Fernweh (n.)- A crave for travel; being homesick for a place you’ve never been.

I’ve never been to Paris. But let me just go ahead and say that I think the Parisians and I would get along great.

There’s something about spring that stirs an undercurrent of nostalgia. This season is filled with graduations, the ending of another school year, weddings, showers and so much more.

Spring is beautiful, with new life around every corner. They days are longer and the nights are shorter. Happy Hour is surrounded by a golden glow and the drinks are rich with sweet berries and refreshing mint.

While all of this is beautiful and rich, I’m struck with a wistful feeling- An image of a single person wondering covered paths and city sidewalks in the soft evening light.

This is where I think Paris fits in. Their culture oozes with art and vibrancy, but shares this unique duality of mystery and sadness. They are quick to drink champagne and stay up late dancing, but know the true merit of a “Lazy Sunday” and slowly drinking coffee at a neighborhood café.

This spring I’m struck with how much change has happened in the last few years. Two years ago most of my close friends graduated college and moved on from that phase of their lives, while I felt left behind struggling through one more year of classes, dying to catch up to people my age.

More recently, within the last year I’ve left my own collegiate years behind, moved cities, started a new job and embraced being on my own in the very intimidating, real-world way. That kind of maturing and “narrowing” as we get older is good and valuable, but sometimes a little hard to grasp.

It means saying goodbye to people and things that are no longer healthy and supportive. It means embracing the wiggly unknown and taking time to figure out who you are and what you want. And for me it means embracing my inner Parisian.

 

For your own Parisian stay-cation here are my suggestions to help set the mood:

Book:

How to Be Parisian Wherever You are| Anne Berest, Audrey Diwan, Caroline de Maigret and Sophie Mas

Movie:

A Midnight in Paris| Woody Allen

Playlist:

Clair de Lune| Michael Dulin rendition

La Vie En Rose| Louis Armstrong

Dream a Little Dream| The Mamas and the Papas

Smile| Madeleine Peyroux

I’ll be Seeing You| Billie Holiday

La Mer| Chantal Chamberland

La Javanese| Madeleine Peroux

Can’t help Loving Dat Man of Mine| Billie Holiday

 

|photo|