‘LOVE’ is the theme of the 2nd week of Advent. The first time I visited Paris, over 35 years ago, I turned cartwheels to demonstrate my excitement. I was only there for a few days but I made a pact with myself to find a way to return. And, I did. Over and over and over again….The simplest explanation is I fell in LOVE! And, after all these years, I have not fallen out of love. Rather I have extended my love beyond the borders of Paris. Paris is still my first love with Nice vying for 2nd place.

The featured image speaks to this with a display of affection blasting off its holiday spirit on the facade of the department store, Galeries Lafayette: https://www.galerieslafayette.com/m/magasin-nice. The cheerful mingling of the holiday shoppers below takes place on the action-packed center stage of Nice, Place Massena: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Place_Masséna.

Palm trees are abundant in Nice and these YSL (Yves Saint Laurent) colorful keychains, creatively acting as ornaments, are more evidence of pleasure and exuberance during the holiday season in Nice.

So here is what I want to confidently be embracing going forward into 2021: “Every little thing’s going to be alright”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJ9g7miFrgg (In this video, this woman’s infectious spirit is a positive sign of what is to come, unlike the spirit of the pandemic we are trying to squelch.)