So, all day, I have been saying, "Merci, Bon Année," and as we sat in a cafe that we have nicknamed the Goldilocks, I was corrected by the fabulous proprietor. It's not the new year, she told us, you should say, Bonnes Fêtes (Happy end of holidays). Tomorrow, I can greet people with the former. You learn something every day, even in Paris.

What an amazing start to the end of the year. I, of course, got up early to get more pastry from our corner patisserie. What is breakfast if not with a chocolate eclair, that this time, I got to eat! Along our route today, we found some more great cabinet pulls for our house. Even though, we know we'll be back before too long, and since we may - God help me - remodel the master bathroom - we picked up some more designs to keep handy. The wine shopping in this city is insane and we were getting delirious with choices, but we managed to pick up two choices for the night.

And, what's a trip to Paris without meeting new people? At lunch, we met a fabulous ex-Pat who now lives in Switzerland AND grew up outside of Boston. I'm not sure if that's some kind of sign, but it reinforced my outlook on traveling. Why stick to conversation with just the one you came with - no matter who they are. There are people all around you. Smile, make a new friend, you never know where it will lead. It may just be a conversation in the great scheme of the  trip, but what an amazing experience to just have that connection.

With one of the most amazing sunsets that we've ever seen, John and I made our way to Notre Dame. John wanted to record the hysterical SILENCE PLEASE recording and we've passed by it so many times this trip, I figured, let's go in now and end the year a bit more holy. And, for a very brief moment, and I mean brief, I thought I should get in line for confession. Now, wouldn't that have been something for that priest? He would never know what to say if I sat across from him on the last day of the year.

There's more ahead tonight. We've gotten our fill of caffeine at our Goldilocks cafe and are ready to greet the new year. I'm not sure how sentimental I may get later or if I will even have the capacity to write it all down tonight. All I know is that this year,  I am a Sadie in Paris. Never in my wildest imagination could I have pictured this moment. And who knows, maybe I'll say I love you outloud. As you know, it's been known to happen. So for now, Bonnes Fêtes.