Packing for Paris

+ The Journey by Mary Oliver

Gracie Abrams via Instagram

Hello friends! I hope you’ve had a beautifully sunny weekend. I’m leaving bright and early in the morning for Paris. With any luck, I’ll be sitting at a café table in the Marais by lunchtime. I have to say, one of the best things about living in London is taking the train to Paris… :)

A few things I’m packing:

1. You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith and Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. Have I read them both at least three times? Yes. But they are my writing security blanket. When I’m stuck, they get me unstuck.

2. Rescue Remedy. I’m not sure why (?) but I’ve been a little anxious lately… Rescue Remedy always helps: a few drops under the tongue + 10 deep breaths.

3. The Everywhere Bag from Away. In navy blue, of course. I freaking love this bag so much. It’s my travelling office and keeps all my favourite things organised. Plus there’s a trolley sleeve that slides over your suitcase handle for easy transport.

4. A black-and-white outfit for Anne Ditmeyer’s Book Launch party! :)

5. And of course, comfortable sneaks for strolling, browsing and café hopping. Pictures next week! :)

Finally - I want to offer you this poem. It’s dedicated to a woman I spoke to this week who is stronger than she thinks she is.

So are you.

xo, Laurie

---

The Journey by Mary Oliver

One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice --
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
"Mend my life!"
each voice cried.
But you didn't stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voice behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do --
determined to save
the only life that you could save.