My flight has a substantial layover in London, so I aranged to have lunch with newlyweds Tanya and Chris (Tanya and I were college roommates and Chris and her have been dating ever since we were freshmen!). London strikes me as funny in that it poses no challenge to me as a traveller. I even begin to doze on the tube. But it is a bright day and I'm thankful for the time away from the airport.
I meet Tanya & Chris at the Gloucester train station. Tanya has, in her caring anxiety, already scheduled our whole day-- from the place and time to meet, to the sufficient amount of time Chris must get lost so that we can have 'girl talk'. I chuckle to myself as she explains all her ideas. It is just nice to relax and give the reigns over. But our conversation has no agenda, no to-do list of topics. We talk about big and small things-- mostly enjoying being in eachothers' presence. I hate to think that is just because it is so rare that we see one another that these moments are so precious but it certainly encourages us to savor these connections.
Arriving back at Heathrow, I'm feeling refreshed and ready for the next step. I've become too goodbyes, or I've really begun to see how rarely we truly say goodbye.
Walking down the sloping ramp towards the open plane door, a small girl with flushed cheeks and blonde hair runs past and squeels in her British accent, "Last one there's a rotten egg!" Her little brother tumbles by and shouts "Whoo hoo!" as he attempts to catch up to his big sister. I laugh aloud because the scene takes me by such surprise. I'm unprepared for the delight I feel from their carefree spirit. I'm reminded that I must be a little like a child during this trip.
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