"Portals"mixed media painting on board by Randall LaGro, photo courtesy of the Blue Rain Gallery, Taos, New Mexico
"One eye laughing, the other crying" is the way our dear friend Jutta describes leaving Paris for Budapest after three years here. She and her husband Ralf have become our very good friends.
We've learned some lessons about remarkable courage and grace from Ralf and Jutta. Together, we've commiserated, bolstered and supported each other through illnesses. We've shopped for antiques together and shared experiences and stories.
We've opened many bottles of champagne and wine and enjoyed wonderful dinners and lunches at each other's apartments and at restaurants. Just a week ago we had dinner at their lovely apartment in the 16th arrondissement.
So it's a bittersweet farewell, as Ralf and Jutta head to Budapest, where he has a new post with an international organisation. Of course we'll visit them in Budapest and they'll be back to Paris. But it's not the same as having them close by, at the other end of the phone.
Last night we celebrated their friendship with Ralf's office colleagues at La Petit Chatelet across the quai from Notre Dame. Guests included fellow expatriates from Germany, Britain, Scotland, France, America, Australia, New Zealand, Portugal, Norway and Korea. Following much merriment and delicious food, at midnight we stopped at Shakespeare & Company to get a FUSAC magazine for Paradise, who's moving to Paris this fall. Then we all took the last metro together.
Ralf and Jutta got off at Michel-Ange Auteuil to transfer to another metro line and waved from the platform as our train departed. David and I laughed that it seemed as though we were the ones departing Paris for new horizons. We shall sorely miss Ralf and Jutta. And we wish them all the best in their new life in Hungary.
They sound like wonderful friends. Best of luck to them in their new home.
Posted by: Marilyn | 12 August 2006 at 16:02
Remember, you are not losing friends, you are gaining a new place to travel. Just think of it having friends there. That's another on my list of places to see. The hub says it was absolutely fascinating and I imagine it is.
Posted by: Rosa | 12 August 2006 at 04:45
Aww. I know how hard it is so hard when good friends live so far away! ALL my best friends live so far away, and I hate it!!
But I love imagining you out with your friends in Paris, on a warm summer night... *sigh*
:)
Posted by: Amber | 11 August 2006 at 21:47
Sounds like great friends and a wonderful farewell even though goodbyes are never easy. If you have to visit your friends in a city though, I can't think of a better place than Budapest, it's one of my favorite cities that I've visited.
Posted by: kristen | 11 August 2006 at 20:09
Beautiful painting! Good bye's are sad, but there's always 'until we meet again.' :)
Posted by: JinxTheGypsy | 11 August 2006 at 19:11
It's so hard to say goodbye to friends. It sounds like you had a great farewell!
Posted by: M | 11 August 2006 at 18:56
Oh man, your posts make me so hungry for travel, for the Paris metro and weekends in Budapest and antique markets and cafes. Lucky lucky you! Sorry your friends are moving away, though!
Posted by: Laini | 11 August 2006 at 18:55
I can feel the emotions of sadness, in your post.
As a nomad, I am the one who often leaving behind good friends. I don't know how they feel when I leave but I can certainly say, no matter how wonderful the next destination is, I have often missed having every single one of them and wished they've come with me.
That (I think) is the downside of being a nomad. Each of us with missing pieces of our souls.
Kiss.
p.s Budapest is lovely and they also have really wonderful restaurants. I am sure you've heard(or already been to) off the Gundel!
Posted by: Nina | 11 August 2006 at 18:27
I can feel the emotions of sadness, in your post.
As a nomad, I am the one who often leaving behind good friends. I don't know how they feel when I leave but I can certainly say, no matter how wonderful the next destination is, I have often missed having every single one of them and wished they've come with me.
That (I think) is the downside of being a nomad. Each of us with missing pieces of our souls.
Kiss.
p.s Budapest is lovely and they also have really wonderful restaurants. I am sure you've heard(or already been to) of the Gundel!
Posted by: Nina | 11 August 2006 at 18:26
Lovely post about your friendship and your evening together. You needed a respite from all the turmoil the world has been providing us with the past weeks!
Posted by: Becca | 11 August 2006 at 18:08
You write so fondly and so vividly that now I'm sad to see them go!
Take care.
Posted by: Laura | 11 August 2006 at 17:59
Budapest is so beautiful-
a bit like Paris actually-
happy-sad as is life:)
Posted by: Sophie | 11 August 2006 at 17:55
Sad to say goodbye but you get to visit Budapest :) I'm Hungarian and have always wanted to see it.
Posted by: Tammy | 11 August 2006 at 17:34
this is a beautiful post tara! & even though you'll both be seperated by many miles, real friendship knows no bounderies. ;o)
Posted by: berrie | 11 August 2006 at 15:48
Thank you for sharing this inspiring art work...
I have collected the phrase "One eye laughing, the other crying" for my notebook - how very often the words describe the situation.
Posted by: endment | 11 August 2006 at 14:04
love the artwork in the photo. love the summation of your friend's time in Paris. both go together so smoothly.
it sounds like you had a lovely last evening together which you'll remember fondly forever.
Posted by: ally bean | 11 August 2006 at 13:48