Hi All, Happy Jonifest time. I'm home, rested from our fabulous trip to France. And yes, the young do kiss a lot on Main St., although I couldn't say if Joni or Myrtle is right as to weither it's amour or just passion. On our last day, I walked alone for the only day of the trip, over to the Isle St. Louis to buy pastries for the trip home from a lovely little shop that sold the most luscious apricot tart avec 'pistache.' Along the way I sang a number of Joni's paris songs to myself and gosh, they came alive on the streets of Paris big time! -That was fun.
One nice moment was the evening Rich and I met Laurent. We went for dinner in a small Japanese resteraunt where Laurent grilled me on my interests in Joni. Rich noticed he was sounding me out before deciding weither or not to invite me back to his apartment. "Do you read the list?" he asked... he couldn't recall me posting there. (I insisted I did, though less now.) -Had I read his posts? Could I recall any? --Well, to be honest, no. I rarely take note of who's posting what. It saves me forming an "attitude" towards any particular list member. I just go with the content. And man, I can zoom past anything non-Joan related in a nanosecond. So up to this point I was striking out big time. Then he asked what else I listened to and I replied, "I don't listen to anything other than Joni." Now that took him by surprise. Nothing else? Wouldn't I get bored, overwhelmed by that??? -To which I replied, "Joni is the counter spirit of my own being. I love EVERYTHING she's done and I can listen to her forever and a day and still be on my feet." Or something to that effect... Well, THAT worked. We were off down the lovely tree lined, bustling streets of Paris; past cafes with outdoor seating, past Pastisseries with the most gorgeous delicacies in the glass cases. We took the back way up to Laurent's flat. It's a gorgeous home filled with fine, elegant antiques and fine furniture, books, paintings and the like. It's the sort of interior Woody Allen uses for his films, these deep multi-roomed affairs that leave you amazed someone could have a place like that in New York, or in this case Paris. We were treated to ice cream from a shop most dear to Parisians, on the Isle St. Louis. (Didn't think the cream could last the 8 hour flight home.) It was delicious. A must stop if you're visiting Paris, btw. I almost got thrown out for spilling my glace twice in the apartment. !!!! Yipes indeed. But it wasn't all my fault. He kept pointing out interesting things while I was eating and I'd look up and my plate would turn up and... well, here's hoping when I'm finally invited to Bob Mullers that peach pie will be on the menu. The pie would slide less. Laurent played a tape of his band performing 2 Joni tunes: Black Crow and Woodstock. His guitar work was verrrry nice, I should add. He gave me a short lesson in Joni playing. I was my ever demure self and refused to take the guitar. Someday, I will be a public Joni singer and player. But for now, I croon when solitary or at least feeling so. The evening was topped off with Laurent taking out an outfit of Joni's, signed, that he purchased. Quelle small!!! Joni is my height (5'7), and I couldn't imagine someone my height getting into that petite little garment. So there you have it. Another list member met and once again I am delighted and amazed at how fantastic JMDL members are to meet in person. For those of you headed for JoniFest, you are in for a fabulous treat. Next year, I learn to speak French. -This year. For next year. -You know what I mean. Best to all. John.
