I’ve kept journals my whole life. First diaries, then travel journals. I love to browse and choose just the right one as much as I love writing in them. My favorite journal featured a ponderous gargoyle on the front. He seemed bored, or maybe contemplative, or day-dreamy. I never could decide which. I just knew I loved him. I had no idea he really existed.
Coincidentally, on my second trip to Paris, my family and I climbed the 387 stairs to the top of Notre Dame. Many of you probably already know this, but I was shocked. There he was! My gargoyle! I’d had no idea that my gargoyle was real and perched atop Notre Dame in Paris with several gargoyle friends.
Oh, how I love him
On my first trip to Paris, Notre Dame was undergoing renovation, so we couldn’t climb up. During the second trip, we climbed even more steps up into the bell tower. This time, it was the first place I headed. It’s my favorite spot in Paris and I think it has the best views. Unfortunately, we were rushed out by the security guard after about 20 minutes. I could’ve spent the whole day there.
That gargoyle journal is full now. I’m on to a green journal with a picture of the Wicked Witch from The Wizard of Oz on front. But the gargoyle will always have a special place in my heart.
Do you keep a journal? What’s on the cover?
Browsing The Atlas 
That’s a great story about your gargoyle journal and discovering him in Paris. I used to keep a journal … now it’s called the blog ! But I know what you mean. And I no longer keep a more personal diary. There doesn’t seem to be enough time to think properly, much less write it down.
I’ve noticed, too, that a lit of my thoughts are captured on my blog instead of in my journal. I’m still doing both, but there’s a lot of overlap.
How timely: I just wrote this as a comment to another blogger/blog-person/journal-er: I have been “journaling” since 1962. Volume 99 is current. Many of my journal entries were from student writing assignments. When I retired (2003), I started to put together memories, family history (no genealogies, however), and just plain good stuff, I thought. My brother told me to get to Word Press. I have no intention of publishing, self- or other wise. Just doing the “blog” memories/memoir is plain satisfaction and “self actualization”). As a teacher, I had to have part-time jobs. I sold insurance: to friends and family. This is what the blog is like: for friends and family (and those former classmates, colleagues, Facebook-ers, and some former students. (“Mr O, you were the greatest teacher I ever had.” A very few of those.) To me, is it jogging the memory (like one I read today about the Our Lady of the Angels fire in Chicago, in 1958. Many memories for me.) I cannot write every day, answer the daily prompt. I have too many doctor appointments, too much to do in the short 24-hour day. “Who knows where the time goes.” (Can you hear the song in your head now? And what about you and Judy Collins?) That’s how I work. And I do hope that my one or two writings a month will attract you so you are a follower of my memories. Thanks. Yes, that is a plug for memoriesofatime :o) PS: I have a journal for every trip I made: UK, Turkey, Paris, and three summers in Cambridge with students. Much oer-lap with other writings.
We’re kindred spirits, James.
That’s wonderful!!
Thanks. 🙂
The closest I’ve thing I’ve ever had to a regular journal is my blog. I’ve always hated writing by hand!
I can understand that. My hand never moves as fast as my mind. Typing comes a little closer. But I do love to flip back through my journals.
I have an essay about handwriting–and typing. The mind cannot keep up…
You are the cutest! I never had a thing for gargoyles, but I’ve had a couple of kick-ass journals—one with a unicorn and the other with a fairy. Such a princess, I know. 🙂
I blame Ghostbusters for ruining gargoyles for me, since they came to life and wanted to eat everybody in New York. I think they were more doglike, but they totally creeped me out.
I don’t keep a journal anymore, because as someone already mentioned, the blog is where all of my ramblings are stored nowadays.
The odd thing is, I don’t really have a thing for gargoyles. Just this one. I think it’s his pose.
But wait— unicorns???? 🙂
I love this story!!
Thanks. 🙂
I love the gargoyles of Notre Dame. I never thought about it, but that one does kind of look bored, haha. I will never look at him in the same way again.
Gargoyles must need constant entertainment. Seems like he’d get it, looking down on Paris like he does. 😉
I love the idea that gargoyles need constant entertainment 🙂
Nope, it’s a girl thing (mainly). But it must have been a real double-take moment for you stumbling across your journal cover in a totally different context.
It was magical in its way. I felt like I’d found an old friend.
What a very cool surprise!? Life is wonderful! 🙂
Yes, it is. 🙂
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