My Birthday in Paris V "The Strike" (Mini Series)

It is our last day in this cultured city of love. We spend our last hours packing and enjoying one last meal before we have to get to the train station and make our way back to Switzerland. It really has been an amazing adventure of historical sites, bus tours, metro rides, delicious food, and French champagne. I am overly happy to be leaving this country an engaged woman, the bond between Beni and I undeniably stronger. I am excited to return home to the pristine country I have called my home the last two months.

Packed and ready we take what we assume to be our last metro ride to the train station. We have about fifteen minutes until the scheduled train departure. We find our assigned track and discover dozens of passengers gathered about waiting to board the train. There is at first confusion as to why no one is allowed to get on. I glance at the ancient clock hanging above and a little panic runs through me as I see the time before departure getting nearer. What is going on? Too many people are in front of us, we cannot see what the hold up is. To my left I see a woman with a large camera cutting through the crowd to the front. She sets up and starts to film us. Another man is near the trains holding a smart phone recording the crowds.  Suspicion comes over me and I start to feel concern for our situation.

The hands of the large clock tick closer and closer to boarding time. There is no way we could all board this train in time for departure. Panic starts to hit the group of traveling people. I look to Beni and he is frustrated, he doesn't have a clue either why no one can get aboard. More and more people are behind us intending on taking this train to Zurich. It is Sunday afternoon, many people like Beni have to get home to work the following Monday. Voices of concern soon turn to voices of outrage as we are running out of minutes. People shouting in languages I do not speak are raising arms to shake their tickets at the train employees.

I can see to the front now. A row of red-vested train employees stand with emotionless faces towards the crowd. A barricade separates the workers from the passengers. A few security guards stand next to the employees. There is no concern from these individuals as they stare back at us and tell us we cannot board, it is not their fault they do not know what is going on. There is a push from behind and I look to see persons with rage struck faces trying to make their way through the front. There is pushing from behind me and a push back from in front of me. I am standing behind Beni clinging to his backpack for dear life. Fear runs over me as I have no idea how this will turn out. At one point I have been pushed so much I almost fall over and if that happens I will for sure be trampled. To my right a frightened mother stands holding an infant baby. She covers his head as chaos forms around her. The train employees start to tell us we can take the later train and this sends outrage through the crowd. One German speaking man becomes over turned with fury as he yells and puts his middle in finger every train worker's face. The security guards come in to action and make him back off. Everyone is angry and wanting to board this train. They have travel plans and places to be.

I watch as the hands of the clock hit out departure time and the train takes off, leaving all of the passengers behind. There is a lot of screaming and angry words being said as all of us are ushered away from the track and in to an area marked with a white line. We are told to wait here for three hours until the next train. This is impossible, we all have tickets and the later train will for sure be full. Beni and I have no idea what is going on or why we were just treated that way. I felt like I was in another world and time. Beni makes some phone calls to his family back in Switzerland. We find out from them that the French train employees were on strike and would not allow us to board this train. That these people were striking for higher salary in turn for ruining hundreds of people's days. I would never imagine that such a thing could be possible.

It is uncertain when and if we could get a train ride back to our country so we have to book a flight instead. The flight will not take off until the following day so we must get a hotel room. Beni's family quickly books these for us while we are still at the train station. The hotel is located near the airport so we must take a subway there. Once again we get on board an underground train car. Crammed shoulder to shoulder with other passengers we start to move forward. After a few minutes the car starts slowing down. I can see the graffiti on the cement walls more clearly as the train comes to a complete stop. We aren't to the designated stop yet, why have we stopped here underground? Panic rushes over me as I fear this train too is on strike. What would happen if we were trapped in this humid car full of frustrated people?

After a few minutes the train starts up again and we finally make it to the hotel. After a few hours travel and much frustration we find ourselves in a hotel room again. This time it's not a rustic love room, but a more generic travel hotel. We make our way downstairs for  a quick dinner before we fall asleep. A television in the restaurant shows the news of the train strike, displaying the hundreds of angry passengers who had no way home that day. People forced to get another hotel room, a flight home, and make other arrangements. I hope that everyone was as fortunate as us.

We wake up the next day more than ready to leave France. Beni is really upset with what happened as something like this would never happen in Switzerland. He kept his cool the entire time even though at some points I thought he would lose it. He really is a true Swiss gentleman. We are more than relieved when we finally arrive back in the safety of the Swiss Alps. I almost want to kiss the ground I am so thankful to be back in the clean streets of Chur where people are courteous and polite. I have truly become spoiled living here Switzerland and my expectations of humans has grown since I've experienced the culture here.

Like many other things in life there always has to be a balance. Nothing is for free, and if it's worth it, it won't always be easy. Even though the last day was frustrating in Paris, I knew that we had experienced so much good and we are very fortunate in so many ways, that this little hiccup was  a reminder to stay grateful for all that we have. To be grateful for the convenience of everyday luxuries. Paris was a wonderful trip even if it made us pay a little in the end.

To read the full series of My Birthday in Paris, click Here.

To read how Beni and I met, click Here.

Wedding Dress Shopping

Every young girl imagines the day she will get married. She's enjoyed a fantasy or two about what her dress will look like, the colors she will choose, as well as her dream location. This fantasy may change with age, and some women may even loose the desire for a wedding after life experiences. Until recently it had been a good amount of time since I had thought about getting married or what my wedding day would be like. I've spent the last two years trying to stray away from conventional thinking and really listen to what it is that I would like to do.  I put focus on my own beliefs and developing my own traditions, I don't aim to live my life the way everyone does just because that's the way it's always been done. I like to follow the beat of my own heart, my own inner guidance, and do what sits right in my soul.

Almost two weeks ago my boyfriend proposed to me. I am a citizen of the United States and he is a Swiss citizen. Our wedding will have to happen in the next couple months if we want to remain in the same country together. We do not want to be separated again and are both looking forward to our union. We plan to have just a small wedding with his family here in Switzerland, just the legal ceremony and a dinner party following. We plan one day to be able to share our marriage with my family in Wisconsin, I really want them to be a part of it. Since we are planning a small celebration I didn't think it was necessary to wear an extravegant gown. I was considering something light blue and lacy, with off the shoulder cap sleeves. I didn't necessarily see myself in a white wedding dress or at least I was trying to convince myself that I didn't want or need to wear one. I thought I was going to the bridal gown shop well prepared to search for a cocktail dress.

Yesterday, my fiancé Beni and his mother accompanied me to the dress shop. I walked in excited and certain I would find something I liked. As the woman came to greet us she spoke in german, I am the only one who cannot speak german. Beni explains I only speak english so the woman does the best she can to communicate with me in english. I am always grateful when people here try to accomodate me and speak my language, and sometimes it can get frustrating to have such a barrier. I explain to her what I am looking for and she directs me towards the bridesmaids gowns. All of these dresses have far too much material and are not at all like the picture I have in my mind. I am not certain she understands the details I explain. Beni suggests maybe looking at the white simple gowns, we make our towards the bridal gowns. As I am walking, a dress on a mannequin catches my eyes. It is beautifully simple and absolutely unique in this store. Long laced sleeves with flower details grace the sides of this vintage 70's looking gown. It is not too extravegant, it's quite elegant, and just like when I first saw my fiancé I thought there was no way this could be mine. I do not say anything about this gown and I walk towards the large selection of some bride's dream dresses. I comb through them and there is absolutely nothing I am interested in. I try one on just to please the woman trying to help me.

Kathi and Me

It is not my style, so Beni's mother suggests we look at short dresses. Beni's mother  Kathi is a beautiful woman, she always tries her best to speak english with me and is the perfect mother. She is caring and kind, and since the day I arrived has made sure I feel comfortable here in Switzerland. She's given me many of her clothes because I didn't have enough and she takes me to german lessons once a week. All of my fiancés family is very loving and accepting of me. I know that I am extremely blessed with my future husband and in laws. I walk over towards the rack housing the short wedding dresses, while Beni's mom and the woman try to show me some. They are both speaking in german, none of these dresses are what I had in mind, and my head is starting to spin. Just as I start to feel a little frustrated, panicked, and unsure how I am going to find a dress, Beni grabs my hand from behind and says, "Come with me darling." As the two woman continue their efforts I walk with Beni towards that dress that had called to me when we first walked by it. I love this dress but am afraid it is too much for our celebration, Beni assures me that this dress is perfect and that I should try it on.

I read that the dress is in my size even though it looks very petite on the mannequin. We ask the woman to try it on and she assures me that it is too small and to order my size would take a few months, I am almost disheartened. I take it in the fitting room and start to slip it on, the woman is helping but still convinced it isn't my size. I fit my arms through and pull it up, it fits perfectly, I knew it would. She gives me simple heels to wear with it and I walk out of the room in front of the big mirror. Beni stands when he sees me and gives me that dimple surrounded grin. God he is handsome. He tells me he loves it and that it reminds him of fairies, which if you know me you would understand. The three of them speak in German together and I have no idea what is being said. Does Kathi like it? Is it too much for our ceremony? Does it look terrible on me? At this point I feel sadness that my own mother and sisters aren't here to give me advice. I do not feel confident so I try on the short dresses the women have chosen for me. They are all beautiful but I don't feel that they are me. My fairy dress sticks in my mind but I don't know what they think so I suggest maybe we can keep looking and think about it. I am surprised when Beni's mother suggests I put the vintage dress back on, and I slide easily back in to it. She tells me how she had spotted this one too when we first walked in and if it's mine then it's mine. She is very sweet and I know she wants to make sure I am comfortable and happy with my decisions. I feel relief and excitement. I am overwhelmed with the joy that I have found my very own wedding dress.

To read the full story on how Beni and I met click Here

To read my full blog click Here

Dress Source Here

My Birthday in Paris IV (Mini Series)

 To read parts 1-3 and to read how I met Beni, please read my full blog Here.

Our second day in Paris is the day to explore. The underground metro system is the fastest way to travel. We spend a majority of our trip navigating the city, crossing paths with hundreds of people daily. We set out to see the sites, the first thing on the list is the Eiffelturm, the Eiffel Tower. I remember a few years back when I had my own apartment, my bathroom decor was Paris. Eiffel Tower shower curtain, high heel photos, little French trinkets lined my counter tops. I am not quite sure why I chose this theme. I honestly never saw myself actually being in Paris one day, but when I saw that Eiffelturm something inside of me got jittery and excited. Beni said my eyes sparkled when I saw it, I felt the attraction and awe immediately upon laying my eyes on this historical beauty. This is it, this is Paris! I am here and with Beni, oh am I lucky and ever so happy. It really was quite a rush. Hundreds of people gathered around this giant romantic sight taking photographs. Huge gushing water spouts create an enormous pool of water where one can sit by to enjoy the view. Every few feet someone is trying to sell souvenirs , tiny replicas of this iconic beast, but nothing can mimic it's towering mass.

We take a few pictures together, one of my favorite being of our tattoos with the tower between. We both got our tattoos done in Maui, his is a Spartan saying translated to "Come and take" after his crippling back problems and not being able to walk for six months. My tattoo represents the healing I went through in Maui and is translated to "The ocean is full of waves." We both have struggled and survived and know that we don't have to do it alone anymore as we have each other to help carry the weight.

It's time to see some other sites and we find an open air bus tour that allows us to sit on top while it drives around the big city. This is quite convenient for Beni and I as we are both what we consider terrible tourists. We don't enjoy walking too far or waiting in outrageous lines, seeing the view from the comfort of a chair seemed quite inviting. The tour comes with headphones if you would like to hear the history of the sites, but Beni and I enjoy talking so we opt out. Being in the City of Love is quite enough for us. Seeing everything and experiencing each other fulfills our trip. I got some great photos and really enjoyed all of the delicate details carved into each building and the patience it took to create such master pieces. This day is all about the bus tour, after it's finished we go back to our comfortable American restaurant and have lunch. We are still celebrating my birthday of course so again in the evening, we drink more champagne and celebrate life.

We plan our last full day with actually going in to historical buildings that we really want to see. We each choose one and for me it's the Sacré-Coeur, Sacred Heart church. This was the one building that really called to me. It resembled a palace to me, a beautiful giant building topped with soft voluptuous curves. Something called to me here. There is a great walk of stairs to climb before you earn the right to grace the halls of this cavernous church. We walk inside and hundreds of people are quietly walking around, admiring the intricate details of this place of worship. A thousand candles burn, lit from people who came to appreciate these halls. Beni and I light a large white candle together in honor of our new love and engagement. Photos are not allowed to take place here but I sneak on of our hands and my engagement ring next to our candle of love.

We make our way out of the building and on to Beni's choice of exploration, Chateau De Versailles, the military museum. Beni has a life long dream of being a man of military, and even though he suffered back problems from his short time in the Swiss military, still has that dream. With our marital union it will become possible for him to join the U.S. military. I think it's important to hold on to your dreams, there is always a way if they are meant to be. He is in awe and curiosity as we go through floors and decades of battle and military memorabilia. I personally enjoy the medieval weapons like finely jeweled swords and Beni prefers the guns. We both admire the knight and shinning armor displays. After our tour through history we also make a stop at Las Invalides, the tomb of Napoleon. These buildings are masterpieces in themselves, such beauty lies on every inch. The presence of each building is really powerful, they triumphantly say, "Here I am in all my glory."       

                  

      Below is a photo of Beni with Napoleon's tomb. 

 We head back the the comfort of our Republique square. Again we find a nice outside area where we drink more French bubbles and appreciate each other's company, Beni sings me a birthday song even though it is a few days past. We try a little French food this night since the majority of our other meals were served from the American restaurant. It's such a nice trip we have together, mostly focusing on enjoying each other and seeing what we can in-between kisses and embraces. We head back to our little sanctuary hotel room for what we think is going to be our last night in France....

To read my complete blog click Here.

"The Proposal" My Birthday in Paris Part III (Mini Series)

Click Here for part I and Click Here for part II of My Birthday in Paris mini series.

Once we have checked in to our rustic hotel room, and are prepared to freshen up after our travel, Beni asks if I would like one of my Birthday presents. I was surprised that there were more than one, and one was more than expected as I considered the trip itself the best gift a girl can receive. I eagerly accept my gift and open a small bag that I know instantly is coming from the crystal shop in the town we live in. I have been in to crystals and stones and their healing properties for a couple years now. They help me stay grounded in my spiritual practice as well as my day to day life. We stumbled upon this store together one day as we were walking through the historical part of town. Beni has been very supportive of my beliefs since he himself has had his own experiences. Growing up his mother always told him to "Send his wishes to the Universe" and after his crippling back pain which prevented him from fulfilling his life long dreams in the Swiss military, he had really disbelieved this theory, until he met me. His mother and I are a lot alike, which brings our relationship and new Swiss family even closer. I open the bag to find a precious heart shaped rose quartz crystal. Rose quartz is for the heart. It is for unconditional love of oneself and others, and speaks directly to the heart chakra. This delicate stone has a hole drilled through to be worn as jewelry which I will wrap myself a necklace, but wore it on it's temporary string for my birthday. It truly is the perfect stone for the City of Love.

Now that I am complete with my precious love stone, we head to the city with every intention of drinking champagne. Beni pulls out the Paris map and navigates us in the direction towards where he is sure we will find a nice spot. He has been to Paris a couple times before, living in Switzerland makes this travel convenient. I become proud of his navigation abilities during this trip, he likes to take the lead  and he is quite good at it, I just relax and follow him. As we arrive closer to our destination of the Seine River, something catches my eye. A grand building towers over us, delicately detailed yet strongly structured is the Notre Dame. I am excited to see the first cultural masterpiece. We sit down in front of this giant, tired from our long walk here. It finally feels real that I am here in Paris, this building is undeniable proof that I am in this famous place, on my birthday. We scout the nearby area for a place to have our celebratory bottle, and find our target right across the street. A conveniently named little cafe sits right on the corner with direct view of the building that inspired it's name, the Notre Dame.

We have a seat on the side walk, two person tables line the outside of building so people can sit side by side enjoying the view of the city. A waiter comes to greet us and I get to hear my handsome fellow order us a fine bottle in French. I am in awe every time I hear him speak a different language, I envy his ability as I myself am just starting to learn German. The Spanish I took in high school isn't quite as romantic as the French or Italian this man speaks. As the waiter delivers our selection, he delicately opens the cork so it lets off a gentle sigh, and pours us each a glass. Accompanying our bubbles is a small plate of french cookies and candies, how sweet. Beni and I toast to my birthday, to us, to everything we have been through, and what's yet to come. We sit for good while, sipping French champagne, sharing stories, watching tourists walk up and down the streets, all with the backdrop of Notre Dame and the Seine River, Happy Birthday to me.

It is still very warm and sunny as we finish our little cafe celebration. We would like to find something to eat and make our way back to the Place de Republic, the public square that neighbors our hotel. We choose a restaurant named Indiana, an American restaurant. Yes I know I am in Paris and I should have probably tried French cuisine, but I've also been abroad for over a month and I have a craving for my roots. We enjoy some comfort food for dinner and make our way back to the hotel.

We are laughing and having a great evening as we arrive to our little Paris hotel room. We fall on the the bed next to each other, so full of energy and excitement from our wonderful first day. Beni looks at me with a more serious face and asks if I would like my second gift, I get the butterflies of anticipation and eagerly say yes, nearly jumping up and down like a child. This is the first time in my life someone has planned such a day for me, or taken the time to make sure every minute of my birthday is special. I stay seated on the bed as he goes to the safe and removes a small ribbon tied box for me. I am absolutely stunned that he is giving me a what looks like a ring box, wrapped in a baby blue paper with white polka dots. I imagined my second gift being another stone, maybe a large amethyst which wouldn't come in a box like this.

Patiently I try to remove the bow and the wrapping even though I could easily tear it all in one try. I am nervous because I know it is jewelry, I feel shy and my cheeks are warm. My chest is tight and my hands are shaky a bit. I get the paper off and when I see the box I know immediately that it is from the same crystal shop as my necklace. Excitement really rushes through me because I have no idea what could possibly come from there in such a nicely wrapped package. I open the small black box and my eyes jump widely open as I see the single stone ring gently cradled in a soft black foam. I look to Beni as he is eagerly sitting next to me on the bed, he as excited as I. He looks to me, and he is a bit nervous, asks "Would you like to be married to me?" At least he has every intention of asking me the full question but before he is finished, I throw my arms around him and shout "Yes!" He puts the ring on my finger and we fall on our backs again laughing and really taking in the moment.

We had talked about marriage before. We knew if we wanted to be together it is something that we have to consider. Us being together forever is something that we have talked about since very early on in the relationship as we believe we have been together in many life times before. I some what expected him to propose in Paris, but for him to propose with a crystal, and not just any crystal but a Swiss mountain crystal is really special for me. I do not share the same attachment to diamonds as many others. I do not value a stone on it's price or popularity. I value a stone on it's healing abilities, it's origins, and the energy I feel from it. How special to have a stone from the very mountains that cuddle us in the valley we call home in Switzerland. What could be more meaningful than a crystal formed in the mountains where my future husband is from? This particular crystal is specifically for three zodiac signs, one of them being mine, the Gemini. Just like the rose quartz, the mountain crystal is for the heart, and is also an energy stone.

It is the eve before this month's full moon. This full moon is about travel, adventure, and relationships. Perfectly aligned as I fall asleep that night very full filled and happy with where my life has taken me. When I was dreaming of my future the previous months, I never expected all of this for myself. I know that I am truly blessed and I am grateful for all that is in my life. We wake up the next day early, we have only been in this city one day, there is much more to see and to explore....

If you would like to read the full story on how Beni and I met click HERE

My Birthday in Paris Part II (Mini Series)

To read Part I of my birthday series click here

It's 4 a.m. on my birthday and Beni and I must get up and ready to catch the train. Beni greets me with a birthday song, a song that he would sing daily to me over the course of our Paris visit. We make it to the station with plenty of time to get an apple juice for the ride. I love the apple juice in Switzerland, it's carbonated which makes it quite refreshing, especially following a chocolate croissant. Beni and I take our seats next to the window, we are facing each other, separated by a small table where we enjoy our little breakfast on the go. The train starts to go and I realize that I do not enjoy sitting backwards on this trip, trying to focus on the world flying by me in reverse makes me a little dizzy. Sitting on the other side next to Beni sounds better anyways so I switch seats. A few hours later and one transfer, we arrive in Paris.

My first impression is made by a giant train station, the extravagant details in the clocks and walls are only a preview of all the beauty this city will hold. I can't remember the last time I have been in such a crowded place but we make our way to the metro. This would be our mode of transportation for the next four days, crammed shoulder to shoulder with a diverse car of people. Faces young and old, various shades of browns and whites, facial features from all over the world that would suggest one melting pot of the human race. Having been in Switzerland for the last five weeks, I have only heard Swiss German and German being spoke but in this metro I hear mostly French and a bit of English. I spend many minutes thinking about how incredible it is that billions of people on this planet speak different languages and that I can be surrounded by hundreds of people whom we may not be able to share common words together. Fortunately, most people can speak a little bit of English. My boyfriend Beni who is Swiss can speak German, Swiss German, English, Italian, and a bit of French. It's a little ironic that some traveling Europeans have to speak English to each other when they do not speak the chosen language.

When I am with Beni and his family in Switzerland, everyone does their best to speak English with me. When we are at a restaurant or store, Swiss German is spoken and I usually cannot understand. I have recently started taking German lessons, once I learn this I can learn Swiss German and I won't feel so isolated. In the mean time Paris is a breath of fresh air when it comes to hearing English again. It's all around me, every server can speak a few words at the restaurants, there are also many Americans here. Even if I am not in a conversation with them, hearing them speak around me is like comfort food to my soul.

After our first metro ride and a few transfers, we make it up to the day light to the republique square. Our hotel is only a block away from this well known gathering place. Restaurants and shops surround this area, and hundreds of people crowd the streets. We make our way to our hotel, Le General, hidden among the cultured buildings. Our room is quite small but welcoming. The hotel is made to look modern even though you can feel the age and history in it's foundation. I couldn't be happier to be in this adorable French hotel, celebrating my birthday, and enjoying the company of this handsome man of mine. After our travel we are ready for a little exploration and celebration. I change in to my birthday dress I treated myself to from the H&M and we head out in to the romantic streets, looking for an adventure.....

My Birthday In Paris Part I (Mini Series)

We are raised in a culture that celebrates our day of birth, and why wouldn't we? Surviving on this planet and making it through another year of growth and learning is definitely worthy of a celebration. Each year the sun enters in our zodiac sign for a short period of time, shining the light upon us, bringing forth a new personal year. It is a great time to reflect upon our accomplishments and anything we have over come the previous year, setting intentions for what we would like to manifest in the next coming twelve months.

One year ago I never thought I'd be where I am in this moment, one year ago I was celebrating my birthday alone. It had been about five months since I arrived on Maui, living as a nanny for two children, residing in a beautiful home with the family. When the summertime came,  the family was leaving the island for the season. While away, the family invited me to stay in their home. I was ecstatic to have the opportunity to stay on the island even if my job with them had come to an end. I was uncertain of my future and had no idea what would come next. I did have, of course, my vision board I studied every day.  Daily I spent time envisioning each and every one of my dreams coming true.

June 12, 2013, I am completely alone on my birthday. It is the first time I have spent a birthday alone, why should it matter? It is after all just one of the many I would encounter. For some reason this particular day was painful, I missed my family and friends, and I longed for someone to be with me to wish me a good day. I remember laying on the lawn in the sunshine, studying the clouds, tears streaming down my suntanned cheeks from time to time. "I want to be on this journey, I want to experience the world, and travel, I can do this. This day really is not more important than the rest. You are ok alone." This was the self talk I gave myself, the same as many other times before when being alone got tough. I left home over a year ago, traveling around the Hawaiian islands with no real place to call home, nothing stable, nothing familiar, only myself, one suitcase, and my vision board.

I spent a good part of my birthday afternoon glancing at my vision board, dreaming mostly of meeting my Twin Flame. Writing down my wish-list of the perfect mate, I imagined every detail of him.  The beginning of my dream board declares that I would love to meet my soul-mate and underneath that I state my desires of traveling to Europe. Surrounding that focus is the other places I wouldn't mind traveling, things I want to achieve career wise, and qualities of the person I personally would like to be. Knowing that I am meant to have all of these visions, I easily fell asleep that night, dreaming my sweet dreams.

The weeks following my birthday form the way to what I would consider my wishes coming true. It would take almost a full year of self work and lessons before I'd see my wishes from my previous birthday come true.  I didn't know it, but each person I met, the jobs I worked, the places I lived, all would play specific roles in this divine plan. Like magic, I eventually meet the soulmate I asked for, and better than the one I imagined. A Swiss born man, we quickly fall in love, and find ourselves living together in Switzerland. Even though I am used to the Universe manifesting my desires, it takes some time for me to accept this beautiful reality.

June 12, 2014, it is my birthday again but this time I am not alone. This birthday I am engulfed in the love of a true gentlemen. He has planned a weekend getaway for my 29th year, to the "City of Love", a weekend in Paris....To read the full story about how I met Beni click here.

When Paths Cross

It has been more than two years since I left the comfort and stability of my life in Wisconsin. Still in the cozy nest of my home town resides my entire family, I was the first and possibly only one to leave. This is OK, I had to go, something inside me was pulling me on an unexpected journey.

The first duration of my "flight" away from everything I used to know was spent in Hawaii. First Oahu, then Big Island, and landing safely on Maui. Maui is where I spent the most time, a little over a year. I had been single during this life changing opportunity. Although it was often hard for me to be alone, and I couldn't help wonder what was wrong with me, I knew the answer. It wasn't time for relationships. It was time for Emilee to heal herself, her past,  her old beliefs, time to find her true self. It wouldn't be until I was ready, that I could attract the one meant for me. Most people see Maui as paradise, a vacation, beaches, palm trees,  and yes I see it too, but what I feel and what resides in my intuition is that Maui is a healer. All of Hawaii is magical and healing and it is said it either sucks you in or spits you out. If you are not meant to live in Hawaii, the islands will make sure you leave, and if you are meant to be there, they will call to you and make sure you stay. I know that I have a special connection to Hawaii, and all of the synchronistic and magical occurrences have proved this to me time and time again.

After a year on Maui I was feeling a bit stagnant, yes I was in paradise and I could easily melt away here forever, disappearing into the island life, and cruising by. But, my soul was ready for more, I have healed a lot of myself, learned the lessons I came to learn, and was ready for a new adventure. I always had an eye out for my potential partner, but I knew it wouldn't matter how hard I tried, I couldn't force the timing. I gave up on love in Maui, feeling like he wouldn't come to me here, that maybe it would be someplace else. I was ready to make a change and move forward in my life, uncertain of what I was doing, I quit my job and planned to move on the other side of the island. A friend from my life in Wisconsin moved to Maui and invited I come stay with him, I eagerly accepted. I put in my two weeks, gave my housemate my notice, and planned to live up my last days on the north shore before I made the forty-five minute ride to the west side of the island. For some reason living on the other side of the island is just the same as living on a different island, no one likes to drive all that way. This drive would be nothing to a main lander.

Counting down the days until I move to the other side, I have thoughts of surfing every day there, maybe casually dating as there are more options, working on a boat, plenty of new opportunities. None of these things would really satisfy what my soul is calling for, but I was going to continue the island thing. My last week up in my little town of Haiku I spend every night at the local Raw Vegan Kombucha bar. Here they serve fresh Kombucha on draft and have really tasty food. I always imagined me meeting someone here. Someone who is health conscious, spiritual, someone like me. I am sitting at the bar with my girlfriend one Saturday night, I worked with her at the restaurant across the street. We are soul sisters, we have a connection so great and uplifting, but she has to get home to her husband. A live guitarist is starting to play in the corner, I peer over to take a look, it's coconut Dave. I am a regular at this place but as I am looking over my shoulder, I feel a presence I haven't felt before. Someone is sitting next to me and I can feel a magnetic force between us, I try to eye him up peripherally. Now he has my attention, I try to eavesdrop when he speaks with the bartender. He speaks broken English, has dark hair and eyes, he is very light complected,  muscular, and quite handsome. He is European, from Switzerland, he stands out from the usual crowd of sun kissed surfers and the dread headed hippies.

Something inside of me has the courage to start a conversation, in my mind I was thinking that he is from Europe, he probably has a lot of cool friends here and girls that like him, he wouldn't be interested in me, since none of the other boys on this damn island had been. I am very casual when speaking to him, no expectations, just small talk. I keep it short and I say goodbye, not expecting to see him again. The following night I go back to my place at the Kombucha bar to drink my quart of lightly intoxicating tea, and that same Swiss boy comes in and sits next to me. Again not being shy because I can't imagine him having interest in me, I start a conversation. We continue to talk through the night, he is quite popular with some of the locals that know of him and his story. He is visiting Maui for three months, staying with his uncle who lives here. For the last six months he spent his time in a wheelchair, crippled by  back pain he obtained during his time in the Swiss military. He went from doctor to therapist in Europe, and no one could seem to heal him. As a last resort he came to Maui to see a well known healer, a German fellow. Within a few weeks He was walking again, and his story became quite inspirational to everyone that heard. Now that he could walk he had a couple more months to spend on the island. I love his story. We share our stories until the bar closes and we walk outside together. We stand by my moped and continue to talk for over an hour. Usually I am shy but he is easy to talk to, I suppose because he is much younger than me, I don't think much of us. We both enjoy going to the same beach, so we make plans to see each other the following day around mid day.

The following day I am seated in the sand, reading a book, listening to waves crash onto the shore. I wonder if that Swiss boy will actually show up today? He is running a few minutes late. My thoughts are interrupted by words I cannot understand. I look over to see that Swiss boy, who's name is Beni, talking to a European couple. I am only a few feet away, for sure he sees me, so I wait until he is finished. Soon after the speaking stops I look over expecting him to be coming over but he is walking the opposite direction. This stings my ego a little but I didn't expect much more because it is Maui. It seems that men always have more options than women, so why should he choose me. I started gathering my things, I plan to hop on my moped and go someplace else, but something tells me to go after him. I head in the direction he walked, speeding up a bit to catch up. I call his name and he turns around, he is happy to see me. He had forgotten his glasses that day and was trying to find me, but thought I left because he was late. We sit in the sand and pick up our conversation where we left off the previous night. I am little nervous, and I do not know why. I still think he has no interest, he had mentioned he would like to meet someone so I offer to be his wing man. I am certain he would like a younger girl, one probably skinnier and more bubbly than I am. Most guys like the little girly-girls, I am really calm, sometimes a little too deep for the average person. I invite him to come out with my friends that night, maybe he can meet someone there.

Later that evening he meets up with my friends and I for open mike night. He is handsome, and he smells amazing. He doesn't look the local people here, and I love that he is different. I have curled my blond hair, and am wearing my red lipstick. Even if I didn't expect anything, I was going to look my best. When he sees me he smiles and tells me I am beautiful, I am flattered but yet I brush it off. Throughout the night we have a blast, he doesn't drink alcohol, only lemonade, and somehow this is really sweet to me. I expected him to be looking around at other girls tonight, but his eyes were only for me. All of his attention was directed at me, and every few minutes he would give me this giant smile and wink that would make my heart skip a beat. Why does he keep winking? Is he winking at everyone? The night comes to an end and he drives me home. We drive through the jungle roads of our little town to my little cottage and park in the driveway. I thank him for coming out tonight, I really had more fun than expected. I reach over to give him a casual Aloha hug goodbye because I was still convincing myself he doesn't like me that way. He met my embrace with a goodnight kiss, I was surprised and happy and most infatuated.  From that moment on this Swiss boy was my prince, I never had to question if he liked me or wanted to be with me, he made it clear every second of every day.

It was bad timing that I was moving to the other side of the island, I thought for sure that this would prevent us from being anything, but like a gentlemen he drove everyday to see me, the drive was nothing to be with me. We spent his last two months together in love, and enjoying the island together. We knew we wanted to be together but weren't quite sure of what the future had in store. Destiny would take it's lead and find me three months after we met, living with him in Switzerland.

Beni is the perfect gentlemen, he holds every door open for me and calls me darling, I have never felt so loved and desired. He is the first man to know everything about me. He knows everything about my past, everything that I was ashamed of. The things I worked on forgiving myself for, moving on from, I have shared with him.  He knows my dreams, my passions, my goals, and he fully accepts them. He empowers me and I do the same for him. I want him to achieve his dreams and will encourage him to believe in himself. We both know that the Universe brought us together, and that everything we have been through in our lives has been worth it because it lead us to each other. He sometimes makes the joke that I didn't have to put him in a wheelchair to meet him, but I say nothing worth having is easy!

This last photo is of Beni picking me up at the Swiss airport. My prince charming. 

A Day At Caumasee

For as long as I can remember, the thing I looked forward to most was a visit to a beach. Growing up in bitter cold Wisconsin kept my dreams to a minimum, but every summer I managed to sneak away from my daily life. My beach of choice was a man made one, tons of sand, clear water, and of course cold drinks. When I dreamt about traveling or going on vacation, my only requirement was the beach. I didn't care where, just make it warm, sunny, and beachy. I had no concern with seeing other parts of the world, cities, or culture, at least not until I had my fill of beach time. My wish eventually came true, and I had the most incredible opportunity to live on three hundred and sixty degrees of shoreline on the island chain of Hawaii. After I was blessed with the world's most beautiful beaches on a daily basis, dreams for seeing other parts of the world began to bloom. I made it a new dream to visit Europe, I wasn't sure where but destiny would lead me to meet my sweetheart and  take me where I needed to be, Switzerland.

 I am currently living with my boyfriend and his brother in the town of Chur. I have been here for a month now, and the first few weeks were mostly rain and cold weather. Not easy for a sand loving mermaid like myself. I showed up to this beautiful country with only a few beachy clothes and my favorite accessory, bathing suits. The surfer girl look doesn't really go in Europe, it's more like skinny jeans, nice hair, shoes, scarves, etc. I quickly adjusted myself, got some hand me down clothes from my boyfriend's mother, and I can fit right in. I am quite proud of my adaptability in new places. Although I can dress the part, my heart still longs to wear my flip flops, beach tops, and let my blond locks dry naturally wavy in the sun, oh and to be crusted in salt water!

Today I cannot say that I dove into the Pacific ocean but I was taken to one of the most beautiful lakes I have ever encountered. A short drive through the majestic Swiss mountains over looking villages and valleys, leads you to a hidden taste of paradise, Lake Cauma. Water of my favorite teal, gorgeous rock formations, and the smell of pine trees. A quick ride in a mountain lift, takes you down to the water. OK so maybe there aren't any "beaches" or any sand, but there is sun, heat, and water, truly fit for this mermaid. All around me I see trees, water, and mountains. I see mother nature at her finest, she is a proud mother I guarantee it. I am here with my love and his brother. Every day we do a form of exercise, and although we already did cross fit this morning, we wanted to swim in this lake.

Before we jump in the fresh waters of this hidden treasure, we are warmed in the rays of the sun, spread out in the grass. I love the grass in Switzerland, it's full of flowers. We brought a little picnic of sorts, I brought quarter water melon and a store prepared veggie tray. I eat the juicy melon with a fork and knife, fancy I say, European style. I was quite shocked when I realized every meal here is eaten ever so skillfully with a knife and fork, even pizza, forget the slices. I myself am accustomed to eating with a fork and or my fingers, but have become quite acquainted with this etiquette. Accompanying my fresh veggies is what is called cocktail sauce. When I think of cocktail sauce, I think ketchup and horseradish, served along side fresh or fried shrimp, but here it is simply ketchup mixed with mayo. I would say it is the condiment of choice among the Swiss and is to them as ranch is to Americans.

After our snack it's time to test the crisp mountain water. In the distance snow can be seen on the mountain tops, I just imagine this snow melting and feeding in to this fresh lake, how healing and refreshing for my body it will be to swim in such virgin water. Like children we inch in the shore, giggling because it's cold, wondering who's going to make the first move towards going further. Peering out at our destination, a raft sits alone, waiting for us to swim to it. Tiny fish bite our toes encouraging us to swim with them. I took off first, it's better to get it over with, it's not to bad once you are submerged in the coolness of the water. We all swim together, the brother in the lead because he is much taller than both of us. We cheer as we make it to the raft, it's always an accomplishment swimming in the cold mountain water. I am especially proud of my sweetheart, who doesn't care for swimming much, but is every day challenging himself in some way. We are both growing together, working on our dreams, and empowering each other, I have something with him I have never experienced before. I have been working on myself in this way since the move to Hawaii, and he is the first person I get to share my true self with, he is my match. He too had a lot of self work before meeting me, as he was wheelchair ridden for six months prior to meeting me. I met him shortly after he had been to a healer in Maui, and he could walk again. The Universe sure can make the road to something beautiful, a painful one.

We jump back in the water shortly after we arrive to the raft, it's easier to get back in the water if you are still wet. We all swim back to the shore, to our grassy little resting spot, among the flowers and the trees. The boys are more comfortable laying in the grass, but for me, a flat rock facing the lake has my name all over it. I perch myself on the warm stone, arch my back, and point my face towards the sun. I am in my happy place, I am right where I need to be. I sit absorbing the glory of the sun, thinking about all of the things I am grateful for. Reflecting on my journey, what I am planning, wishing, and dreaming for. Breathing in the mountains, the trees, the water, the freshness of life. Soon my love comes to gather me, he misses me, and I miss him. We are inseparable. Hand in hand we make the trek back to the lift, leaving this serene place just for today.