Yesterday, I made plans to meet up with an old colleague from my co-working space in Manhattan. Jessica had successfully transitioned her business to work from Paris. It took me a bit longer, but now I had too.
We agreed to meet in Montmartre, where the art greats Picasso, Modigliani, Miro, Manet, Toulouse-Lautrec, Renoir and Van Gogh famously hung out and opined on the events of the day.
I jumped the 4 line subway, fumbling with my tickets. I’m still getting used to having the teeny little individual tickets to get through the turnstile. It was a hot day in Paris and sweat was rolling its way down the back of my vintage top. I harvested it from one of the shops on my street. Light cotton it was, but still too much fabric for the hot, deep bowels of the subway.
It was a quick 4 stops to Montmartre. Above ground, the sounds and colors of a largely immigrant community clobbered me. I stared up the steep hill. My cardio capacity was certainly being tested today. I wound my way up the hill, through the Friday crowds, slowly and deliberately, thanking my lucky stars I work out.
The steps finally gave way to the basilica of Sacre Coeur —-and the most magnificent vista of Paris. To think I had been beep bopping around on those streets for the last 12 days. Now I was high above it all. Tourists jammed the steps as Bangladeshi men sold Heineken singles as if it was Yankee stadium.
The sun sets close to 10pm in Paris and this colorful part of town was a joy to be in at that hour. My daily marvel.
Outside of client work here in Paris, I’ve largely been on a silent retreat. It was nice to catch up with an old colleague. We caught up on each other’s lives.
Being a business woman.
Being a leader.
Being a woman of color in business in another country.
Each has its unique gifts and challenges.
We caught up on it all.
