Christine's Philosophical Journey : Book Two: Christine's Journey to Paris

"I am sitting in front of a brasserie that is filled with bright, yellow sparkling lights that echo and multiply off mirrors, windows and brass fixtures into myriad gleams. The cafe seems to consist entirely of glass, wood, brass, and light. I like it here. It is night, but it is a Parisian night so is not quite dark, and the city continues to bustle with energy and life, even on this cold March evening. Paris is an oasis in a universe of darkness, a galaxy of its own making. In this part of the Universe it is not God but Paris that brings light into the world. I am alone and quite content. The atmosphere in the brasserie is gay and festive. But as always, my thoughts take wing, like the great condor that soars above the world.

In San Diego Christine discovered love and heartbreak and became a stronger and wiser woman. When she left New Mexico she was fleeing her old self. Now she seeks to enlarge her new self in a city known for its beauty and wisdom."