le retour

Bonjour ! There's a little more than 32 hours until I'm home. And right now, I'm feeling every single thing one could possibly could.

"That’s the thing about returning home after being away—it teaches you things that you’ve been unknowingly learning so slowly that you’ve allowed their impact to slip through the cracks of everyday life. It causes you to slow down and become aware of where you had been, who you had been when life’s struggles were comparably less damaging and exhaustive." -Rebekah Arbuthnot

It's different this retour. I'm not just going home for the holidays (or another occasion). I'll be living in New York, in my parents' house, for the longest period of time since I left. Yay, family and friends, and the city, and this research! But I'm not at all excited to miss coffee dates (etc.) with my community here. Nor Paris itself. In spite of our complicated and often frustrating relationship, it's nestled its way into my heart forever and always. I'm not ready to say goodbye. Thankfully, I don't have to. I'm coming back. I'm coming back after two seemingly very significant months at home. Dramatic. Here's to hoping all goes well. Up, up, and away I go.