OUI! MERCI!

Women share a special bond that transcends culture, age, or language. Men might as well, but I can't say I've experienced it firsthand. I was recently in Paris-yes, like the city of love-and this bond was reaffirmed to me. I was walking down the street (probably the Champs Élysées but I rarely actually knew where I was so it's difficult to be sure). As I left some sort of shopping building thing I noticed something white fluttering close to the ground. I did a double take, just to be sure. I thought things like this only happened in the movies. But, then again, this Paris, so my last statement is null and void. And it really was what I thought: A piece of toilet paper stuck to the shoe of a middle-aged woman walking with her husband/boyfriend/friend/significant other. Like I said-woman bond. I could not let her continue on in such a manner. So, naturally, I tapped her on the shoulder. No response. So I tried the other shoulder. Still nothing. But at this point at had come so far that there was no turning back. I simply could not let her proceed into that crowd. I tried again, back on the first shoulder. Harder and longer. In retrospect I realize that it was lucky she didn't scream and try to have me arrested for assault. Instead she and her man both turned and looked at me as if that was the first they realized that anyone was there (lucky for them I'm not a pickpocket). It dawned on me then that I hadn't fully thought this plan out so I simply pointed down and said, "Um. Your shoe." The woman looked down and it was as if I could see the wires connect when she realized why this strange girl was accosting her on the street. She exclaimed, "Oui! Merci!" It was then that I also once again realized that I didn't think this plan out very well. I also realized that I don't know how to respond to Merci in French. I gave an awkward head jerk and hurried off down the street, hoping not to end up walking beside them again. Good deed=done. Although perhaps I should think such things out better. Nah. Then I wouldn't go through with them, and the woman bond would potentially go broken. Although the next day I let some other woman outside I public bathroom use my hand sanitizer. She said she couldn't get the sink to work. That just would not do.

I'm not sayin'; I'm just sayin'.