When I was growing up outside of Boston, although my favorite season came as soon as the calendar turned to October, I lived for summer. Fall always disappointed by either not showing up or lasting one week before the harshness of winter bullied its way into the arena like a boxer intent on doing some serious damage to his opponent. Summer meant trips to the beach to eat fried clams (with the bellies) on the sea wall, walks with my mom while the sun set late in the day, the smell of charcoal firing up from the bbq in the back yard, and of course, my birthday. Don't get me wrong, I despised the temperatures at times but mostly the mosquitos and the humidity but none of that - and I mean none of it - can ever compare to the hell that is summer in Texas. Now, I've spent time in the desert when the temperatures reached 124, but I could always jump in the pool and sit there, under an umbrella with a cool cocktail in hand. Looking back, yes, even that was insane, but what did I know? Well, one thing for sure is I never dreamed that Texas could rival those days. The sun here hits different. It burns into your very soul and causes you to feel like Dracula when he was forced into the rays of daylight.

But, no matter the season, whether it's a Honeymoon destination, a mini-nervous breakdown booking, a summer vacation getaway or a holiday excursion, Paris, is not only always a good idea, it is THE idea. When we left Paris this summer, our hotel concierge was so saddened to see us depart and for a second, I thought he was going to come give us a hug. So, in the midst of blistering summer heat and dreaming of cold weather, how could we not return to our favorite destination? This time though, we'll arrive before Christmas to enjoy the full holiday season. Now, I know the general consensus is that there are so many more places in the world to see, and I won't argue with that, but when you find something that captures your heart, you follow it. Trust me, I know a little something about that. There will be time to make memories in other parts of the world that John and I want to visit, but until then Paris is -- well, Paris is Paris. How do you explain it other than if there's a place you yourself return to over and over because of how deeply it touches you, then that is the answer.

I joke with John that we should become the anti-influencers of Paris. Nothing gets us more annoyed than watching these Instagram reels on 'secret places' to visit;  'the best hot chocolate destinations;' or even worse, 'top ten things to not -or do.' We've experienced so many of these "hints" on our own. While some are hardly worth the hype, we're certainly not going to broadcast the best places we find to only to see them get so crowded that we can never enjoy them. If you ask us for our advice, we'll gladly tell you, but, what we say is that you should make your own decisions. Should you go the Louvre? Or course. Should you see the Eiffel Tower? Bien Sur! Should you take a Siene River Crusie? Absolutely. But Paris is so much more. The magic is exploring its side streets, finding a shop run by a local designer and chatting about her designs as you try on different styles. It's getting pointers on the best teas from the tiny shop's proprietor, or being remembered by the owners of a charming Italian shop that you'd never expect to find in France or getting a hug from the hostess of a restaurant in St Germaine because somehow you made an impression on your last winter visit. If you let it, Paris wraps you in her embrace and gives you so much more than you anticipated. No reels, no phones, no influencer poses, no likes.

Without a doubt, the heat of this Texas summer has led us to our latest plan across the Atlantic. I will admit, it was mostly me. Since John grew up here, the heat doesn't seem to bother him. I guess that can be said about winters for me. Although, I do not - and never have - liked trudging through inches of snow while my nostrils stuck together and my ears froze over. But Paris is never like those Boston winter days. We arrived the day after Christmas last year and we wished we had gone earlier as Paris was perhaps too quiet from all the activities that led up to the holiday. Although we are not fans of the Christmas Markets, the one next to Notre Dame is supposedly the best but closes down on Christmas Eve. We'll have plenty of time to visit there and give our anti-influencer review. 

January will mark my fourth year in Texas- quatre - I'm working on my numbers. (Ask me how to say 99), and it will mark our second time ushering in a new year in Paris. Last year, we had no plans save a bottle of wine in our bag. We wound up at one of our favorite restaurants (shhh, remember - anti- influencers) and enjoying the view from the Seine as the old year disapperared. While I have made some plans, we always have the best time when we just wander and get lost, but there will be  a day trip to Strasbourg and a Les Miserable matinee the day after Christmas, which is almost already sold - out for its run. I will tell you now to be prepared for that post because I already know that when I am watching that historic musical, I will be overwhelmed. I've seen it over 13 times - obstructed view, balcony, orchestra, it didn't matter. There was the time when my friend and I walked back to my apartment with members of the Boston cast and I surprised them by knowing exactly which roles they played in the chorus. It was a show I saw over and over to help me survive my move to San Francisco. It brought me so much joy to share the production with long since gone friends. But this time, this show, this December - it will be something I could never have imagined. In Paris? In its original French? With my husband? That's what life is all about n'est-ce pas? Experiencing things you never dreamed were possible?

Although my growing up just outside of Boston gave me my tenacity and an accent that still persists, my tenure in the Golden State has made me who I am today. I will always hold my years in California close to me. I can never fully describe what it was like to become the person I am because of so many adventures there. But I am in love with a man named John who lives in a place that is under an impenetrable summer heat dome. Thankfully, he needs little convincing on Paris. His affection for the city and the fact that we both had taken our mothers there were just a few checks in the right column for me. I can't wait to bundle up, for it will finally be cold. Without a doubt, both the city, the man, and a very special quilt that I'll pack will wrap me in an embrace that will warm my heart to a sensible 70 degrees.