So here's the deal: A fellow Finnish disc golfer was off to spring vacation to France. Knowing that he knew a trick or two with his camera, we decided to equip him with a brand new C-line PD2 (Chaos) and asked him to shoot some photos along the way. Here's the story:
Fresh out of the airplane, the air feels so fresh and yet so soft. "Spring is definitely here" I think to myself with a big smile on my face. For someone living in Finland where there's waist-deep crust of snow for a good part of the year and even the sun goes down at 3 PM on the darkest days of winter, spring is definitely something I've come to appreciate. I mean to see how the nature awakes to it's full glory after a long dark winter makes me feel all soft and comfy inside.
But to perceive springtime in Paris in it's full glory, Airports and busy city streets aren't exactly the best place to be. With this in mind I grab my backpack and go find myself a nice park where I can relax and enjoy the most exiting time of the year. Not long before I find myself on a nice big park covered with cherry trees in full blossom. I stop for a while to set my mind at ease:
After a nice afternoon nap in the park it's time set sail towards the countryside. I feel a gentle spring breeze against my face as I enter a old monastery not too far away from Paris. I've kept myself self busy hitchhiking most of the way and I feel like it's time to sit down and enjoy a nice cold tall one. As I sit down next to a tree to find a shadow to protect my lager from the heat of the sun, I feel one with everyone who's been here before. This moment is nothing short from perfect.
After a nice afternoon on the countryside it's time to get back to the city. Now don't get me wrong - I for one could spend weeks conquering the gentle winds of the french countryside, but now I'm in a hurry. You see - I have a date with someone real special. An old friend of mine is in town and I don't want to miss the chance to enjoy a dinner with her at nice streetside restaurant in downtown Paris.
And yeah, I said "her". I mean, I'm here with an open mind, free of all hidden agendas, and would definitely enjoy spending the warm spring night together with her. "Falling in love", that's what people in springtime Paris do, right?
As I find myself a place at a table, I'm unfortunately already a bit late. I don't mind it though, for some reason I feel like it's the way of the world. After waiting for a good ten minutes, I'm starting to worry - What if something has happened to her? What if she just doesn't want to see me? I try to reach her cell but there's no answer. I'm devastated sitting by myself at the table.
Finally I think to myself - I definitely need to eat something so I order something off the menu. It's completely in French and I have no idea what I'm ordering. It doesn't really even bother me since I feel inconsolable by the thought of losing her. And I didn't even get to see her after all these years. Suddenly it hits me - I need to go find her! In a moment I find myself hurtling along the Champs-Élysées desperately trying to catch a glimpse of her somewhere in the crowd.
The day falls into night as I still wander around the streets of Paris trying to find her. Time seems meaningless at this point. I don't need to eat, drink or sleep. I need to find her. The Eiffel-tower lights up as I walk pass it and suddenly I can see something familiar by a great big lawn. It's her! I can see her waving back to me. As i approach her with the perfect apology for being late (boy, did I ever have time to think of one), I notice that she isn't mad at me, contrary to what I expected. Turns out she was at a wrong restaurant and has been searching for me all night too. She feels so soft but yet so firm as we lie on the lawn and stare into to night. Words are meaningless at this point - we've found the perfect understanding together just by lying still. This is what l live for.
Life and Disc Golf are both full of great big feelings. Remember to take a moment, just once in a while, to enjoy the things around you. It makes the life worth living.
From Paris, with love
Discmania staff