In Paris, ‘wary but not afraid’: An interview with Brenda Prowse

Brenda Prowse and Hugh Nelson are longtime Poulsbo residents now living in Paris. The night of the terrorist attacks on Nov. 13, they were dining near the Eiffel Tower with a friend from Poulsbo, Randi Strong-Petersen. In this interview with the Herald two days after the attacks, Prowse recounts the events of that evening – and how life in Paris, while solemn, is returning to normal.

By Richard Walker • November 17, 2015 7:17 am

Tags: North Kitsap

In this interview with the Herald two days after the attacks, Prowse recounts the events of that evening — and how life in Paris, while solemn, is returning to normal.

Herald: Where were you when the first attack occurred, or when you first learned of the attacks?

Prowse: We were at dinner at a small restaurant in our neighborhood, the 7th arrondissement, not far from the Eiffel Tower. Our friend Randi Strong-Petersen from Poulsbo was with us. She stayed with us all last week, celebrating her birthday. We did not know the attacks had happened until we returned to our apartment and the three of us started receiving text messages and email.

Herald: What was your initial reaction to what you saw or heard?

Prowse: Initially we thought this was an isolated incident at the Stade de France about which U.S. friends were texting but after we switched on French television news and kept watching most of the night, we realized how horrendous these attacks were.

Herald: We’ve seen the images of crowds of people, uniting in a stand against terror. What is happening right now?

Prowse: Today we spent the day walking the approximately three to four miles from our apartment to the several of the murder sites. Though there were fewer people out and about than normal for a sunny Sunday in Paris, buses, metro, taxis were operating and many cafes were open. At Place de la République — site of gathering of several million people last January after the Charlie Hebdo shootings — people were lighting candles, placing flowers and quietly paying their respects to those killed or injured and their families.

Herald: Have these attacks shaken Parisians’ sense of security? Do you see life returning to normal anytime soon in the City of Lights?

Prowse: I don’t think that Parisians are worried too much about their security. They are taking the metro, were out with their families today and most will return to work tomorrow.

Herald: What are people in Paris doing to help each other through this crisis?

Prowse: Parisians are contemplative. They are not as demonstrative as Americans. They are honoring those who died. They are not demanding retaliation. They are wary but not afraid. Life is already going on, getting back to normal. Parisians on the streets today were more solemn than usual but still were out in the welcome November sunshine, glad to be alive.

Herald: Our prayers are with you and the people of Paris. Stay safe and Godspeed.