Sarahgrudem

@irishtaf sure!  I’d like to read the short film!  Now that I finished your first book, I’m glancing over your second collection ...I am glad T shared this with me and I sensed your resistance at first. I understand, it’s personal. But I’m glad she did. You write exceedingly well. I enjoyed it and luxuriated in the feelings they evoked. Thanks for letting her share these with me, I really truly loved them. I feel slightly less inspired to turn my writing into something to share as I feel it pales in comparison, significantly. But I know that’s missing the point. 
            
            As for Paris:  I’m glad it (she?) didn’t disappoint you. Sadly I did feel let down on my first encounter. Our honeymoon, October 2006, a year after we were married. I think I expected (for all the reasons you mentioned), Plus the fact I lived in nyc and felt like we should have an understanding because of that...anyway, I felt let down. I think the language barrier (despite my french), the unfriendly people (yes, I was expecting them, but they outdid themselves), plus it was fashion week, plus I had a cold, we actually had some mediocre (at best) food all lead to come serious disappointment on my part. We only stayed there for three nights, (which probably didn’t help), travelled to the south of France, Belgium and Switzerland for a couple weeks. By the time we returned to Paris for the last couple nights I felt much more at ease and really loved it. We went again several years later and I loved it more then.  It is a magical city. 
            
            Anyway, I’m glad you had a better first experience than that. I’d like to read the screen play if you get a chance to send it. Ask T for my email. 
            
            Thanks for writing and sharing.

I know what you mean. 
            
            Paris was fun. I'd built it up so much in my head, all the culture throughout history, novels, writers, filmmakers, artists, etc, and the city lived up to the expectations (which is so rare).
            
            I could send you the short film. I just talked with each of them for a while, heard their stories, their desires, their challenges, etc. Then wrote what came to me.

@irishtaf wow, I didn’t realize you did that while in Paris. Sounds interesting and I’m curious about the process of creating a screenplay through conversations (with strangers?)? Intriguing. Too bad it didn’t work out to complete it as you imagined, but perhaps one day. 
            
            Yes, we’ll see what happens with the writing. It serves its purpose for now (and truly I’m not just trying to be modest).  I think like all art forms it takes rather more discipline and hard work than the romanticized version from the movies, and we’ll just see if it ever rises, like cream, to the surface of life’s important tasks. To polish and smooth something  into being is a whole separate process from my stream-of-consciousness thoughts that I’m not sure I’m willing to do. But I do so like to bite when a challenge is dangled in front of me!  But, then there’s the great gatekeeper, Time.