fall, mom decided to plant hundreds of them in his honor. She hoped when spring arrived, there would be a huge splash of bright yellow in front of the house. It was all for her husband of three and a half decades, who loved the bright yellow rascals waving in the breeze. He had never managed to buy any for himself. We planted and planted in hopeful anticipation.
Today, as I looked out the window, I saw that the bright promising crop has a leader. One single flower is determined to win the blooming race. Right next to it is a close contender, just like two old friends standing, admiring the sunshine together. Of the hundreds waiting for more sun, only the two were determined to bloom in unison.
Passion’s Edge (Poem by Beth Beecroft image of same)
Posted by: justmebethb on: June 7, 2010
At times life may surprise us…and take our breath away. Someone we meet will touch us…in an unexpected way. Suddenly we view life…in a light unseen before. The chance meeting of a lifetime …is now knocking on our door. Around the corner they both came…one single moment in time…the warmest of smiles… inquisitive eyes…his mirror reflection… simply perfection…an image indelibly fine. The vision in her mind of this tender loving soul…inspired the very best in her…shedding shyness and self control. Suddenly she found herself…flying high above the clouds… feeling free and unencumbered…doing things her heart had dreamed about. Friendships…there are many…whose roots can now be traced…to a charming handsome man…and the sorrow he erased. As time went on their friendship…took another turn…feelings deep within her soul… began to make her yearn. In another place in time …her body would softly stir…with images dancing in the dark…touching every part of her. Their bodies bare and wanting… appeared before her eyes…a hunger reached from deep within…the sound of audible sighs. The hardness of his body…how sweet his lips might taste…fingers tracing every inch…the look upon his face… breathless passionate images…her mind could not erase. Half a world away…smoldering thoughts of him… invisible touch…remain as such…buried deep inside her skin.
Musical Notes…Bill Graham…and Rock and Roll Memories
Posted by: justmebethb on: June 7, 2010
A long time ago…I walked into a store to do a bit of shopping and walked out as a reluctant new employee. The name on the building might as well have been written in letters that stretched to the sky…as even whispering the name Bill Graham within the confines of the bay area…instantly resulted in idol worship. Bill’s grip on the entertainment industry in northern California was a equivalent to a fortress…big and strong. Working for such an amazing gentleman was a dream of many… young and old. He ruled his businesses with the tenacity of an alley cat …hungry for food …and the word "no" simply was not in his vocabulary. The motley crew he gathered around him were a very talented bunch…with inspired roots from which many a mogul have grown. The handful in attendance at our mandatory Winterland meetings felt as though we had torn a page from time. When Bill spoke…it seriously stood still. I was naive and young enough not to know how to be intimidated by the enormity of presence he commanded. My hand and arm were raised with suggestions and reports on progress shared as though he were an old friend and not the ruling head of an empire. Del and Dave Furano were an integral part of the management team…superior players whose level of expertise and business acumen would become the good fortune of the folks at Sony. Last I knew…Del was the CEO of the Sony Signature line…and his brother Dave was in the upper eschalon of mega entertainment contracts as well. Not long ago I encountered a brochure or legal agreement of sorts with names from the past. To fully comprehend …you would require a massive amount of information about my past…which would explain my trepidation to partake again in any part of the rock and roll industry…and all that entails. Bill had a store at 333 Columbus in San Francisco. It was down the road from a great Tower record location and in a good spot for selling t-shirts …posters and displaying memorabilia. The store was also a Bass ticket outlet…an ideal spot for the masses to gather in anticipation of any major concert announcement. At some point in time it was decided that an additional outlet would be a good vantage from which to fill the Oakland Coliseum and venues across the east bay. And so…a few days before I walked in to shop…a store was born. Ray Ward was the general manager of the Oakland Coliseum at that time…a good family man with diversified investments of his own. Ray and his family were a joy to know and work with over the years. The store and all it meant to the area…should have been a serious win-win scenario. Within a few days of my becoming employed…some personnel changes ensued… and in a blink of an eye…I found myself unofficially doing everything. I created displays…sold merchandise…did the books… and the banking and put together the coolest Christmas window display I have ever seen… with a tree made out of rock logo t-shirts and a giant oil painting of Paul McCartney. When the dust cleared…I became part of the infamous management team. I owned several other businesses at the same time…one only a block away…so it was convenient…and I knew plenty about every aspect of life around the entertainment world. When Paul McCartney and Wings tickets went on sale…I bought a thousand (ditto for the Rolling Stones)…to assist with radio station contests and help with promotional events. I bought a block of forty tickets to see Elvis Presley and was given second row seats to the show at the Cow Palace…which I promptly gave away to a young fan with a new camera. I had never been interested in seeing Elvis…knew he was incredibly talented…but was perhaps turned off by the masses of women acting like idiots everywhere he went. As it turned out…I literally melted into my seat at his concert the next evening…mesmerized by a talent both rich and velvety smooth. He died a few short months later…leaving me saddened by my own shortsightedness. When you are part of a rock and roll giant’s organization…chances to enjoy incredible shows are many…and there is a certain expectation to make an appearance more often than not. Keeping in mind that most people would have laid at Bill’s feet for a chance to work for him…I tried to balance appreciation for the opportunities and duties that called me elsewhere. I enjoyed my brief friendship with Susan from the Winterland office before she left to join Journey on tour…if I remember correctly. It is with fond memories of the bay area…that I look back on faces…like a young Phil Collins (one of the sweetest people you could have ever had the pleasure to meet) Boz Scaggs (a Stanford concert during the "bump" craze…landing me in someone’s lap)…Elvin Bishop (a Keystone Berkeley show where my car got parked in by dozens of bikes…and the Hell’s Angels were kind enough to block off the street and move the bikes so I could leave)…Tom Hanks (think of a little cottage style home with a view on top of a rounded hill…an idyllic and dreamy life before Hollywood)…and countless other memories of now superstars…remembering when they first started out. The Day on the Green concerts were wonderful…with many backstage amenities …Frampton’s drink fountain…and with every venue…more special requests to fulfill. I never worked any of the concerts…with the exception of one. A few of us were hand picked to help with our Thanksgiving dinner …which was turned into a black tie affair. If the image of formal wear…tuxes… opera gloves and elegance with every turn of the head is not enough…one need only consider the entertainment roster that read like a who’s who in the industry. The creamy full length gloves I adored were a perfect compliment to the jeweled gold brocade dress whose presence in my closet for many years was a reminder of this tasteful and decadent evening. A movie set was brought in and the concert with subsequent dancing was captured on film and made into a movie. It was billed as The Last Waltz…but in reality it was a waltz to remember for all times. My young daughter fell asleep after midnight…not wanting to join the rock star kids in the incredible back stage setting that had been provided for them. She suddenly rose from her chair…sound asleep until Bob Dylan took the stage…when she began clapping and swaying to the music. Everyone around us laughed. You never quite knew what to expect next with such a fun and loving bunch of people to work with and enjoy. The sight of Bill’s Rolls Royce sent people scrambling…but he had a sad and funny side too. He was orphaned in the worst possible European scenario at a place in time that had to have been sheer terror. He was eventually was rescued by a relief agency and ended up washing dishes in New York City. His is one of many personal stories I have heard firsthand…documenting the often unknown struggle from poverty to privilege. Our Christmas party was held at Bimbo’s 66 that year. For every table of six people…a waiter stood by to anticipate your every desire… filling the wine and keeping the spirits flowing. Dinner was beyond any measure of my imagination…and for those wishing to indulge a bit of spirit…Santa Claus was at the door with a basket of tiny envelopes containing freshly rolled holiday cheer. Bill was adamantly opposed to any form of drug use…and provided ample medical resources at each concert. But Santa…well…he obviously was in a mischievous mood that year. Santana and Tower of Power played for our little Christmas party…perhaps as much as twenty feet from our tables. I got dragged into going to Winterland with a co-worker to see a Heart concert. True to her daredevil personality…she insisted we climb to the sky and beyond on tiny metal ladders whose ascent could have readily meant a fall to our death. Once we reached the little box in the lighting area in which to seat…I envisioned myself staying there until the fire department came to rescue me. That was the first of many days when I realized that at the ripe old age of twenty six…I was a youngster no more. I could share countless stories of artists whose meager beginnings involved selling a few tickets here and there…or asking if we could hand out their bumper stickers for free (hey Tom Petty…I think that worked out pretty well). I could share pictures of memorabilia that would make a toughened adult drool… but I will save those for another place in time. Bill died in a helicopter crash some years ago…and my Mom was kind enough to save the newspaper coverage of the event for me…as I was out of the country at the time. His courage shown in the tiresome climb… rising from poverty and obscurity to the top link of the rock and roll chain…served as an inspiration to us all.
Dreaming In The Buff
Posted by: justmebethb on: May 14, 2010
My first ever trip to Albuquerque could have been construed to be ill fated at best. I marched off to the airport like a girl scout on a mission to save someone. My heart fluttered with excitement in anticipation of a "first" meeting many years after a "first" and only date. Someone needed help…and this was clearly a job I could handle. During the course of my shuttle ride to the hotel…I poured out heart and soul to the only other passenger in the shuttle van. I told him I was meeting someone who was very special in every way. My normal cool and calm exterior felt like a swarm of butterflies were landing on me from every direction. I found being unnerved quite funny for the fearless and tough old girl I have always been. I explained I had not dated in many, many years…no dinners shared…not even a single kiss. The gentleman in the shuttle was excited for me. He had been so very much in love with his beautiful bride with whom he shared more than three decades before sadly losing her to illness. The wistful look upon his face spoke volumes of the intensity and depth of his love for her. We arrived at our destination… wished each other well…and went our seperate ways. My next day consisted of spending hours and hours sitting patiently in the lobby for a ride that would never come. At the risk of sounding vain…I was truly beautiful. A radiant smile graced my face in anticipation of the new chapter I was about to begin. My below waist length hair lay in soft curls cascading down my shoulders… accenting the curves of my dress. I applied a very tiny amount of makeup…an unusual move on my part. I was in fact pretty as a picture…a fact many people during the day had commented on as I sat patiently waiting. After all the flight options for the day had come and gone and trains had departed for the last run of the evening…it became clear to me that an additional night’s stay was imminent. I shook my head in disbelief…booked an additional night at the hotel and flights to return home the following day. My evenly paced phone calls had met with undesirable results…dead air. As I prepared to gather my suitcase and carry bags…the gentleman from the previous day’s shuttle spotted me from across the lobby. He approached in a most curious manner as he knew I should have been long gone. He asked how my meeting had turned out and was anxious to hear how exciting the day had been. His expression quickly fell to resemble one that mirrored my own disbelief. We talked while I checked in…and he carried my suitcase…as any gentleman would. We went back over the day’s events…covering conversations…guessing at possibilities… unable to have an inkling between us as to what went wrong. I thanked him for wheeling my suitcase along and he left. A phone call I received shortly afterward offered not an explanation…but at least the relief that my friend was not in fact dead on the floor or something equally horrific. He insisted that I get something to eat as I had not done so all day…afraid to leave my post in the lobby lest we might miss each other somehow. I went to the restaurant and bar area where some food was still being served. The place was filled to capacity with only one seat vacant…next to my shuttle bus friend. The burgers we devoured were washed down gently with cold drinks…and we continued our discussion about my situation… equally perplexed. My friend called to say we would meet very early in the morning and I stepped outside to have a chance to talk privately. I returned to finish what I could eat of my meal…and asked for the bill. The waitress gave the gentleman his bill and reached to set mine down in front of me. He swooped in and took my bill for food and drinks faster than you could blink an eye. As I thanked him for his kindness…he said there was one more thing. He wanted to make sure the trip was not a total waste…as I had accomplished nothing. He stood up…and kissed me on the lips in front of a bevy of strangers looking on in admiration. And then he kissed me again. He said I could no longer say I had not been kissed for a very, very long time. If I were the kind of girl to kiss and tell…it would be a story of soft velvety lips meeting in a most unexpected manner. As I look back over the few photos taken and my one little momento of my ill fated journey to Albuquerque…I hope in my heart that the memory I will take away is not the one of humiliation and despair…but of the kindness shown by a stranger whose admiration was duly noted. Sentiments expressed would clearly have been excellent candidates for the mutual admiration society. So…if you ever find yourself a little blue…feeling stranded and disappointed…know in your heart that while the cowboy boot you were trying on for size may not be the perfect fit after all…there may be a soft smooth pair of suede pumps that do. As I crept into bed last night in the comfort of my own bed…it was this very thought I pondered as I drifted off to sleep…dreaming in the buff. Back in the USA
Posted by: justmebethb on: April 30, 2010
After a delightful (seriously) ten hour flight on United Airlines from London to San Francisco and a pleasant flight from California to Washington…I touched down on American soil and have been going nonstop since the plane landed. I have been surrounded by loved ones of every age and have not yet unpacked a thing. It may take me a bit longer than I expected to get caught up with my postings…as it seems many people, places and things were waiting patiently for my return. The jet lag and eight hour time difference are nothing compared to the tasks that lay stretched out in front of me. Thank you for your understanding. 
If You See This Old Girl In London…
Posted by: justmebethb on: April 27, 2010
There are some incredible photos and wonderful stories from London waiting to be shared. Captured images include stunning architectural dream buildings and gardens filled with handsomely placed flower beds…parks decorated in true spring form with families and friends…lovers holding hands and every possible combination of humanity enjoying the natural feast with wide eyed wonder. Beautiful statues and heritage buildings well known to tourists are also part of my collective effort to capture historic London while appreciating modern renditions on this perfect spring day. I hope you will visit each of the new London photo albums once they are set in place. An earnest attempt was made to honor both old and new…representing each in the best possible light. If by chance you find yourself in London some day…I would encourage you to mix and mingle with the many smiling faces at your disposal. Do not be too shy to ask if there is a great place is for enjoying a picnic…or which building they find the most interesting. Don’t be surprised if they share knowledge of the Beatles store on Baker street or recall stories from their childhood where legendary characters were larger than life. Exploring is only half the fun without knowing the secrets every person and beautiful place will share…if only you are willing to listen. I wrongly assumed that a few days in England would provide extra time for organization. Ha !!! Between the amazing pools to swim in…lovely old pubs to treasure…and new haunts waiting to be explored…I neither slept nor slowed down a bit. I sincerely apologize for the delay in postings…but the look on my face says it all. I am loving every moment of every day…and have some incredible photos and stories to share of my journey and the many wonderful people I have come to know along the way. The colorful cast of collective heroes and wonderful people I have come to know along the way will be forthcoming soon.
Vienna Austria…enroute to London now
Posted by: justmebethb on: April 26, 2010
The immense greenery of Vienna was perhaps the most striking feature that caught my eye during my brief visit to Austria. Crops are strewn in widely swept rows with mustard yellow colored plants in between. As bright and freshly green as the landscape appears…I was even more curious about the tall row of trees that divide plots on all four sides. Unlike a windbreak scenario where the wind is menacing from one particular side…the large sections of land are surrounded with trees that would seem to provide ample shade and perhaps serve as a boundary of sorts. Fencing was not to be seen. Vienna is rightfully quite proud of Mozart. His image and music are seen everywhere and on any possible combination of consumable and household goods from chocolates to music boxes that bear his beloved music. Every single person I encountered were friendly and eager to share their knowledge of Austria. A return trip will be in order and at that point in time I will attempt to paint a visual picture of this enchanting land.
Charles De Gaulle and the Delta Blues
Posted by: justmebethb on: April 19, 2010
I sampled a taste of Brazil before boarding a cruise ship for eighteen glorious nights. The sea portion of my magnificent vacation was nearly over when I learned that my youngest child had wrecked her car. She was understandably pretty upset by the ordeal…so I said "Come to Paris". Everything just seems to look better when you are sitting in the most amazing city in the world. My child noted that a close friend would give anything to be able to see Paris again. A very high fever had ruined her friend’s only trip five years ago and sadly…her vision of Paris was little more than a blur. So…I bought two pairs of tickets instead of one. Before the ship docked in Italy…my plans had changed from touring an additional twenty countries by train…to a few days on the beach in Italy followed by locating a new apartment in Paris. Our normal haunt for our annual mother and daughter Paris trip was not available. I placed an ad searching for a place to rent for a month. I intended to run around Paris for a few weeks and be joined by the girls for a dream vacation together. I am one of those Moms who would move heaven and earth for her kids…sparing no expense when it comes to making memories. I leased an apartment along the canal and set about exploring the new neighborhood. Everything was in place long before the girls were set to depart. They had weeks to do the usual "shop till you drop" and spent a good part of every day making plans for their arrival. Not a moment would be wasted. They were to fly from Washington to Utah and then to Pennsylvania before the final flight to Paris. When the girls got to the airport to board their first flight…the final flight from Philadelphia to Paris was being cancelled. They asked the ticket agent for help but were only told to call the 1 800 number or get online at www.Delta.com. The girls called me frantically not knowing what to do as the ticket agent would not help them at all. I had been checking with the web site and it was "not available at this time"…and the 1 800 number had a recording that said they were not able to answer the phone and to try back later. When the girls got to their gate I asked them to hand the phone to the gate agent…and the gentleman said a few airports may still be open for options to land…Shannon, Ireland or one of two airports in Scotland. Their flight was called and off they flew. As soon as they landed…the girls went straight to the Delta agent to ask for help. The Delta agent in Salt Lake told them they had to use the international phone line in another terminal. If they would have gone to the other terminal they would have missed their flight to Philiadelphia. Missing any leg of a trip pretty well means your journey ends there. And so off to Philly they went with no help from the airlines. I assured them that I would have options lined up before their plane touched down. I was able to get online in Paris and gathered some ideas. I was unable to get any assistance from Delta either over the phone or online. The girls could have gotten a room at the Westin Hotel which is connected by skybridge to a mall with seventy stores and restaurants. They could have stayed at another nice hotel and been close to the Liberty Bell and Independence Square…or enjoyed a tour on the famed bus that would show them all the well known spots. As the girls were now going to be stranded three thousand miles away from home…and had been refused any kind of help at all from the airline they were flying on…they were understandably concerned. They were too young to rent a car…and too young to get a hotel room on their own. They were not given any food or water or travelers assistance of any kind. I made the decision to buy them four more tickets and flew them to Florida for three days to allow the volcano to settle down a bit. There are relatives in Florida about two hours away from Orlando…so off they flew. I spent the next eighteen hours on the phone and internet trying to make arrangements for them to fly into anywhere in Europe where I could retrieve them. I considered Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, the south of France, Ireland, England, Scotland, Germany and more. The few times I was able to connect with a Delta representative I found the agents rude and unhelpful. Okay…I am an airline brat. My Mom worked for an airline for many years…and I have nothing but respect and appreciation for the job reservation agents do…as I know every aspect of their often thankless position. I had taken the time to write a commentary for a well known publication asking people to be kind to others in the volcano crisis…to dig deep and produce all the patience they could find. I asked for people with means to consider buying a meal for a young family…to buy two water bottles and give one to a stranger…to share their cell phone and more as everyone is in the same boat but with different size wallets. Something as simple as buying a coloring book and crayons for a young child could make a big difference in this stressful time. As there was no other place in Paris to sit down and talk to Delta face to face…I opted for taking the metro and then the train to Charles de Gaulle airport. The airport is about 45 minutes away from Paris…and the cheapest cost of making the trek (by train) is 17 Euro. When I got to Charles de Gaulle I was not prepared for what greeted my eyes. A veritable ghost town sprawled in front of me. I walked outside from terminal to terminal without seeing a sole. A Russian girl pounced on me in hopes that I might have change so she could use the internet. A young family on the train discussed their options. A British gentleman said his family had been put up in a hotel for three nights and he simply had to leave them behind to return to work in London. When I arrived in Terminal 2…the Air France counter was alive with activity. As the final flight that was cancelled for the girls was an Air France flight through Delta…I got in line at the Air France counter. The Delta counter was closed that day. An Air France representative stood at the end of the line asking questions to ensure no one would wait in line needlessly. Another agent handed out bottles of water. There were trays of sandwiches on the counter. We all waited in line for more than an hour…but no one seemed to mind as they were clearly doing the best they could to help everyone. When it was my turn I was given confirmed seating for the girls on a flight from JFK in New York to Toulouse in the south of France. They would need to get from Orlando Florida to La Guardia and then take a shuttle to JFK but I did not mind. UNEDITED AND NOT ANYWHERE NEAR COMPLETED YET…ARTICLE IN THE MAKING. Best Kept Secrets in Paris (Montparnasse Tower Views and more of Champs-Elysees’)
Posted by: justmebethb on: April 16, 2010
Not surprisingly…perhaps some of the best kept secrets are not only unknown to tourists…but to many Parisians as well. Montparnasse Tower is one of them. This magnificent structure stands proudly visible for many miles in any direction. The cozy observation deck encircles the 56th floor. I use the word cozy in the nicest possible connotation. No matter what the weather might be like outside…this is clearly a warmly inviting place to visit. Wise travelers will come back again and again…as there is nothing that rivals the splendor it has to offer. The elevator is said to be the fastest in all of Europe…ascending more than 600 feet in all of thirty eight seconds. This fact sounded a bit daunting to me as I envisioned a heart stopping ride with perhaps my own hair standing straight up on my head upon my exit. This was clearly not the case. It was in fact one of the smoothest elevator rides I have ever had the privilege to enjoy. As you depart the elevator and enter the largest room…you will have your photo taken as a courtesy…in the event you may opt for any variety of pictures as a forever souvenir. There is no attempt at all to sell you anything…and we could easily have walked out forgetting about having had the photo taken. You have a choices of daylight, midday or illuminated night time views from the tower as a backdrop. Packages were quite reasonably priced. The gift shop offered some wonderful choices in very affordable price ranges to ensure no tourist young or old would have to go home empty handed. There is a video room complete with images and descriptions of notable landmarks in Paris. Just outside of this room is an interactive floor surprise that was enjoyable for children and adults alike. A cafe in the main room beckons you to sit back…relax and enjoy the journey as you imbibe in something to quench your thirst or please your palette. The atmosphere is casual and comfortable in such a way that you forget you are in the midst of a very large city. And in keeping with my pattern of story telling…the best is yet to come. If you opt to ascend a couple of short stairwells…there is a rooftop view that will take your breath away. From this incredible vantage point…you can see all of Paris and take perhaps the most amazing photographic memories of your entire trip. In all fairness…I have to admit something to you. I have a new camera. In the nearly two months I have owned it…the telescopic lens has remained in the packaging in anticipation of the right moment to try it out. Yesterday that moment presented itself. The majority of my photos in the new Montparnasse album were taken with the regular lens. The few pictures I took using the telescopic lens are quite obvious. I walked around and around on the rooftop almost forgetting all semblance of time and the young Belgian girls with whom I shared the day. We met a few days before at the Cafe Trocadero and exchanged information with the intention of going to Montparnasse together for the first time. The tower is featured in a movie and is quite well known throughout the land because of the wide exposure. In the film it is noted that only workers are allowed in the actual tower. Sadly, I discovered a large number of French residents as well as many tourists from all over the world had no idea that anyone was allowed inside. Admission is very modest (Adult fare as of this writing is only eleven Euro) and lower prices are available for every other age category. You need not be a tourist to enjoy the wonderful treasures that await you at Montparnasse Tower. A short metro ride away held another delightful surprise. Most visitors to Paris catch only the smallest glimpse of the famed Parisian landmark known as the Champs-Elysees’. I sincerely apologize for not having a French keyboard to write this article as I am sorely aware of misplaced punctuation. I will sentence myself to one hour of typing on a French keyboard as penance. It is always a surprise for tourists to discover that some of the letters of the alphabet have been moved. The Champs-Elysees’ is widely known for the seemingly endless designer stores and the infamous Arc de Triumphe in plain view. Many people opt to walk under the street to cross over and see the eternal flame and sombering tribute to lost soldiers. I will cover this wonderful heritage sight another time…but it is the corner stone of the Champs-Elysees as well. The avenue is widely traveled and built with just that purpose in mind. The traffic lanes are intended for perpetual travel on a grand scale. Sidewalks on both sides of the avenue are like none other I have ever seen. They were meant to afford leisurely walking and shopping visiting side by side with your friends and loved ones. The lavish displays and ample cafes dotted along the way are a gentle reminder that you have in fact arrived. The importance of such a place does not go unnoticed. With a short walk of the Arc de Triumphe you will encounter many famous designer stores offering every kind of merchandise. Beautiful young women like Katy Holmes can readily blend in and maintain a sense of normalcy. At last…a chance to be stylishing attired in a celebrity rich environment void of intrusion. If you are in the mood for a bit of excitement the Lido show proffers superior entertainment. Most people tend to get caught up in the enormity of it all and seldom wander past the first block or two. The effort to go even one more block can make all the difference in the world. There is an incredibly adorable little coffee shop decorated in pink on one side of the avenue. The car dealerships have space age modern displays and colorfully built and designed buildings to inspire the inner child in all of us. As you approach what appears to be the end of this section…there is a stunning display of floral elegance that meets the eye in every direction. If you think of a roundabout being like a pie neatly divided into slices…each slice is a different color where countless blooms nestled at the base of trees meet perfect spring grass and landscaping your eyes will dream of long after your journey to Paris has ended. The fountains that normally adorn each bed of flowers were not fully prepared for spring time yet…but the view in front of you is already sheer perfection. I will spare you the details of all the wonder and surprise I have left out of my wide eyed stroll through Paris…as you will no doubt want to discover them for yourself. I will however tempt and tease you with a few of my photos from a day well spent and money wisely invested in a life I have come to not only embrace each and every day…but to love in both new and exciting ways. Search
- justmebethb: Thanks Lori...I could not agree more. And, of course, the first daffodil ever planted at this house, bloomed yesterday...on Ray's birthday. Makes se
- Lori Lucas: This made me cry, but very happy at the same time. Everyone deserves this kind of love.
- Bobbie: It was evident every time I saw them together! Forever Love! Bobbie
Categories
- A penny for your thoughts (12)
- By the sea (1)
- Commentary (19)
- Computers and Internet (2)
- Entertainment (2)
- Fun Fun Fun (7)
- Health and wellness (1)
- Humanitarian (1)
- Kids Kid Kids (2)
- Lasting Impressions (4)
- Lemons or Lemonade ??? (2)
- Precious Memories (3)
- Remembering (7)
- Seasonal (6)
- Special Memories (8)
- The old fishing hole (1)
- Travel (28)
- Uncategorized (2)
