Indian Summer

Listening to Aretha Franklin and American soul music while we wait for the movie (Respect!)

You might have noticed a theme on my (and other Paris) blogs: summer sucked.

Or, to put it less harshly, summer didn’t really seem to make much of an appearance in the City of Light.

However, we now seem to be experiencing something of an Indian summer. For the past several days I wake up, open my curtain and exclaim: sun! blue skies! wow, really?! (I so don’t want to jinx this lucky run of weather).

Setting up the old black and white film projector

Gone is the ghost town of August when the entire city emptied out for holiday-making elsewhere. I think those people are crazy because imagine this: you get the most beautiful city in the world all to yourself when you stay!

But now everyone is back; it is the rentree. Frankly, the frantic energy and returning crowds are stressing me out after such a relaxed month. Imagine back-to-school fever, but on speed.

So, this wonderful weather couldn’t have come at a better time to help me recapture a bit of the relaxed vibe. Summer in September? I’ll take it.

I was delighted to see that Hitchcock’s “Notorious” was playing in a neighborhood park on Friday. (You might remember I adore Hitchcock).

Aside from a very rowdy group of teenagers – I guess there are unruly skater kids everywhere – it was a perfect evening. Cary Grant. Ingrid Bergman. Stars. Clear skies.

They even piped in Aretha Franklin and a bunch of American soul music while we waited. Hearing French people sing along to “Take a load off Fanny” has to be a personal highlight.

Clinging to the last gasp of summer, I’m thankful for every minute.

Notorious on the Big Screen. (I want to live in a black and white movie).