A year ago today . . .

we had landed in London for the start of our three month adventure. I admit I woke up feeling kind of blue this morning. How could it possibly have been an entire year ago? It makes me feel old and homesick, except I'm sick for a place that isn't home. I've slacked off on this blog because, well, it has made me sad to look at all the entries about our adventure and know that it is over (and I've also slacked off because I'm a horrible procrastinator, but that's another blog entry).

A year ago today I remember riding in the van from Heathrow into the city, feeling very relieved that we had actually made it with all of our luggage (three suitcases, two carry-ons, and three laptops) and relieved that our flight, the most turbulent flight I have ever been on, was over. (Thank goodness the over two-hour, nonstop turbulence started around 1 a.m. so that I was too exhausted to be frightened).

I remember looking out the windows of the van and seeing London for the first time--patches of snow that our driver pointed out as unusual (which was comical, considering we'd experience the biggest snowstorm in London in 18 years a few weeks later), funny looking road signs (not to mention the whole driving-on-the-left phenomenon), and how different the buildings looked. Street after street of rowhouses and old apartment blocks--nothing like what we have in the States.

I've shifted so far back to life here, that I have to forcibly correct my memories of this first day: the driver was sitting on the right side of the van, not the left. And it is difficult to not romanticize the entire trip. I had plenty of blue days in London. Even though I was so grateful that my employer allowed me to work at home from our flat, I did get lonely sometimes with no one to interact with during the day. I also hated working a shifted schedule, from 11-7, because it meant having to work for 2 hours after M got home. Finally, we didn't have any friends in London, so it could be isolating at times.

All those caveats aside, the trip was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I am so thankful that I was able to go. I was able to visit so many places and create so many memories, not only with M, but also with the numerous friends and family members that visited during those brief three months. I need to stop feeling sad when I look back at the pictures because I miss it, and start feeling happy that I had the experience at all. :-)

Now, if only M could work on getting that attaché position in Frankfurt . . . (just kidding, M!)

There will be more trips and more adventures for 2010, and a big one coming up next month. Stay tuned!