Pinch Me

Have you had dreams you thought would never, could never, be fulfilled? That instead of being dreams, they were closer to fantasies? 

I've always dreamed of shopping the Paris Flea Market. Years ago, when living in Del Rio, TX, I'd trek 7 hours across the state (Texas is HUGE, is it not?) to the Round Top Flea Market. If you ever have the chance to go to Round Top, I highly recommend it. It covers acres upon acres. But somehow, the thought of the Paris Flea Market always intrigued me. I just knew there would be that perfect something there that would speak to my soul, and it would adorn my home and give me such delight every time I viewed it. Plus, I could forever say I bought it at the Paris Flea Market!

I combed the Paris Flea Market for hours. I trekked miles upon miles. There were fabulous paintings, charming china, vintage clocks, iron gates and planters, vintage Hermes scarves, not to mention truly chic crap galore! But ... nothing called my name. Nothing that I just had to have. Nothing that would fit in my suitcase, anyway. Yet, I enjoyed every minute of it, and the memory of it is the treasure that I took home. 

My other heartfelt desire was to attend French cooking school. And if you are going to attend French cooking school, you should do it in Provence. While you're at it, you should do it in Julia Child's home, in Julia Child's kitchen, and under the confident tutelage of Kathie Alex. Now, this class came with no guarantees of kitchen success, nor did it promise to answer the nagging question of 'What's for dinner?' But I can now turn a tomato into either a petal or a fine dice. And it didn't hurt that cooking class included 'field trips' to places like La Palme D'Or on the Cote d'Azur, as you can see.

If this dream can come true, surely so can yours. Here's hoping that all your big dreams also get to come true!