A-MAY-ZING Weeks - Jewels By Park Lane

PARK LANER IN PARISSometimes our opportunity reaches beyond the obvious and immediate rewards. Sometimes it provides aspecial moment or event that touches our soul and makes a long-held desire come true!Paris, France…. Music to my ears!Story submitted by Julie Ann Porter, Senior Division – Utah (Faulkner organization)I recently returned from the Park Lane Paris trip and what a fabulous trip it was. We wereable to experience so many famous places, and true to form, Park Lane did everything firstclass all the way. It was an extra special trip for me personally because I brought home asouvenir unlike any other. Let me tell you about it…I joined Park Lane in December of 2007, just 2 short years ago. Little did I know how manyexciting experiences awaited me. I have won the Park Lane trips to Athens Greece, MontrealCanada, the Bahamas and Paris France and I am currently on track to win our next trip to theisland of Aruba. Paris was a very special trip for me because I have an extensive backgroundin and passion for art and music. I went to college on a full tuition music scholarship and wasoffered an art scholarship as well. So, as you can imagine for an artist and musician, I havealways dreamed about visiting the Louvre museum and the city of Paris itself. I started playingthe clarinet when I was in the 7th grade and played all the way through college. Fifteen yearsago, while in college, I needed a professional instrument but couldn’t justify the cost for a topof-the-lineclarinet because I married soon after college and started having a family. All ofour extra funds went into my husband Sam’s schooling and starting our new life together. Mypassion for music was put on the back burner and we focused on having children and workingon my husband’s degree. Today, our two daughters, Emma - age 10, Emily- age 8, and our 3-year-old son who goes by “Moose”, are the joy of my life.In search of Paris music store…One of my New Year’s resolutions was to do something just for me, so Irecently started playing my clarinet again with the Ogden city concert band.When the trip to Paris was announced, I had a seed of an idea and I sharedit with my husband. The French company, Buffet-Crampon, designs andmanufactures among the best clarinets available on the market today. TheBuffets are the preferred brand among professionals. To get one at home inSalt Lake City, I would have to order it and buy it sight and sound unseen.That’s not really something that appealed to me in considering the purchaseof such an expensive instrument. A fellow band member gave me the nameof a music store in Paris that carried the Buffets. Sam googled the storeand studied the metro on-line so he could find our way through Paris. Uponarriving at the store, the salesperson brought out about 30 different modelsand styles. I was able to play them and hand-pick the one that I loved. I amso excited to tell you that I returned from the Paris trip with a top-of-the-lineprofessional Buffet-Crampon clarinet,made in France, paid for with my ParkLane income!Thank you Park Lane for giving me a businessthat not only pays well but allows me the time tospend with my family, take care of their needsand also develop my personal talents.Choosing her favorite!Jewels By Park Lane…now that is music to my ears!Julie thanks Sam!Passing on her passion...22 The Network