How to Have a Love Affair with Life

I took my first steps today.

After breaking my foot upon arriving in France, my hopes of hiking all summer were dashed. Instead I became very still.

My foot is now recovering, so I decided to take a walk. My first real steps.

As soon as I set out, I stumbled upon a group of passing Americans. I took the opportunity to dazzle them with my “bonjour.” I’ve still got it, the mastery of the one French word that fools everyone into thinking I’m French.

As soon as they passed, I wrote about it in my notebook as I was walking.

That’s right. I walk and write at the same time.

In fact, that’s exactly how I broke my foot. I was writing while climbing down a mountain trail.

And do you know what that experience said to me? “You must pay attention!”

But now, on my first real walk, what’s the first thing I do?

I write and walk at the same time.

Hey! I’m walking now as I write this!

Funny how the old habits come right back.

I found the perfect spot to picnic. It’s a newly planted cherry orchard, not too far from my house. I leaned against the big old twin oak tree, heavy with acorns. It offered a stunning view of Mon Petit Village des Artistes.

The wind was strong and it whipped through my hair. I’ve missed being in the countryside.

And I took photographs again!

During my convalescence, my photo library, all 11,000 images, disappeared from both my computer and my cloud backup. I’ve been able to retrieve 8000 of them so far but I mourn the missing pictures and even considered abandoning photography altogether.

So the new pictures I just took are the first steps in more ways than one.

I cracked open a cold beer and bit into my sandwich of leftover pate, red onion, sliced cornichons, and a big slab of butter. The salty picholine olives made the perfect accompaniment.

Lunch finished with fresh juicy figs and a chunk of cheese. Then I dozed against the tree as the wind had its way with my dreams.

And I dreamt that I was dancing.

And Life itself was leading, showing me the steps.

“You must pay attention,” Life whispered sweetly in my ear.

And I looked Life in the eye and realized that I am in love. I am having a love affair with my own life.

And then Life twirled me around the dance floor as the music played and all the flowers smiled.