Well, now that got your attention, didn’t it?
Mm-hmm, I see. Kids, don’t forget that I come from the press where we know how to toss out a line all the better to real ’em in.
And while I am on the subject of the press…I know that some of you already follow Remi on instagram but for those of you who don’t, he is wrapping up a gorgeous storytelling on one of my favorite places that we ever covered together, the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania, as a month-long tribute to honor Cecil the Lion and all that he represented. If you are interested, you will find him @remibenali. Bravo, coeur, for all that you are doing and for taking it to 31,000 followers around the world everyday.
Where were we? Ah, yes, celebrity sightings. What, getting a bit impatient are you?
Yes, the bright lights do tend to love the bright light of Provence and my beloved Arles especially is having a “moment” this summer.
So now, who exactly was the famous person that was spotted beyond the crowd in Arles today?
Well, I hate to let you down but it would turn out to be…
Me.
Or at least that is certainly how I felt, fluttery and full with recognition. My doctor (whose family has been doctors for generations, including one of Mr. Van Gogh’s main doctors but don’t let that diminish their reputation) is mere steps from our last apartment near the Place du Forum. As I am redhead loyal, I still go to her even though there is a doc even in our tiny village. I was quite a bit early and so thought that I would poke around the old neighborhood, for I needed a dose of its buzzy energy. Happily, my copine, the very talented Christine Millerin had already opened up her atelier and invited me to have a tea across the street at the Cuisine de Comptoir where the handsome owners, Alex and Vincent, both gave me “les bis” the South’s quick triple cheek kiss. While we perched on the tiny terrace in view of her shop in case she had customers (a very, very Provençal thing to do), I was given the same treatment by the lovely Sophie Lassange who has her workshop next door and even a big hug (highly unusual for France) by Sylvie who was our post-lady for ten years that we lived in Arles (we used to joke that we could only rent in her postal zone).
It felt rather wonderful. And while there are kind folks that do regularly say hello to me in the village – and of course, there are those, as we know, who do not *cough* – I do miss being a part of that neighborhood and its everyday pleasantries that are enough to make even a dull day feel special and a shy person like me, a star.
Oh, all right, I won’t just leave you with false hopes, that wouldn’t be right. So who have I seen? Sarah Jessica Parker in St. Remy (mirrored aviators, flowing sundress) and Ines de la Fressange in Arles (dressed ex-act-ly like she proposes in her great book). Et pour mes lecteurs français, je peut ajouter Edouard Baer qui a une maison à Arles et il y a quelque mois, Remi a vu Mika sur la Place du Forum – mon dieu! Dommage que je n’était pas las…Of course, after many years of living in Manhattan I am Pavlovian trained to pay no attention to such things. No, instead you will find me face up to the big blue, staring at the sun…
A final Pop of Summer…
…et bienvenue septembre!