10 Days Until Paris
Some trips you plan. Others sneak up on you when you’re least expecting them. Ten days from now, I’ll be boarding a plane to Paris, France—something I never imagined when this year began. The whole thing started with a casual conversation with a guy I met in Spain a couple of years ago. We were catching up, and he mentioned he’d just come back from Cambodia and was heading to Europe. Then, almost offhandedly, he said, “I’ve got an extra ticket to Rock en Seine. Want it?” At first, I laughed. It sounded so spontaneous, so unlike the version of me who’s been stuck in a rut lately. But then the idea started to glow in my mind. Paris. Music. A handsome, kind man. Why not? After all, I’ve been feeling stagnant these past few weeks—like I’m stuck in a holding pattern, unsure what’s next. Being laid off back in April has left me scrolling through job boards, not feeling excited about much. This trip suddenly became the thing I could hang some hope on. And then… another thought snuck in. For y...