This photo was taken when I stopped an old lady to buy some baguettes. Balancing a heavy-looking basket on her head, she took a few baguettes, put them into a plastic bag taken from her side, gave all to me, took my money, put in her pocket and walked away. In less than a minute, she was already on her way. Such a skill.
There was a short phase of my teenager years when I practiced walking gracefully with a book on my head. Probably I thought the skill would take me to glamorous catwalks one day. I actually got quite good at that but definitely nowhere near her level. Though it is unlikely that she could have made it to the catwalks either. The tiny lady. In my wild imagination, she might have been just like me during her rebellious years. Walking with a book on her head. But life has put a baguette basket there instead.
I watched her being out of my sight in amazement. How long has she carried the baguette basket? And how much longer? There is a youthful spirit in her steps. I found it inspiring. Life can be tough but it is you who decide how you fight your way through life.
nightcactus 