Oh dear, best of intentions have gotten me again. My month in England is over and where is my blog? Not feeling too guilty though as I did manage to post pix on Facebook with a little blurb here and there. Of course I do wish I'd kept up with impressions as each day ended, but I'm thinking since I've been here so many times over the years, there are few surprises and it's more like coming home for me. Anyway, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.
So, maybe just a few things that struck me while I was here. Traveling on the tube frequently I did observe seats being given up much more often than ever in NY, including the months I was pregnant and on the NY subways. And, I definitely felt older here, for the first time, especially as a young woman gave her seat up for me (and I must say I took it gratefully after a day out and hour's ride home). My stamina just isn't what it used to be and although I had this huge itinerary with jam packed days, in the end my days looked pretty similar to what they do at home. Pokey mornings, with some time out, and early evenings.
I was touched by the number of men who seemed to be lunching with their elderly moms in department store cafes. It struck me as very sweet and tender. Guess that's a bit of identifying (20 or so years out anyway).
Vintage 60s is huge here which just made me feel I was in a time warp since that's the decade that started the adolescent me on my obsession with all things English. And yes, English boys are still just adorable.
Apparently I have an accent (who me?) and it generated numerous conversations, for which I was grateful. At some point I realized I was saying I was from NY when asked, and thought a bit about that. Surely if I'd been asked, "Where do you live" my answer would have been NC, but the question was always "Where are you from" and my automatic answer was "NY." Besides, on the occasion when further conversation revealed my current location, it wasn't surprising that people didn't know where NC is.
A month on your own can get a little lonely, so I have been exceedingly grateful for my host's cousin, friend and daughter, who each, in turn gave me great companionship and days/evenings out during this time. It was also very nice to be rescued from the efforts of public transportation-walking, buses, the tube-with car rides to Hampstead Heath, Hampstead Village, St. Albans and Finsbury.
So, tomorrow morning I say goodbye to England. I am very glad to have been able to spend this time here, and surprisingly happy to be going home. I think that's just right.
