holiday fever

it has finally left me. after two months it is gone. perhaps because everybody else is gone. i have said good bye to twenty six friends in four weeks. the northerners have gone back home. the students are on their way back. the streets are empty. the building and reparations are continuing. life is returning to normal. the pace has settled down. less street cafes that stay open till late. the number of umbrellas seem less. and the waiters are friendlier. as if they know that the tourists have all gone home. i am getting use to walking past the epicerie de nuit and being greeted with a bon soir. or when sitting down on a friday afternoon. being served as a regular. pastis monsieur. holiday fever is gone. the chef has arrived.