In 2007 my girl and I hopped over to the UK. From Scotland to Ireland to England, we bounced around the country, going thru mainstream and offbeat locales. Some of it was fun, an adventure to say the least, but a lot of it was very draining. The nonstop travel for months on end, the stereotypically bad weather and the culture shock (both good and bad) would wear down even the most seasoned traveler. There was also a lot of stress in our lives stemming from issues with the company I was working for – suffice it to say, I’m no longer with them — and the uncertainty of our living situation. Things settled a bit near the end of our time there, but by then we were already beat. Before Christmas came around and not under the best of circumstances, we returned to the States.
Lately I’ve been looking back at that period of my life, time having dulled some of the stress and chaos that clouded it. I don’t regret the decision, having tasted overseas living and learning to truly appreciate what we had back home. At the same time, I’d be hard pressed to categorize it as “the of best times.” Objectively, I compared it to the numerous other places we’ve lived in. In doing so, I was surprised by the fond memories bubbling forth. Wherever we’ve laid our heads to rest, there have been redeeming qualities along with the hardships, but the UK had a hidden gem in its sorted track record, which was last spot we inhabited (for a brief 4 months), Windsor.
Trains, planes, coaches and ferries had dominated our lives up until landing in Windsor. Road weary beyond belief, we were ecstatic to leave our bags unpacked for more than a week. Snagging a flat near the River Thames, we finally had a sanctuary after our whirlwind travels. Top floor with views of Eton College and Windsor Castle from our balcony, we were amazed by our good fortune. Having endured European hotels we expected the place to be cozy (a.k.a. tiny), but fell in love with its quaintness nonetheless. I never realized how much I missed normal domestic living until I finally stopped and took a breath. No more racing through train stations dragging luggage behind us, no more queuing through airport security, no more finding out where you’ll be on Monday the Friday before. I achieved a Zen calmness by how typical my days became.
With the travel requirements of my job being so extensive, this was the first opportunity we had to live like man and wife in ages. We took long walks at night (hand in hand) along the Thames, admiring the ducks and swans, we snuggled on the couch watching TV on gray rainy days, we hopped on trains to explore local farmers markets, we did our weekend shopping, talking, laughing, and smiling as we hauled the groceries back home. We enjoyed a life, delicious in its simplicity, which had long been forgotten under the haze of our jet-set ways. I must admit, after many years together, we fell in love all over again.
That moment was like a time capsule re-opened from our first days together, mixed in with the English village living you always saw in movies. These memories had been muffled by the turbulent start and finish of our journey overseas, swept under a wave of anger and resentment that blanketed our return to the States. It would have been a shame if I had left these pearls tangled in the dark emotions. I wasn’t happy with the consequences of our trip, both personal and financial, but I’m grateful that at least I can carry the joy of Windsor in my heart and when our lives get rough, reminisce on those beautiful days of just me and her.
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Sounds like a story just begging to be written. And for at least that time spent in Windsor, terribly romantic.
beautiful.
This is a fantastic entry, man. Eloquent, vivid, romantic, nostalgic. Very well done. I remember how much you guys lit up when you talked about Windsor over pizza that night. I’m glad your memories of that time have only become more vivid.
Twitter: gabrielnovo
June 5, 2009 at 8:54 pm
Thank you for the kind words. It’s amazing how time and distance can put a different perspective on things, allowing you to appreciate the good in bad situations.