WHAT IF...

The Shakespeare and Company book store welcomed us. It was nestled between old buildings on a Paris street directly across from the grandeur of Notre Dame. As my sister, Oneita, and I scanned hundreds of book titles, we combed rows and rows, walls and walls, rooms and rooms, and each of the 3 stories of literary treasures. I had read about this store when I was knee-deep in studies as an English/literature major. It was where famous writers from the 40s and 50s hung out. Still s busy hub for bibliophiles, it was on my list of destinations on this trip. I was not disappointed.

The old establishment never saw an elevator, so my having leg problems at the time, caused me to go up (and down 2 flights of old, creaky stairs, ON MY KNEES! A dedicated reader, I was.

Finally, gathering our arms full of all kinds of books we stood in line to pay. The owner, an 80-plus year-old gentleman slowly worked his math by hand (no cash register--even though it was 2001). When our turn finally came, he responded to my joy of being there by saying I could stay and live with him! (If only he was 30 years younger....no, just kidding!) Or, he would sell the place to me because he would be ‘leaving’ soon...

Why did I go on that trip to France? Was it a desire to want to do something really different? Was it the giddiness I felt when far away from home? Was it the spark I felt in the Aveda Spa in Chattanooga with Oneita? Whatever....sometimes, I just wanted to ‘get outta town.’

Wow! My finding Virginia Woolf, Shakespeare, and Sir Walter Scott each for a dollar!

While perusing so many literary works made me pray to be allowed to one day travel next to England and Scotland. I want to see homes, castles, streets, mountains, and dales where literary giants graced the earth. My treasures have the first pages stamped with ‘Shakespeare and Company.’ But I didn’t need that to be reminded of where I’d purchased them. We left that old, former 3-storied apartments to then see the Eiffel Tower and then on to Versailles. Some dreams do come true. THE POETRY OF VERSAILLES Glimmering gold poured on, rubbed on, dipped in, set in every corner, cornice, chandelier, statue, vase, sculpture, paintings and icons of prideful family and biblical persons of high rank filled the magnificent palace of Versailles.

We were awed by patterns of thousands of floral images, in detailed imagery covering walls and ceilings heaven-ward; drapes, beds, lamps, rugs, tiles, wood carvings, stone, and metal all of great worth.

The distance between palace and gardens and royal cottages compare fairly to the super heights and lengths of so many of the royal rooms, spacious halls, foyers, courts, cathedrals, and stations of importance.

Those very pavilion-like heights challenge man’s minute size to naught. Standing in the long and wide halls and studying the illuminated heavenly skies-cloudy and bright, busy with angels, cherubs, and God’s biblical giants of men seem to come alive.

My conclusion of life at that era is that I wouldn’t have wanted to live then. One was either super wealthy or tremendously poor. Neither situations had the comforts of life we take for granted today.

Stay warm and safe this coming Christmas season. Remember to bless others.