Travel Log #8

July 3, 2009

At the moment, I am on a train, traveling from London to Leeds. I have left one of my bags at the top of the car, as there is absolutely no room inside for it, and hope it is still there when I get off. I check it periodically. I am quite nervous about it, but I have the important things with me: my computer, my passport, and Therem. Also, my clothing. If I lose the other bag, I will be out a sleeping bag and my other shoes. I was lucky enough to get seated by a window, facing forward, and next to a woman named Jo, from Ireland (just outside of Dublin) who is currently living in London with her daughter and who grew up in South Africa. I couldn't place her accent and that is why.

She told me a story about being pick-pocketed on the city bus (didn't make me feel much better about the bag) and how she got her free senior bus pass stolen without even feeling it. "The pass is quite wonderful," she said, "although I can't say I like being sixty." "At least you made it," I answered. "Very true," she said. She left me at the train's first stop: Petersborough, a place she's never been before, to work, caring for the elderly. I watched her off the train and couldn't help hoping that her role wouldn't be reversed in a decade or so. I hope to never need help like that. I'd rather go out just before.

The countryside is rolling by on either side of me now, under Britain's typical cloudy sky. It's low here and reminds me for some reason of the low sky in New Orleans, without the decay and the threat of military police arresting me for looking in the wrong direction.

Yesterday, I arrived in London, after a connecting flight from Amsterdam. On the plane ride, I had the good fortune of sitting next to a great person named Jackie--another friend I have made on my travels--who is originally from Kenya but moved to London and who now lives in Atlanta. She is a nurse at Emory and is traveling for the first time on a new American passport as she just got her U.S. citizenship. We stayed together through customs and through baggage claim where Jeff met me.

Of course, I was absolutely exhausted by that point as I failed to sleep on either plane. I did manage to watch "The Wrestler," finally, and "Atonement," which was surprisingly just about as good as the book. Anyhow, we took the tube to Russel Square, which took about an hour.

Jet lag doesn't agree with me, and I'll have none of it, so we dumped my stuff at Jeff's place and took off for a walk. We saw a bit of his university (University College of London) and parks. There are wonderful parks everywhere: Coram's Field, which we couldn't enter because there are "NO UNACCOMPANIED ADULTS" allowed. Eventually, we made it to Regent's Park, which has a lot of really beautiful English gardens and which looks exactly like one of the places in that terrible movie, "The Happening": "the trees are gonna get us! Run!" We were debating on where to eat, but had to go pick up the air mattress for me. I loved the park and didn't want to leave, so Jeff left me there to go get it and I laid down on the ground under a really nice tree with lots of aphids on the leaves and took a nap for half-an-hour. I woke up and meditated and then Jeff was back, so we sat and talked for a while before going to eat.

We ended up at this very good pizza place called "Pizza Express" where they make really good personal pies. I got one with spinach, goat cheese, and caramelized onion. It was delicious! I also drank more than half of a huge bottle of water. All of the walking around got me slightly sunburned but not enough so that it hurts. I'm glad it's cloudy and rainy for the next few days because digging in the duffel for my long sleeves would be an absolute pain right now.

Once we got back to the flat, we decided to buy tickets to see "Public Enemies" which Jeff and I both thought was extremely good. I have to see it again to help process. It's that kind of movie. Johnny Depp was brilliant, as usual. I bought us milk shakes, which made it even better.

On the way back through Leicester Square, things were crazy. The tube was even worse. Dead stand still for a while and even though we got to the platform before the train, it was so crowded, we had to wait for the next one. Jeff said he'd never seen it this crowded before...and on a Thursday!

Anyhow, after that was all over, we got back to the room and I went to sleep soon after--the summer reading not failing me in its use as the perfect sedative. Actually, I forgot to mention the little confusion with the air mattress.

We couldn't figure out how to fill it up. It apparently involved pumping but there was no pump, just some contraption with holes that we knew must have something to do with it. So, being our impractical selves, we called Jeff's friend who explained this rather ingenious hand-pumping method which worked. By the end, I was really too thoroughly amused and laughed. Finally, I got to sleep and my makeshift pillow (out of shirts) and the air mattress proved very comfortable.

I have about forty minutes left until I get to Leeds and Ruth (my cousin). There are filed everywhere, equipped with cows and castles and what looks like heather. The train is smooth and I am alone with motion. I am happy and have a good play list going in my ears. I'll play Therem later and sing and will feel even better.

So far, I have only lost two things, unless my bag goes missing/stolen: the "A" and the "T" in "team" on my ballroom jacket. I feel like being domestic for five minutes and embroidering it on, except I can't do anything that domestic.

I will leave you with this for now and will pick up after adventures begin in Leeds. I leave myself listening to the Righteous Brothers and their "Unchained Melody." Until next time--write back...