MONDAY: TRANSATLANTIC PARALLEL

AUJOURD'HUI

with Letitia Jett

It's time for the game that Letitia Jett,  A Femme d'un Certain Age, and I play each week on our blogs. We compare our views on our adopted countries, France for Letitia and The States for me.

There are some things we really love, others not so much. Good or bad, fun or unpleasant, whatever our point of view, we bring it to you.

Movie lines: Discipline and respect are the operating words in movie lines, taxi lines, any line here in the United States. In Paris: lines, what lines? it's absolute chaos ( I have a friend who boasted for years that he had never waited in line for anything; "waiting is for idiots")...charming. Here no one would cut a line anywhere; impressive and so relaxing. The only time it did happen in front of me was at JFK airport: a French family, who said they were going to miss their flight only to be waiting near my departure area for a flight slightly before mine. great. early training for the children... I am archi-certaine Letitia is with me on this one...

Sweatpants: they should not be worn past the front door unless you are going to the gym or on a power walk; period. (and for that matter the same goes for sports shoes); here you can tell who is French- and there are many French families- by the clothes and shoes they wear on weekends. Geoxx loafers are just as comfortable as Nike's! and a nice sweater and warm scarf is as cosy as any "hoodie". Even in college my daughters disliked sweat pants worn outside of the dorm or apartment; bravo les filles; I am all for comfort but if they don't like them and they are half American, then... If you find me a tad judgmental, let me redeem myself; fleeces or outdoor sport jackets are the article people wear on week ends here, not a blazer nor a tweed jacket, and I must admit it is perfectly fine with me here in the suburbs. In the city, on week ends, on very cold rainy days...peut-etre. These are occasions when function comes before form, d'accord.

Bridesmaids: Letitia and I don't quite agree on this subject! This is one aspect of a typical American wedding I don't care for; I love les demoiselles et petits garcons d'honneur- flower girls and boys. They are cute and happy and proud and bouncy and... shorter - much better for the photos after church- and they can be dressed to the nines and not compete with the bride for attention. I find that bridesmaids usually steal the Bride's thunder; perhaps slightly less so when they wear chic festive outfits and their dresses do not mimic the bride's in a different color. So what if some of flower girls become a little rumbunctious during the ceremony; American children go to weddings also, and they are just as adorable, and active, so why not have a few be flower girls, and keep the girlfriends for the photo-op? still not convinced, Letitia?

After dinner coffee: I would much rather serve le café or une petite tisane- herb tea- in the living room than at the table after a dinner party. You get up from the table, you go to the salon, and then begins act III- act I is a glass of wine before dinner-. Then it is no longer dinner; the conversation can change, you can switch voisin de table - your table neighbor- the mood can change also. And do not get me started on coffee served with meals. A sure way to ruin the taste of a sublime dish, in my book.

images photographersgallery, google, weddingpaperdivas, lefigaro

Et toi, Letitia? what do you think?

and you, our readers, agree? disagree? let us know.

au revoir.