A cheesy X factor reference that I might remember to explain later.
My trip to the UK was amazing. Words cant describe the time that I spent there. But, I'll do my best. I'll also have to break it up. I like to make it look like I am too busy to write this blog all at once. Plus, I dont want to scare you off with a really long post. So we will take it a day or two at a time.
November 29, 2010
This was the day! The first day in a while that I woke up excited to face. I would be leaving for the UK in a matter of hours now. It was the end of a 3 month long count down that seemed more like 7 years. My first time to visit Europe. I must be honest...I wasn't in the company that I thought that I would be in for this first journey. I was alone. But, being alone was what I wanted for this trip. I was going to try a catch the life I had been living over the summer with the hope that things would still be the same. I couldn't wait to be there.
This 7 hour flight better go by quickly...
My flight was long. That is all that I can say about that. The aim was to sleep--but that didn't come easily. I was too excited. Instead, I watched 2 movies and listened to music that made me think of Joe. My mind was racing. The flight attendants couldn't serve the free alcohol fast enough to keep up with the thoughts running through my head.
What am I doing? Am I chasing something that should have ended in September? IS THIS REAL LIFE?
It is almost scary to me just how much a part of my life Joe has become. It has changed so much in the past 6 months. When I think about life before moving to New York I feel like I am looking at a stranger's story. Even this summer seems like a distant memory of a person I used to know but no longer identify with. All of the memories of the summer still linger every where that I go everyday...but its only memories. Nothing of it is reality anymore.
In other words, this trip was a God send to my sanity.
Touch down in London Town. I wish that I could tell you what day it was. But for someone who had just jumped 5 hours ahead in time, I forgive myself. Heathrow Airport is a maze that I dont feel like writing about. But, I eventually made my way through customs and found the correct terminal for my next flight to Glasgow.
t minus 3 hours to big head. snow interruption.
I landed in Glasgow and practically ran off the plane. I was so excited to finally be there and I just knew Joe would be standing there at baggage claim waiting for me. But, as I gathered my bags and watched the other people from my flight hug their loved ones who were there waiting for them, I realized that no one was there waiting for me.
That's alright. I'll just give him a quick text.
NO SERVICE.
PANIC!!!
Joe had warned me that my phone probably wouldn't work. In that event, he told me to find a pay phone. Easy. Pay phones are everywhere in air ports. I bought a Vitamin Water so that I could get change for my call and deposited my 2 pound coin into the coin dispenser. Not easy. Dialing a UK number when you dont know when the long distance code ends and the number begins.
FIGHT OR FLIGHT.
I was getting really worried so I pathetically walked up to the desk of the airline I just flew in on and told the woman at the desk that I was lost. She was nice enough to dial his number for me so that I could talk to him. Turns out that his train has been delayed and that he had been through a snowy hell to get to the airport to get me. He sounded panicked and worried that I would be mad. I wasnt mad...just lost.
Dont worry about it. Just meet me in the Starbucks when you get here.
About half an hour later I finally saw him through the crowd of people. I wanted to run and tackle him with a hug but I was stuck between my bag, chairs and British people. Waiting till he got to me would have to do.
He is even taller than I remember. And he is nervous. I can see right through you.
