Much Better Today

Yesterday was a bit of a crisis day for me. It was a combination of the tension I have been carrying in my body for a long time — even if I tell myself to relax and breathe, the tension builds as I try to navigate even the simplest of tasks. Every day. Plus, sleeping is sometimes a problem. The place where I'm staying now is a 17th century building and there is not much sound-proofing I can tell you. For days I could feel the tension in my body, my heart beating, beating, even as I lay down to sleep. I just could not relax and unwind.

Anyway, yesterday I was feeling a bit desperate, and so I posted a plea for prayers and well-wishes from friends on Facebook, and I received a couple of dozen loving responses that really soothed my soul. In addition, I finally made myself do some yoga, take a long hard walk, and, coming to a pharmacy, went in and a lovely young woman helped me locate a natural remedy to calm my heart and to help me sleep. So, with the combination of prayers and pills, last night I had eight solid hours.

I had planned to go to Avignon today, but after breakfast I returned to bed and read for a few hours. Then took myself out for pizza. I was too pooped to do anything but return home to bed, where I read and had a two-hour nap. I can honestly say that  I am feeling more well-rested than I have felt since the beginning of this trip. This evening I felt well enough to — ta da! Go shopping!. I bought some earrings in a Himalayan boutique, and this blouse from a lovely Vietnamese woman who told me that it was designed by her sister, who had hand-sewn the buttons. Then had a panache at Les Deux Garcons, one of the bars along the Cours Mirabeau, which had served the likes of Maurois, Churchill, Picasso, Piaf, Cocteau, and where Cezanne spent time with his friend Emile Zola. 

Tomorrow, a massage, and, if I'm up for it, I'd like to visit a couple of art museums with Cezanne's work. But if I'm not, it's back to bed with my book.

The Cours Maribeau