35mm

Thursday

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You're in your zone now. The mind sees the goal, and all energy conspires to reach it. It's within reach, nearly palpable and now it is merely time that hinders. Effort feels minimal, as it is wrapped in the knowledge of its imminent end.

 

Thursday is the growing luminance at the end of a long dark tunnel.

 

Tonight you celebrate.

Wednesday

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There's just something about half way. That moment of realization that path ahead is just as short as the path behind, and that you don't have to do any more than you've already done. Now that can manifest poorly (midlife crisis) or positively (second half comeback). But here, when all there's only freedom at the end,  the halfway mark is motivation to keep going. A "you got this!" yelled from the crowd. A cup of electrolytes extended to you from an encouraging arm.

Wednesday is a weekly manifestation of a grey haired elder saying, "trouble don't last always."

Paris Part II: Nouveau Yeux

Honestly, that may not even be the correct translation, but I'm trying to tell you that I was looking at Paris with "new eyes". At least that is what Duolingo told me...I think.

I was given a cold reception by the city, as the cool mist in the air shook any hints of jet-lag off of me. With a wariness leftover from feeling like a country kid in the big city, I sat on the metro and tried to make as many observations as I could. Perhaps to little avail, I make an effort to weave into the fabric of the city. My first attempt was a failure, as I stood blankly in front of the train doors waiting for them to open, until a pleasant young woman smiled and pushed the button. With an mechanical click that seemed to be derisively directed towards me, the doors opened allowing me in the train. A few moments later, that same pleasant young woman was walking down the aisles, asking for money. Despite her earlier door pleasantries, my hardened NYC heart took over, and I let her walk by without opening my wallet.

I opted to not spring for the international data plan. I'd like to tell myself I was being an intrepid adventurer, bravely setting forth in a new city without the crutch of Google. Really I was just being cheap, though I began to wonder if it was worth saving the 70 bucks as I walked off the metro. With the help of foresight in the form of map screenshots, I rang the doorbell to the Airbnb,  hoping that if this was the wrong place, the tenant would at least let me use their wifi.

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