A very Amélie-style walk followed by some retail therapy

After doing my homework, I realized that I needed to buy 2 more books before the end of the semester. Considering that this weekend I'll be in Bruxelles, and next weekend I'll be in Londres, I decided to bite the bullet and buy them now. Luckily these are my last two books for the semester, so I wont have to worry about shelling out any more cash -- or worse, filling up my bags on the way home with books.

I was initially going to take the metro, but I had put on what I thought was a very cute outfit, the weather was nice for the first time in days, and I really didn't want to make that hellish transfer at Châtelet, so I walked. It's been a while since I've gotten to go on these long walks with no time schedule. It reminded me of when I was in high school and I would walk home every day. It was on those walks that I wrote my best essays, my best poems, my best prose. I worked out everything in my head and was simultaneously inspired by the world around me. I can't say I wrote an essay or a poem on this walk, but it was a similar feeling. I put in my écouteurs (earphones), put on some Whitesnake, and zoned out.

I felt so Amélie-like. Usually when I walk around, I have a direction, I walk quickly and swerve in and out of people like boxer dodging attacks. Today I meandered. When I saw a homeless man, I stopped and gave him one of my twixes. When I saw tourists, I didn't roll my eyes and act all upset that they were clogging up the streets -- instead, I smiled at all of them, and offered to take a picture of each and every one who was struggling to get both themselves and Notre Dame into the tiny little frame of their point-and-shoot held at an armslength away. I'd like to think that I helped make these people's trips more memorable and enjoyable. If not that, at least their photos came out better.

What inspired me to go on a quest of good-doing instead of sulking? I don't know. I think the christmas air has something to do with it. Everyone's setting up -- all the big displays are finally up. The Champs Elysée is ridiculous (it's like disneyland but with hot cider and hot wine) and the giant christmas tree was getting installed in front of Notre Dame as I walked by today. Even the hotel de ville is getting decorated as if it were a suburban house in California -- christmas lights and all.

But christmas didn't just inspire me to lighten up and be kind to people, it also inspired me to do what christmas is intended to inspire all women to do: shop. As soon as I peeked into the store, i realized it was a bad idea. As great as retail therapy feels, I realized that my be-kind-to-others therapy was a lot more cost effective. I did get a pair of over-the-knee boots that I enjoy, but 35 EUR is a lot to spend. I suppose I could have done worse and accidentally stepped into the Louis Vitton store, but nonetheless, I will not be going into another store any time soon!

Anyway, the boots are very cute and I'll try to post photos soon.

Now I'm back at home, sinking into some reading with a glass of wine.