The hardest part about returning home

It is easy to say my head has been amongst the Parisian rooftops for the past 10 days. It is SO easy to fit right back into Paris life. I have been traveling back and forth for the past 5 years and the minute my feet land at CDG it feels like I am home. My language skills are a bit rusty on the entry but that doesn’t stop me. As I drive into the city from the airport my eyes adjust to the hues of blue and grey. I hit the ground running stopping for coffee and exploring the city rain or shine. Even if I am gone for just a few short months (this year it was from January to April) I notice a few spots have changed in my favorite neighborhoods. A new place has opened or another place has closed. Paris is constantly changing. The classics remain the same and lucky for me most of them have stuck around over the years. 

I have a routine on my last morning in Paris. I typically go for an early morning walk in my neighborhood and grab a baguette and snacks for the plane ride home. I have one more morning coffee and I am off for the airport. I cry pretty much every time I leave Paris. I remember the first time in 2013, it was like I was leaving someone I loved behind. It gets easier knowing that I have a return date or plan. This year I was lucky enough to be in Paris twice and fingers crossed I have a plan to come back later in the year for a project or two. The tears were minimal this round and passed before I boarded the crowded flight home. 

The hardest part about returning home is the feeling that no matter how long I spend in Paris, it feels like one big dream. The look and feel of Chicago is very different from Paris. Yes, I have my routine and favorite places to go, but it isn’t the same. The minute I boarded the plane and the language around me switched to all English I felt as I could be anywhere in the world. Does anyone else feel as though they are stuck in one long dream or is it just me? 

The only thing that reminds me that my time in Paris is real are my photographs. I captured a lot of Paris and every trip is so different. I am looking forward to going through my images and opening them all as they are wrapped presents on Christmas. It truly feels this way! 

My days are super long. I wake up before the sun to catch the sunrise and finish shooting after the last light. Every night, I will back up my images on my hard drive and take a quick peek on the computer of something I shot during the day. I stopped trying to play catch up, edit and write in the moment.

Once I am back in Chicago, I will go through the process of looking at each day individually and finding the images to share and sell online.

The newest images will be available on the website early next month. If you want a way to support me as an artist the easiest and best way is to purchase a print. 

P.S. Don’t miss The Paris Diaries ( I will be adding to this as soon as I am home) Paris Safety Tips for Travelers