Transit

Just a quickie for those of you who might read this before I see/email/call you.  I'm in Chicago waiting for the last flight of my journey.  With a little bit of time to spare, I'm typing basically to stay awake.  Forgive me for awful spelling and sentence construction.  (More than normal, that is!)

Paul was to pick me up at 6:30 am this morning in London to drive Angelina and I to the airport.  He rang me up at 6:30 and said, "We have a problem.  My heater isn't working and I can't defrost my windows.  I think we'll have to take the tube."

I cringed at the thought of tubing it with three 50 lb suitcases and two carry-on items.  Even with the three of us to each have a bag, this meant being on the tube during the rush hour of everyone getting to work.  That is never fun, but it's brutal with suitcases.

Fortunately, he changed his mind about five minutes later and rang back to say, "Never mind.  I've called a cab.  We'll be there soon."

Laus and Jo had woken up to say goodbye.  Bless her, Laura made me a cup of tea to have while we waited.  Sadly I couldn't finish it before Paul got there, but oh it helped.

The 20 mile trip to the airport took about 2 hours.  I won't miss that aspect of London.

Once at the airport, I checked my bags with minimal difficulty.  I still needed to pay extra baggage fees, but at least none were overweight.  Then, Jay, Paul, Val, and Angelina and I had a nice breakfast at Cafe Rouge before I needed to go through security.

It wasn't until I sat in my seat on the mostly empty plane that I started to get watery eyed.  I'll admit, I cried a little, but by the time we were levelling out in the air, I was good to go.  Sadly, I couldn't sleep though!  I just couldn't sleep more than 20 minutes, even though I only slept about 3 hours last night.

Now, I've gone through Immigration and Customs and collected and rechecked and rescreened and all those fun steps.  I'm waiting at my gate for my next flight and after a nice long hug from my parents, my head needs a pillow.  It's already past 11 p.m. in London and my body feels it.  I know I'm tired because my gate is right next to a Starbucks booth and I feel no desire to get my usual cafe latte.  I really really know I need sleep because I actually can't remember what book I read on the flight.

Until Pennsylvania...

Last London Post

Wow.  It's finally here.  I remember when I realized that my departure from London was six months away.  Now it has come so quickly!

I've done almost all of those last minute things.  Two suitcases are packed, both skimming just under the 23 kg limit. The third suitcase should also be under, but I still need to throw the last few items in (and possibly sit on it to close it).  I really hope my scale is correct.

I just came back from taking the last few items to a charity shop and took out money to pay for my extra bags.  I also bought a few Crunchie bars for Jeremy and Amy, who are both fans.  I took the bus home, using the last of the money on my Oyster card.  Now all that is left is to sweep and mop and dust my room.  In the morning, I will need to toss my sheet and duvet cover in the wash.  Paul is picking me up at some ridiculously early hour, and then we'll be off to Heathrow.

I still remember leaving to come here with absolute clarity.  Mom and Dad were overseas, so Joy and Aunt Jackie and  Haven drove me down to Dulles.  Joy and I took Patches down to the farm, we packed up Aunt Jackie's vehicle, and we drove to D.C.  Spoiling us as always, Aunt Jackie got us Starbucks.  I still have some of those pictures from February 2009:

When I arrived in London, bleary eyed but excited, Jay, Val, and Carmen met me with a "Welcome Home" sign.  We piled into Jay's car and they took me a zig zag tour of West London as we tried to find somewhere to get a proper English breakfast.  Between the lack of vegetarian options in an English breakfast and just having been awake all night, I think I had coffee and toast!  

Now, a few days shy of an exact three years later, I'm headed back to the airport.  We'll have our traditional breakfast send off after I check my bags, and then I'll be on my way, this time flying west.  I'm looking forward to the hugs at the end of the journey.

More See You Laters

I ate well today.  After church, my landlords invited me over for a final Sunday roast dinner.  Ruth always makes a feast, with roast potatoes, yorkshire puddings, three veggies, and always a great dessert as well.  It was strange to say goodbye to my church here.  It still feels like I should see them again next week.

Not too long after my landlords' house, I went to central London, to a lovely Turkish restaurant for a goodbye dinner with my Sunday group of friends.  It was really nice that about fifteen friends came and another two or three texted that they couldn't make it.  The place I picked was new to us all, but it was a winner!

I love the many lanterns and the rough brick walls.  Each lantern is unique.  

We ordered balloon bread to have with the hummus.  I love it :) It is just a lighter form of a pita bread, and it's puffed up with hot air.  Obviously as soon as  you start to tear into it, the hot air escapes, but it's yet another little detail that I loved about this restaurant.  

Although it has made for another late night, I'm so glad we did this.  It has been important to say my goodbyes, even though they haven't seemed real to me.  I realized with surprise that I haven't cried at any of these goodbyes.  I'm normally a very weepy goodbye-r.  Even when my church prayed for me today, I didn't tear up.  (Others, like Laura, did!)  I will likely start to cry when saying goodbye at the airport, or when I say goodbye to Laura when Paul picks me up to take me to the airport.  Perhaps it could be a wet plane ride home.  Or perhaps it will hit me after I've been in the USA for a few months.  We shall see.  But for now, I must say goodnight.  Only one more full day in London remains.  

Lazy Last Saturday in London

After my late dinner last night, I was desperate for a lay in and as such, I woke up at 8, and then again at 10.  :)  I love getting to go back to sleep.

Once I was awake, Laura came into my room to see if I was ready to make pancakes.  She and Joanne and I had pancakes for breakfast and sat chatting for a little while.  They made me close my eyes and handed me a parcel.  They made a calendar for me with pictures of our times together.  The captions are full of jokes we've made and beautiful quotes.  I love it.

Laura and I got ready for the day and on the spur of the moment, headed into central London for a leisurely wander through the city.  We made our way to the Museum of London, and I'm so glad we did.

The Museum of London is not far from St. Paul's, and it tells the story of London.  I've never been before.  It is a small museum, but definitely worth the visit.  I learned that by 1714, London had more than 500 coffee houses.  Good heavens, how many does London have now????  I also learned that Caesar had a camp where London Heathrow stands.  The London Wall was built around 200 AD, parts of which can still be seen today.  London was first called Londinium by the Romans, who conquered in 54 AD (I think that's the right year!).

Laus and I were very entertained by the museum but also by a young couple walking through the museum.  The girl was very stylish and.... for lack of a better description, blonde.  The bloke was fairly average, but he could really have used some fashion tips from the girl, considering his trousers were a few inches too short.  He seemed quite knowledgeable about the history of London and the girl...well she seemed bored.  We are guessing it was a first date and they probably won't have a second!  At one point, she was on her phone, speaking to friends.  I'm guessing she isn't a London native, considering she didn't understand that there would not be mobile phone reception on the Underground.  Overall, I think she didn't really appreciate the Museum of London.

Then we set off on a rather long walk, intending to go to the Petrie Museum of Egyptology.  (Sir Petrie was an Egyptologist who excavated the Great Pyramid outside of Cairo in 1880.)  Sadly, we didn't plan our time accordingly, and didn't make it before closing.  However, the walk was a beautiful one.  Well worth it!

I particularly love the last picture.  This city is truly beautiful.  We stopped for a hot drink near the Petrie Museum, because although we couldn't see the artifacts, we needed to warm up!  We went to Carluccio's.  Laura got a hot chocolate and I (gasp)... got a mint tea rather than coffee.  I know.  It's shocking.  

After we were sufficiently warmed, we made our way home, stopping to get the ingredients for paneer korma for dinner.  We made dinner and settled in to watch Johnny English, a movie that I hadn't seen yet.  I laughed so very much.  It probably was bad to combine a full meal and lots of giggles, but it made for a lovely night.  

Yoda in London

I really appreciate clever advertising.  I saw this advert in Holborn Station and it made me start giggling on the platform.  Considering that I was alone, it probably looked a little odd.  

I made plans to meet up with three very good friends for dinner.  Somehow, the four of us have fallen into the habit of meeting up for a dinner together every two or three months.  We planned to go to Dim T, a really nice Asian fusion restaurant with a fantastic view of Tower Bridge and the Tower of London.  When I called to book, they told me they were completely booked.  

Plan B became to meet up at the Spur, a South African chain of restaurants with a rather Native American theme!  Keith and I were both early and ended up chatting at Starbucks before our reservation.  Once we relocated to the restaurant, Val joined us and then Emmanuel.  Val had questioned my choice of restaurant when she read that they specialize in ribs, steaks, and burgers.  An odd choice for a vegetarian, I'll admit.  In the end, I ordered a Hawaiian veggie burger while my friends each ordered a full rack of ribs.  As I ordered, Val asked the waiter if I could have it with bacon on top!  He looked at me with a little bit of confusion.  

"No," I said.  

"Are you a new vegetarian?" 

"Nope, I've been a vegetarian for six years now."  Val proceeded to explain to Vikas, our waiter, that bacon is a "gateway meat" for many vegetarians.  

Vikas shook his head.  "I've been a vegetarian for eight years now and I'm not tempted by bacon."

"But did you like it before?"

"No, I only had it once before and didn't like it."  

"Hmm...that must be why."

We entertained poor Vikas for the rest of the night with our conversations.  We are very good customers, not demanding and very interactive.  When he brought Emmanuel the wrong soda, he gave me the Pepsi and then got a Fanta for Emmanuel.  When he brought me onion rings rather than chips, he left the onion rings with us and then brought another plate of chips.  

Our dinner lasted until the restaurant closed at 11 and it was a late night getting home, but oh the laughs.  These three are friends that I met at the beginning of my three years in London.  It was such a special night.  Emmanuel is probably leaving the UK soon, and I leave on Tuesday, so it was a farewell for more than just myself.  Who knows when the four of us will meet again.  

Walking London

Yesterday a friend had a long flight on her way to Asia, broken up with an 11 hour layover in London.  Val, Angelina and I met up with her in central London and took her on a whirlwind tour.  I got teased for my "well modulated" voice.  Kris said she felt like she would just need to push a button and the walking tour audio companion would begin.

It was really fun to revisit some favorite parts of London.

As I walked from Tottenham Court to meet the others, I stopped to take the above picture.  A young woman came over to me to ask for directions.  She wanted to go to the National Gallery, and since she seemed confused by my directions, I told her I was going in the same direction and we could talk together.  She is from Rome, and if I understood her explanation, she is a marriage counselor and this is her first holiday in England.

Once the four of us ladies met up, we found a Wetherspoons and had the requisite fish and chips along Charing Cross Road.  From there, we walked to the National Gallery and Trafalgar Square, popped into Starbucks for a much needed coffee, and then took the bus to St. Paul's.  From there, we crossed the Millennium Bridge and did a rapid tour of the Tate Modern.  (We aren't really modern art fans, but they have clean toilets!) 

We then carried on one of my favorite walks, past the Globe Theatre, pausing at the Golden Hinde (a replica of Sir Francis Drake's ship) through Bourough Market and past Southwark Church.  We wandered past the creepy London Dungeon and the Winston Churchill Britain at War Museum, which I've never gone into but perhaps I should.  

Beyond Tooley Street, we entered More London.  This is where I love the contrast of City Hall and Tower Bridge, with the Tower of London across the Thames.  

I love the contrast of old and new in this part of London.  This is walking through More London on the way to Tower Bridge.

By this point, our tired feet thought it would be good to hop on another bus.  We caught a bus down to the London Eye, unwittingly picking the perfect time of day for a pretty picture. 

Just a few feet further, we had another great photo opportunity for the Houses of Parliament before crossing Westminster Bridge.  

We walked across the bridge and over to Westminster Abbey.  Sadly, I had remembered the wrong time for Evensong at Westminster Abbey, but no one minded too much :)  We then walked down to Victoria Station for a quick dinner.  From there, Kris headed back to Heathrow on the tube and we three London ladies headed our various directions.  I actually went back to where I started my day, and met a friend for a farewell coffee.  She's moving to North Africa not too soon after I leave.  We had a good time talking, but after the walking around in the brisk wind, I struggled to keep my eyes open!  We didn't linger too long, and I soon found my way back to Tottenham Court to go home for much needed sleep.

My Fair Hats.

At long last, I have finally remembered to get the hat pictures from Laura.  They speak for themselves.

One of my favorites.

(a little bit big!)

This last one was truly an incredible hat.  I would love to wear it to a wedding someday!  Sadly, it was a little out of my financial reach.

Laura and I were going through and swapping photos tonight.  We have so many!  I'm really thankful that I've taken a lot of pictures.  As I flip through them on my computer, they bring back so many memories.  Laus and I have had some great experiences in the year we've been housemates.

One Week.

One week more in London.  My daily goodbyes are becoming a bit more frantic as I realize how few days are left.  

Saturday I took the train to meet Kate, a friend from a few years ago who lives outside of London.  Even though she’s only an hour away, we have only managed to get together one time in the three years I’ve been here!  She was visiting her family, who live in the northwest outskirts of London.  Kate met me at the train station and drove me to St. Alban’s, a little town north of London.  We had a great lunch at the Waffle House, a lovely little restaurant.  It is one of those old buildings with the low, exposed beams and a real fire crackling away.  

Sunday, I woke up and went to Heathrow to meet Krysta, a friend I met just before coming to London.  She was also preparing to move overseas, to Latin America.  She and I have kept in touch occasionally.  When I read that she was coming to the UK for two months, I sent her an email to see if we could meet.  Sunday I met her flight and she came to my house for Sunday night.  It was great to see her!  We went down to Edgeware Road in the evening for a fabulous meal at a favorite Lebanese restaurant.  

Today, I met up with my work colleagues for a goodbye lunch at a place of my choosing.  I’ve wanted to eat at the Slug and Lettuce pub for a while, so I chose that as our venue. With a name like that, who wouldn’t want to give it a go? :) The food was excellent, and every Monday their food is discounted 50%.  I had a final round of fish and chips with minted mushy peas.  

Afterwards, I returned home, where Krysta had been catching up on emails and the like.  We then made our way to Waterloo, where she caught her train for the rest of her journey.

Reality and finality is starting to settle.  After waving goodbyes to Krysta, I wandered back to the tube to return home.  I went via Tesco to meet Laura and we both did a little shopping.  Needless to say, I didn't need to get a lot of groceries.  Laura and I are both feeling fairly melancholic tonight.  After we made dinner, I told her she could use the rest of the onions and sweet potatoes I had leftover from earlier dinners.  She made a pouty face and said, "You won't be here to use the onions!  Aww..."  Even though we've known I would be returning to the USA, this still seems to be coming rather quickly.

I can remember moving to the USA at age 13.  It felt foreign, even though I had been there before.  I have been back and forth between the USA and the UK several times in my three years here.  While it has always been great to see family and friends, each time it felt a little less like "home."  London started to feel more familiar.  Oddly enough, when I would arrive at Heathrow and wrestle my bags onto the tube, I felt relaxed.  I had just "visited" the USA and now I had returned to the UK.  Now, somehow, that needs to start to change again.  The friends I tried so hard to make here will be the ones I have to say goodbye to and the friends I said goodbye to will be the ones I get to know again.  Eventually, I'll start to forget the routes I've become familiar with in London and I will have to relearn some roads in Pennsylvania.  Sometimes I want the adjustment to happen quickly and easily. At other times, I know that loosing that familiarity with London is part of the closing of a chapter.

Melancholy is the mood of the night.  I felt fine on Saturday, but the many goodbyes are catching up to me.   Not to worry, sleep always cures me!  On a brighter note, my cold/sore throat is starting to ease.  My belongings are skimmed down to what will fit into my carryon and suitcases!  

I generally don't think of myself as materialistic but packing has been a stretching experience.  Just today I took a few more things to a friend and dropped others off a charity shop.  I did a lot of sorting and donating when I moved to London, but I suppose even then, I could still store items.  My favorite aunt and uncle graciously let me fill up a corner of their attic!  This time, it either goes to charity or fits in a suitcase.  I probably should have done the same when I moved here! :)

I find I process my thoughts as I write, and while my mind would happily continue tonight, my fingers and eyes are tired.  Tomorrow is another day.

Sniffles

England gave me a parting gift.  I have a really bad cold and sore throat.  My body can't seem to decide if I should sneeze or cough more.  I'm going to need to buy more tissues, and it's not because I'm crying my way through goodbyes!  

Today I stayed at home (it was a schoolwork and packing day) and drank umpteen cups of elderflower cordial and hot water.  Coffee didn't appeal and even my herbal teas just didn't taste right, but this cordial and hot water combination hit the spot.  As I sat still reading and writing my responses for class, I needed the hot drinks to keep warm! I multi-tasked by doing laundry at the same time and hanging it over the radiators to dry.  That brought to mind the changes that I am so looking forward to about housing in the USA: good heating and clothes dryers.  

Laura came home and called into the lounge to me, inquiring how my day had been.  I sniffled and responded, "It's been ok."  She popped her head in, face full of sympathy.  "Aww, has it been an emotional sort of day because of leaving and packing?"  I was so confused.  Why would she think that I was emotional about leaving today? I'm not upset about that today. Haha.  Then I realized...Oooh.  The sniffing.  The tissues.  The slightly froggy voice.  I guess I can see why she would assume that after all!

After much deliberation about what we should cook for dinner, we decided to live the luxurious life.  For the first time in my three years in London, I ordered pizza to be delivered.  It was Papa John's, no less.  After a day of homework, it felt like a return to college days as we ate pizza and watched a movie.  

12 more days in London

I sometimes wonder what difference I've made in a city of 12 million.  Yes, I've had a great time, but have I touched other people's lives?  The past few days in particular have been particularly touching as different friends have contacted me to say goodbye.  At times, I've felt a bit alone in the crowd that is London.  I think many people feel lost and alone to a much greater extent.  At the beginning of this week, a young woman jumped from a pedestrian bridge in my neighborhood onto the highway below.  The week before, a friend was going home on the underground and was told to expect delays.  When she inquired further, she was told someone jumped in front of a train a few stops away.  It's really sad how often these events are repeated.  In a city where people can feel overwhelmed by such loneliness and isolation, I hope that I've been able to share a sense of love and community with those whom I come into contact.  

The last few days have reminded me that I've made a lot of friends while here.  My calendar for the next two weeks is full of coffee dates, dinners, and various other points to connect for "one last chat" before I return to the USA.  I've had my "must-see" list of people, the friends who are non-negotiable, simply must arrange something with them.  But I've also been really touched by the friends who have contacted me, the ones I wouldn't have thought of as particularly close friends, who have asked to meet.  And then there are the friends who have now moved on from London and text and email to say their goodbyes.  I've made a life here for the last three years.  It made me smile, with a little sadness, to realize that I'll still need skype to keep in touch with friends.  It will just be different friends that I connect with long distance.

Today I met up with O at Westfields (a huge shopping centre in Stratford).  We started off with coffee and then did some shopping together.  She treated me to both coffee and a cinnamon soft pretzel (these are a fairly new but welcome arrival to the UK!).  We spent three hours together, most of it talking rather than shopping.  It was so good to see her.  I couldn't actually say goodbye.  When we exchanged now belated Christmas presents, I told her I didn't have a card for her because I couldn't write it without tearing up today.  I'll post it to her later.  Hopefully we'll stay in touch, and I think she might come visit me in the USA someday as well!

After we said our goodbyes, I met up with Val for a special treat.  There is a lovely rooftop restaurant on Portobello Road.  It is a Thai restaurant and the location is just really beautiful.  I've walked by it numerous times and when I saw a great deal online for more than 60% off a meal for two, I asked Val if she would be my "date" to eat at the Garden and Grill.  When we arrived at 7, I saw my reservation wasn't really needed.  We were the only patrons in the restaurant!  The eating area was indeed a roof top garden, but given the season, there were clear plastic curtains to block the wind and outdoor heaters to keep us toasty.  The two walls of the building were covered with bamboo.  It had a very nice ambiance!  

Needless to say, the waitstaff were very attentive!  As always, it was a pleasure to have time to talk to Val.  Even though we work together some days in the office, we both have our tasks in the back of our minds.  For an evening like this, the only task was to enjoy a friend's company.  I think our dinner lasted about three and half hours!  The staff didn't seem to mind that we lingered.  

My journey home was a different route than I've needed to take for a while.  I got on the tube at Ladbroke Grove, which always makes me remember my family's visit to London!  (This particular station has a lot of steps, and we had a lot of suitcases to carry down when they arrived.)  The route I chose took me via Baker Street, a special place that always reminds me of Sherlock Holmes.  It is one of the oldest stations of the underground system and it has really pretty brickwork.  As the train waited on the platform, it occurred to me that this would probably be my last time at Baker Street.  Realizations like that are starting to creep into my thoughts more frequently as my departure draws closer.  I have a lot of good memories of exploring this incredible city.      

Hats

Here is the first of the hat pictures!  I love it!  (Doesn't match what I was wearing at all, but it's fantastic!)  

Oxford Street

Oxford Street is known for it's shopping.  Today was my day off and my dear housemates and I decided to head out to Oxford Street to check out the January sales.  After I skyped in the morning with a friend in India, Josie, Laura and I had a proper "full English."  A full English breakfast includes baked beans, cooked tomato halves, bacon, sausage, eggs, toast, and who knows what else.  I don't eat most of it, but I appreciate the brunch mentality.

Once in central London, we didn't buy much, but the best memories made were when Laura and I found the hat department in Debenham's, a large department store.  We tried on hat after hat, some of the most fantastic hats I've ever seen.  I loved it.  (We did some pictures, which I will gladly share later.)  The one I loved most was £60 (nearly $100).  I woefully placed it back on the hatrack.  I can only imagine what I would need to pay for a suitable dress to wear with a hat of that calibre!  But a girl can dream.

Afterwards, we went to a lovely restaurant we've all said we needed to try.  Realizing that my days here are now few, we chose to go tonight.  I had the best fish and chips I've had in a long time!  My evening came to end with a nice long skype with a friend in Canada.  It has been yet another day of appreciating the relationships I have, nearby and around the world.

Dinner Party

Tonight was an absolutely fantastic evening.  I invited my very first London friends over for dinner.  B&L recently returned from visiting L's family in Brazil for a month.  Given my nearing departure date, we knew we needed to schedule this soon, so on Thursday, we booked it in for tonight.

I've come to realize that I love hosting at my house.  I started off by doing a quick tidy of the lounge and even went so far as to iron the place mats (which they always need but never get).  L always lays a fantastic table and I wanted to do my best!

I did my shopping this morning, making several stops and walking all around my high street.  I popped into Iceland for the super cheap but oh so yummy vegetarian spring rolls.  I figured those would be good for nibbles once they arrived.  I also got loads of veggies and stir-fry sauce at the store, along with my usual shopping for the next week.

The grocery bags always require a bus journey home.  From across three lanes of traffic I saw my bus, which only comes every 15 minutes, at the light, about to pull up to the stop.  Fortunately for me, the first two lanes of traffic had a red light, and the oncoming traffic was, as they say, "chock-a-block."  I worked my way through vehicles, and got to the stop at the same instant as the bus.  I always feel like a victorious conqueror when that happens, even though all I've conquered is a bus timetable and usually accidentally.

B&L arrived about 6:30, and Laura and I chatted with them and got the spring rolls and drinks ready.  In a few minutes, I checked the brown rice was done and started the stir fry.  Ten minutes later, we sat down to eat.  Reality sank in a little deeper as I looked at the three lovely people sitting down to eat with me.  These times are precious.  We talked and laughed, told old stories and new, caught up on holiday news and plans for the future.  I love these three.  I am blessed with exceptional friends.

After we finished, we relocated to the sofas and I went to the kitchen to make the pudding (dessert) and prepare coffees and teas.  I had wanted to make a dessert that went along with stir fry, because making a cake or brownies just didn't seem like a good fit.  I found a recipe for a dessert stir fry and thought I would give it a go.

I have a new favorite dessert.

It's super easy.  It took about five minutes to make.  You just need to slice up some bananas and mangoes (tinned are ok) and then grate the zest of an orange.  Melt a tablespoon of butter in a frying pan and add the fruit and zest, stirring it for about two minutes until it starts to brown.  Then you add two tablespoons of elderflower cordial and serve it topped with custard!  That's it!  Easy-peasy and just yummy.

Well, B&L have headed back to West London and Laus and I have done the dishes.  Josie got home and we are secluded in our rooms ready for bed.  It's been a long week for us all.  I am so incredibly thankful for this home.  These girls have been real treasures.  Laus and I act more like sisters sometimes.  Tonight we were both in the bathroom brushing our teeth.  Laura said something funny with toothbrush and foam still in her mouth.  I completely understood her, which made us giggle even more.

As I reflect on my dear friends tonight, I can't even recall all of the jokes and stories that made us laugh.  But I know we laughed.  I think that is the sign of a good friendship.  It certainly has made for many precious memories.

Victor Hugo said, "Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face."  I love that imagery.  Laughter warms you from the inside.  Even London in January can't overpower the warmth from an evening with friends.

Transient London

I can't believe it is 2012.  I leave for the USA in 21 days.  Since Christmas the days have slipped by so quickly.  I have one suitcase pulled out of storage and I'm starting to do a pre-packing cleanse of my belongings.  Timing is tricky because the weeks are very busy but I don't want to start packing too soon.  In some ways, it helps to remind me that, yes, I'm leaving soon and I need to prepare for some goodbyes.

Yesterday was a goodbye day.  It was a bit sad but also a beautiful chance to reflect on relationships.

Before the goodbyes started, I went to a workshop, taught by two friends of mine.  Due to schedules and timing, they agreed to share an afternoon presentation, even though their topics were vastly different.  (One spoke on the voice of women in history and the other on popular conspiracy theories!)  Both were very interesting.  In the evening, about 15 of us reconvined at ASK, an Italian chain restaurant.  My one friend who gave the lecture is leaving the UK tomorrow morning after completing a PhD here in London.  She gave a beautiful speech as we had our after dinner coffee and dessert.  She has a beautiful, gentle voice with a slight Russian accent.  She brought tears to my eyes as she thanked us all for the memories and for being her family away from family.

After our group began to part ways, four of us girls weren't quite ready for the night to end.  We piled into one car and went to the nearest flat to continue the conversation and the memory making.  In light of the sad goodbye and realizing how much this group has changed in the last three years, I think we all needed to be cheered up.  We put on some Middle Eastern and African music and started to dance!  Through our various jobs and cultural backgrounds, we all have bits of dances that we've learned and we just laughed and danced for the fun of it and taught each other what we knew.  It wasn't too late at night, but hopefully we didn't disturb the neighbors in the flat below.  In some of these London flats, your upstairs neighbors can sound like a herd of wildebeast when they are merely walking to the kitchen for a glass of water.  When our energy started to lag, we settled onto furniture and floor to continue conversation.  Various names were woven into our talk, of friends who have come and gone from London.  After being here three years, I was the newest of the four women talking, and yet I know that even for myself, many friends have left London and new ones arrived.  Many of our circle come to London for studies, and once a degree is completed, they travel back to their corner of the world.  It would be difficult to name at least 20 countries that people have moved back to from this group.  All things considered, the four of us in that room represented four different countries.

We started to talk a little bit about a "leaving-do" for me (goodbye party).  It will be bittersweet to say my farewells.  I don't dread goodbyes.  They are part of life, particularly when one likes to travel.  The sadness is there, but at the same time, life is more about the present and the future than the past.

In the true spirit of moving forward, I need to stop writing and start cleaning.  A woman is hoping to come by to view my room today, in hopes of renting it once I move out.  Laura told me the other day, "Anyone moving in will have some awfully big shoes to fill."  I laughed and told her, "But I only wear a size 4!"  I'm really praying that whoever moves into my bedroom will be a good fit for Laura and Joanne.  This house has been a blessing to me in the year I've been here, and I hope it will be for the next lady.