French Adventure

For decades, the thought of living in France existed quietly in my imagination-a dream deferred by responsibilities, obligations, and life's practical realities. But overtime some kindled dreams do come true.After tying up loose ends, releasing long-held commitments, and overcoming inevitable obstacles I chose to change my life, finally answering this call that relentlessly tugged at my heart. In the fall of 2023, with my faithful Chihuahua, Colonel, I boarded a train in Paris, France to set out on a solo three-week scouting journey to explore six distinct French cities, each offering its own rhythm, beauty, and promise. I wasn't traveling as a tourist-I was searching for a place to belong.From cobblestone streets to quiet neighborhoods steeped in history, each stop brought clarity, choices, and self-discovery. And then, like magic, I found it: the medieval city that grabbed my heart and felt so much like home.This book marks the beginning of my French journey-the moment a decades-old dream shifted from longing to certainty. It is a story of courage, determination, reinvention, and listening to that inner voice that insists it's never too late to begin again. In choosing France, I paved the way toward a new life, and this is where that story truly starts. Celestine Cooley is a published poet, producer, and writer from Los Angeles. She began writing about this scouting trip and her French adventures on social media in 2023. After retiring from an extraordinary fifty-year career in the entertainment industry, she moved to France with her Chihuahua, Colonel in 2024.Currently, Celestine is writing her second book in this French adventure series, A Boomer in Bordeaux. It's about her living and adapting to her first year in France.In her spare time, Celestine enjoys exploring medieval cities, attending local events, reading a good mystery, spending time with friends, and relaxing with a glass of wine and a bowl of popcorn.