Inspiring Women February 2023

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“Emily in Paris”?
Hold My Champagne
Suzanne Justen, a member of AWG Paris, experienced devastating
personal pain and challenges. Moving to Paris brought her the “joie
de vivre ” that many aspire to, but few achieve.
O
ne of my oldest memories is singing
in church, thinking, “I want to sing
better than anyone else here.” That
was a tall order for a three-year-old. But I worked
hard at it. And I didn’t stay in the chorus for long.
A near death experience and a deserved reward
In 1993 I was in a bad accident. I was walking
across the street when a car hit me and threw
me 26 feet through the air. It was a hard landing.
To help me get through all the things you have
to deal with I decided to give myself a reward.
When I was well enough I would live anywhere
in the world I wanted to for a year. It took me
about 20 minutes to decide between New York,
London, Paris, Rome, or Fiji. It had to be Paris!
Suzanne Justen
The year was coming to an end and I had
shipped back my clothes and things I had
purchased in Paris. Then, three weeks before
I was due to go back, I woke up one Saturday
morning and said, “Nope, I‘m staying here
forever,” and threw my return airplane ticket in
the wastebasket. Three months later, I realized it
was refundable.
Personal pain and the promise of Paris
I suppose that accident was the defining moment
in my adult life. It left me with a brain injury, a
divorce and a wonderful new life here in Paris.
But it was more than that. Being married calls
for constant compromises. Being single gave
me the opportunity to just be me. Wonderful,
imperfect, little me.
Suzanne and
her dancing
partner at a
ballroom
dancing
competition.
Life is such a gift.
You don’t want to fritter it away.
68 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 69