La Rentrée

It's beginning of September, La Rentrée (the Return) in other words. All the French are back from their vacation, all the businesses closed in August are back open, kids are back to school, etc. The school/office supply section of Monoprix had a line of about 20 people at the cash register, instead of 3. Luckily I didn't need any notebooks or pens, so no standing in that line for me. The bus this morning was full of moms (and a few papas) taking their tykes to school. There I did have to stand, after a summer of pleasant bus rides, sitting and reading. The trains from Gare St. Lazare to the office are back to their normal schedule, of 2 long trains (8 cars) every 10 minutes, (at 8:38, 8:41, 8:48, etc) instead of one short train (4 cars) every 12 minutes. Which meant instead of a leisurely wait until the next train, i rushed to get the next one and walk all the way down the the last car to minimize the walking time afterwards...I had forgotten how long those trains are! The gym last night was back to being packed, the Champ de Mars on my last few runs has been packed with joggers, and so on. I don't think I quite realized how empty Paris got in the summer until now!

My own Rentrée will not be until October, my vacation is the last 2 weeks of Sept. It just occured to me yesterday that I haven't actually gone on vacation (as opposed to taking days off here and there) since June 2005! Ireland with my parents! No wonder I'm so stressed lately. I need a vacation!!