16 minutes

Salut mes amis!

What a day!!! Today was my appointment at the préfecture, and I was hoping, praying, begging for it to be the day that I got my new WORKING residency card. And just sixteen minutes after I arrived there, prayers were answered and wishes were granted. Yes my friends, I got the card!!!

And the renewal appointment in 3 months. Three months? Yes, I'll explain. This card is for people like me who set up their own businesses. That being the case, they want to be sure that your business is going to be successful, so they only issue a temporary card of sorts for three months at a time for the first nine months. After that, if your business is successful, you can renew the card for a year. So today I got the first three-month card. My business has been successful since May, and I'm hoping and planning to only be more successful from here forward, so I'm hoping and expecting (and praying too) that the renewals will all go smoothly, and I'll have the year card in a year or less.

Most important in all this is that I do have the right to stay and the right to continue working for myself and building my business. Buh-bye student status!!! Bon voyage and all that.

I also got a little show of respect at the old préfecture. Parisian friends should now stand up and brush themselves off because I'm sure that little bit of news knocked you on your fannies. Yes, it's true! The woman who helped me told me that I have a very successful business, then she told me that she was making my renewal appointment for 9:00 in the morning because, "you have better things to do than spend your morning at the préfecture." I kid you not. She said that. I agreed, thanked her, and scooted on outta there because what I had to do this morning was spread the good news across the land! I got it! I got it!!!

So yes, today was (and still is) a good day. I am relieved. I am elated. I am going to sleep well tonight. I am also going to need to get on the renewal paperwork toute de suite because that stuff is not easy to round up.

As you might imagine, my list today will be a bit predictable:

1)  the card! the card! the card! Finally!!!
2)  student no more! Something does feel different about that. When you're a student, the expectation is always that you'll leave. Not so when you're a business owner!
3)  the fact that I have so many friends and loved ones with whom to share this awesome news!
4)  on another note, we had gorgeous weather today and have more of the same for the next week!
5)  finally, last but not at all least, my friend Philippe who spent HOURS and HOURS helping me with all of this paperwork. I mean it sincerely when I say I could NOT have done it without him. And yes, I am taking him to dinner to celebrate. Can't wait!!!

And so...an answered prayer. A restless night rewarded. A good friend to whom and for whom I will forever be grateful. And hard work ahead. Ahhh...how sweet it is!

bisous