-- Here we have been standing for a long, long time

Treadin' trodden trails for a long, long, time, time... --

Dave Matthews Band, So Much To Say

I hope Halloween was pleasant across the pond! When I wander the streets of this city, I often think of the quote above. These streets have been here longer than the United States has existed. Before the Pïlgrims, before Pochahontus, before Columbus. People have been standing here a long time, and treading these very trails for a millenium or more. Crazy.

Halloween here, however, means nothing. I was lucky to find a lone pumpkin (in surprisingly good form...actually it was as close to perfection as I've ever seen a pumpkin), sitting outside an open air market on Rue de Cler. I got excited, and snatched it up. I carried it to the caisse (cash register) and asked the old man what the word was in french: "Pardon, mais, qu'est-ce que sais le mot pour celui-ci?" Sorry, but what's the word for this thing here? He goes: "Ca, c'est un halloween." That's a halloween. And the next thing I see, is the little electronic ticker streams by on the cash registerthat reads..UN HALLOWEEN = 5 €! They actually call pumpkins halloweens here [however the dictionary labels it as 'une citrouille' ..though no one calls it that]. I think thats just hilarious. So I carry it around my arms all the way home on the métro. People looked at me in a way that said, Stupid Americain (they always say american with slight attitude), this isn't America, this is La France! We don't do halloween here.

Once I reach my home stop of Jourdain in the Vigntième, I walk in the door after fumbling around with this weird big orange lumpy thing. My host lady looks at me like I've got 5 heads. "Un halloween!," she says. It took me a few minutes to explain to her that Halloween is not a thing, it's one night a year, etc...you know the rest. She was flabbergasted to hear that. Scottie and I thought it was real funny. We carved it into a Jack-o-lantern ("Jack-o-quoi?" she says...jack-o-what?) and named it Dave. Those of you who know my musical taste know why we named him Dave...if you don't, just look at the top quote. I took the seeds and baked them until they were crispy and brown and served them up..our host was surprised at how good they tasted. As was I, because I've never baked anything before.

Halloween night was extremely uneventful here in Paris. Every so often, one would see an American dressed up making a fool out of themselves. It was fun. Paris is fun.

Parents are coming a week from today! Can't wait! PS. More pics are up under Paris. And more to come soon. I update pictures more than I update this, so check em out!