It’s been rough in these parts over the last ten days. I apologize for not having updated the site with my thoughts (or whatever coherent expression I could make out of the jumble in my mind) and I appreciate your many emails, tweets and Facebook posts sending your support.

In truth, it was a whirlwind from the start of the attacks and I was interviewed on BBC radio twice*, interviewed for the Philly Voice and contributed my account to Quartz, all within 36 hours of the attacks. By the end, unless it was to police the ignorant on Twitter and Facebook who fell right into the trap of Islamophobia, I barely wanted to speak about it anymore. I was reading everything I could get my hands on until the point of saturation. My heart ached, my eyes burned and my stress levels were through the roof.

But what worries me now more than anything are the livelihoods of my favorite restaurant and shop owners, chefs, designers and artists whose businesses stand to take a hit if travelers cancel their plans or avoid visiting Paris in the wake of this tragedy. High-end hotels saw a 30% drop in occupancy following the Charlie Hebdo massacre in January and that was largely due to American guests who cancelled their travel plans. The thing is, the city and the entire country need visitors and Francophiles more than ever now.

Whereas the attacks in January were extremely targeted — controversial journalists and Jews — last Friday’s events showed us that everyone is a target and that includes people well beyond French borders. With Paris as a symbol, the entire world has awakened to the need for a unified response, even if the journey ahead is bound to be long. That makes me feel as safe as we can realistically be in the world today.

I’ve hesitated about posting any ‘normal’ content on the site in the month to come but I think it’s important to do so in support of the many people whose businesses depend on writers telling their stories and to commemorate lives lost – the last thing any of the bon vivants who perished would want is for la bonne vie in Paris to cease existing, for Parisians to stop living.

So by the end of the year, I plan to introduce you to my favorite Paris shops, some holiday pastry creations and a special visit from author Elaine Sciolino. I hope you’ll keep reading and keep supporting the country I love so very much.

*If you’d like to listen to my BBC interview, it begins at 2:53:42.