Month: October 2017

“Monsieur and Madame, your car is here.”  My heart sinks it is fifteen minutes early and I just don’t want to leave.  “Are you ready?” , my husband asks.  “No” I reply sadly.  I soak in the last seconds of our charming hotel lobby.  The Hotel Thoumieux did not disappoint in any way.  “I’ll help get the bags down.  Take a minute.”  I take a last photo of the lobby with its’ perfect leopard print accents and I reluctantly head down the stairs to the car.  We ride silently to Charles De Gaulle as I continue to breathe in Paris.  Right before we arrive, I get organized.  I have a big job to do, filing my VAT paperwork.

“Does this really work?” my husband asks.  “Yes, just wait.  You will see a lot of credits on our credit card.”  As I wait my turn I watch a couple rifling through their luggage madly to present their proof of purchases.  My heart beat hastens.  I know I organized everything with the purchases at the top, but it still makes me nervous.  I go up to the window and hand over my documents.  “Where are you traveling to?”  “Los Angeles”.  My twelve forms are stamped and now I must place each in an envelope and mail them.  I am moving at a fast speed, all efficiency.  My husband snaps a photo.  We can now check in and we are on our way home.  I am distracted by my mental calculations of my refunds for a few moments and forget how sad I am to leave.

It has been three years since our last trip to Paris and I think about it all the time.  Facebook has been serving up daily memories.  I don’t have our next trip planned, yet.  In the meantime, I continue to enjoy these fun travel based t-shirts from J. Crew.  I styled this one with denim, a cashmere cardigan and my new favorite shoes.

T-Shirt

Cashmere Cardigan

Denim

Shoes

Happy Shopping!

XO,

JAE