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.
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