(We arrived back in Hemet on May 25…weary but replete and full of contentment. England was everything we thought it would be and more. I feel ‘filled up’ inside and at peace. And although unexpected things happened, we worked around them and didn’t let them rob us of the joy.
Too often dreams don’t turn out to be all you expected…This one topped anything I could begin to imagine on my own. My only regret is it took us so long to discover this green and ancient land.
And so it unfolds….
May 5, 2005
The Time has Come!
THE FLIGHT
The pile of luggage is stacked by the front door and has been since early morning.
I’ve been going over and over the lists trying to be certain that we haven’t forgotten some important piece of equipment. If I don’t pack enough sox we can wash or buy. If I forget the battery charger for the camera that would be a major problem! I’m so tired by now that every time I sit down somewhere my eyes slowly close and my head begins to droop…then suddenly I think of something else and shoot up out of the chair. If we don’t get going soon I’m going to be able to fly to England on nervous energy alone…without the aid of an airplane!
The shuttle for the airport arrived right on the dot of 1:30pm as promised. The driver is polite and helpful (not with luggage…but he did open the door!) One peculiar thing about him though…he has what I assume is a nervous tic. One by one his hands fly up and do a dance…like they don’t belong to him at all! He doesn’t seem to notice, but it’s a bit disconcerting to say the least.
I just kept hoping his middle finger doesn’t start off on a solo flight of fancy and get us shot on the freeway!
At long last we arrived. Now the wait. The pickup was at 1:30pm for a 8: 30pm flight! Sigh….
There was no problem with the electronic ticket…about which I had fretted. There we were…magically in the computer!
On to the dreaded security check. Of course’ lucky us’ Rick was chosen for a ‘random’ search. I thought “Man are they thorough I’m getting just as a complete search as Rick”and then someone said to the security man “You know he’s the only one getting a “random?”…. and he just grimaced and started stuffing things back into my suitcase.
When they got done and we began to walk away Rick noticed he didn’t have his watch…or his wallet..AND neither did I!! Gulp! It all was in a baggie where I had carefully placed it…the better not to set off the alarm. Everything came to a halt as the the security guards started to look for the goodies but they were nowhere to be found. I went into a panic mode…cause my glasses were in there and lets face it…it’s hard enough for me to do photography when I can SEE! Even the guards were starting to stress out and suddenly in the line is a passenger holding up the baggie and saying “Is this what you are looking for?” Oh well, better late than never…And off I toddled on weak legs!
Now we were safely tucked into the American Airline lounge and had only FOUR more hours to wait until the flight! ‘Our plane was right out side…getting fueled and supplied.
We struck up a conversation with a lovely British couple. They live near Windsor where we will be staying for the first 4 days. They suggested any number of places nearby for us to go and visit. We chatted right up until the ‘”First Class Boarding” where upon they stood and cheerfully said “That’s us.” And off they went.
And we hurried right on and into Economy and shoehorned ourselves into our seats! The flight left at night so, of course, there was nothing to watch out the window. The loooong night passed like a bad dream. Sleep from exhaustion alternating with wakeful hours of excitement…We were really on our way…at last.
With sleepy eyes I watched as the wing outside the window began to outline against a lightening sky…the light at the tip like a star in the midnight blue sky. And when, at last, the sun touched the window it was covered with ice crystals that sparkled in the light.