Poster: Jim Morrison and The Doors

Many years ago, I spent a single day in Paris.

Naturally, I had the wonderfully naïve idea that one day would be enough to see the entire city.

Somehow, I managed to fit in quite a lot. At sunrise I stood on the roof of Notre-Dame Cathedral, watching one of the most breathtaking dawns I've ever seen. Later I wandered through the Louvre, smiled at the Mona Lisa, and raced through its endless galleries as fast as my legs would carry me. By evening I had climbed the Eiffel Tower, looking down as the lights of Paris slowly began to sparkle beneath the falling night.

Then, quite by accident, I found myself near Père Lachaise Cemetery long after dark.

It was almost pitch black. A few distant lights, deserted streets, not another soul in sight. I wandered around trying to figure out where I was.

Suddenly, a long-haired young man staggered out of a side street.

He walked toward me unsteadily, held out a cigarette, clearly asking for a light, and said:

"Come on baby, light my fire."

For a few brief seconds, Jim Morrison and I crossed paths.

Being young, I hurried off to catch the last bus leaving the outskirts of Paris.

As for Morrison... I imagine he quietly returned to his resting place in Père Lachaise, softly humming to himself:

"This is the End."