Friday night’s attacks in Paris hit home. Very close to home. It’s hard to process my own feelings right now, let alone find the words to express them. My aunt and cousins used to live across the street from the Bataclan. One of those cousins was at the Stade de France for the France-Germany match. I have two sets of friends, both with young children, who live rue de la Fontaine-au-roi. The images I watched on newscasts that evening and throughout the weekend were not the Paris of tourists that’s typically shown in the United States, with the obligatory accordion background music. This was my Paris. These were my streets. This was my home.
I wish I could be home in times like these. But I am not. So like in January, following the shooting at Charlie Hebdo, I gathered with friends, this time in front of the statue of Lafayette near the White House. There’s so much to process and think about already, just being able to speak French and hear French being spoken all around made me feel better already. I know that things are going to be ok. We’ve been through worse. But right now, I don’t really want to think or speak about it, so I will just leave you with pictures of two moments that warmed my heart over the weekend.
Well wishers left heartfelt message, flowers and even bottle of wine – a very sweet thought – outside of the French Embassy here in Washington, DC
A few hundred people, including many French expats, gathered for a vigil at the statue of France’s General Marquis Gilbert de Lafayette near the White House. Ambassador Gerard Araud and White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough led a minute of silence for the victims.
Awful times. I hope all your loved ones are safe. It’s so hard to be so far away. I was at the French Embassy yesterday and there was a steady stream of people wanting to express their support for the people of Paris and all of France.