Day 8 - #WorldWatercolorGroup Swan in water with shadow watercolor painting
By Charlie

Au Revoir Paris

Written by Charlie O'Shields

Today, we’ve just had our last little breakfast in Paris and head back home soon. I loved seeing the swans on the river here, so that’s what I chose for today’s final doodlewash in France. They’re such beautiful birds and I’m only likely to see ducks and geese back home. However, this swan’s travel looks far more relaxing than the kind I’m about to experience. Philippe says he prefers the trip home, but I always find it disorienting, like we’re traveling back in time. Tonight, we’ll be home in time for dinner on a Saturday night, but it will, in reality, be 2:30am on Sunday in France. Hoping to get a little bit of a nap on the plane as once home, we’ll then attempt to stay up for another few hours to begin to reset our internal clocks. It will be exhausting, but also good to be home again.

I wrote that first bit and then had to catch our Uber to the airport before I could complete it. I’m now on the plane, half way back to America, and rather bored because we were informed that the inflight entertainment system wasn’t working for this flight. Hopefully all other systems are working properly. I never realized how much I relied on some silly show to fill the time until now when there’s the sound of wailing air and low murmurs. And me, still wide awake, in a cabin that’s starting to smell like new farts and old socks. From my seat, I see the luckier folks in Business Class sleeping soundly in their fully reclining beds. I’m instead sitting with my knees pressing against the seat in front of me, sitting so upright I may as well be standing, trying to catch a nap as though I were a horse.

Next stop will be a wait through Customs before heading to our second flight back to Kansas City. France is already miles away now, and with each little bump I’m slowly making the transition back to my normal little life. Last night we said goodnight to friends and family for the final time on this trip, trying to pretend another year would pass quickly. It will, in reality, be much slower than that, but as we move away from Paris, I like to think that we’re just beginning a slow journey back. Seasons will pass and days will go by, but each one will bring us closer to our return. A slow and peaceful journey back to our second home. Not rushing, but taking it one ripple of water at a time, like a swan swimming down the river Seine.

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About the Doodlewash

Sennelier L’Aquarelle: Indian Yellow, Red Orange, Carmine, Phthalo Blue, Ultramarine Deep, and Payne’s Grey. Lamy Safari Al Star pen with Platinum Carbon black ink in a little red cloth hardbound l’aquarelle journal I found in a Paris shop.
  Day 8 - #WorldWatercolorGroup Swan in water with shadow watercolor painting

Charlie O'Shields

Creator of Doodlewash, founder of World Watercolor Month (July), World Watercolor Group, and host of the Sketching Stuff Podcast. Sharing watercolor illustrations and stories while proudly featuring talented artists from all over the world!

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42 thoughts on “Au Revoir Paris”

  1. Hide your box of macarons from the Customs man, Charlie. He may want them for himself! I’ve enjoyed your Paris sojourn and want to move there, so I looked on the French Entrée website for some inspiration and guess what I saw, an article on how to learn French a hundred times faster, and I thought of you! frenchentree.com. Bisous. 💌

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  2. Awww time traveller, I always love that thought, but not the experience of new farts and stinking socks! I have loved hearing of your French adventures with family and friends. I do hope your body adjusts quickly once you get back home …try and get some zzzzzzzzz, just don’t start neighing while you doze. Lol 😉

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    1. Thanks so much, Rebecca! 😃💕 It’s good to be back home, but still missing our little life there. One day we’ll be able to stay a bit longer I hope. And I didn’t make any horse sounds… that I’m aware of… haha… but only managed to get a 20 minute nap. I just can’t sleep well on planes. But feeling great!

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  5. Being separated from family is painful, whether by an ocean or even 9 hours on a highway as we are from one of our sons and his family. You miss a lot and put so much on those few hours spent with them. Next year for you; we are not sure when we’ll be able to visit our Northern California family again. We’re always connected by phone and other devices though it’s hardly the same as holding a grandchild in my arms.

    Glad you and Philippe had such a wonderful Paris vacation, and thank you for letting us have a window into your adventures.

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    1. Thanks, Sharon! 😃💕 Yeah… thankfully there’s always a way to stay connected digitally. It can help bridge the time in between a bit. And so happy you enjoyed these posts… this was one of my favorite trips there so far since it felt less like tourism and more like hanging out in a new home.

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  11. Hi Charlie, it’s 10h12 morning here so you probably sleep in your bed now as it’s about 3 am. Amazing painting and really splendid colors and water effects.
    I wish your intern clock will find the best way for you and yes, I’m sure a year goes very quickly ! See you soon and as waiting, I’ll look forward for your beautiful paintings.

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  12. Like a swan, relaxing in the new time zone, back in time about 7 hours? I guess.
    And back to normal life again though it’s Sunday and you can take enough sleep for tomorrow starts again and probably back to work.
    Swans I like, they seem so peacefull and light driving upon the water!
    Hope you start the new week as light as the swans Charlie!

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  14. What a beautiful, peaceful painting to close your trip to Paris. It’s been a pleasure to follow your journey. I hope the good memories of your time living in Paris will carry you through until you return.

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    1. Thanks so much! 😃💕 I’m so pleased you enjoyed this little journey. I had a wonderful time, and was actually surprised I was able to manage a post each day with such a packed schedule, but so glad I did. I can’t imagine not making a painting each day now, even when I’m traveling.

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  15. A really beautiful swan, Charlie – how striking it is surrounded by that dark, rippling water; poignant in its way, but we know how swiftly time flies – you’ll be back there before you know it! I hope you had a good journey back and have reverted to some kind of American order. I also hope that Phineas isn’t giving you too much trouble for going on holiday without him! 😉

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    1. Thanks, Jacob! 😃 I rather liked how the swan turned out… was a bit of rush job, but sometimes those turn out the best! hehe And yes, back home with Phineas and although he seemed pissed at first, now he’s just curled up in a ball and snoring. Being with so many other dogs at “camp” really wears him out.

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  17. I hope you are home by now, and settling into your normal routine. I absolutely loved what you said here, ” I like to think that we’re just beginning a slow journey back. Seasons will pass and days will go by, but each one will bring us closer to our return. A slow and peaceful journey back to our second home. Not rushing, but taking it one ripple of water at a time, like a swan swimming down the river Seine.”

    LOVE IT!

    Your swan is beautiful!

    Reply

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