Rouge pour ma Grandmere~Missing Paris Day

(Montmartre window)

Red was my grandmother's favorite color... 

(Paris produce market)

...especially this deep, sweet, gorgeous red. 

She wore dark red lipstick on her plump, naturally maroon lips, 

planted red geraniums and wore red scarves.

A couple of years ago I had a dream about her.

She was trying to tell me something but I couldn't hear her.
She became more and more agitated,
had to make me understand because 'some people are coming'.

A short time later I called my aunt.
She'd had a similar dream.
Called my sister.
Same dream. 

(Montmartre cafe table)

Whatever the message was,

it was never received.

After the dream, I drove by the old house

and noticed a pink construction permit posted outside.

Was she trying to tell us she'd stashed a load of cash in the wall

and wanted us to know before the new owners found it?

I've been in touch with them.

They never said a word. 

Or was she just calling to say

Je t'aime?

(Tomorrow would have been her 97th birthday!

Bon Anniversaire, Grandma!) 

(Photos copyright: Kirsten Steen)