At long last, London: The Verdict

Eh.

That is what I always think when I'm in London, from the very first time I ever visited, to when we lived there to now: "Eh." I know, I lack culture, but I apparently can't help it. When I'm in New York, I think LOVE LOVE LOVE LIGHTS PRETTY ENERGY COLOR LOVE LOVE but in London I'm just, eh. It's no shortcoming of London's but one of mine. The city just doesn't vibrate for me the way New York does. Of course, neither does Baltimore, or nearly anywhere else for that matter (maybe Paris?), but I digress...

The one thing I really miss about London is its people and of course, our lovely lovely friends (two of whom we stayed with, even allowing us to hijack their beautiful little girl's room, one I unfortunately missed seeing due to conflicting schedules but hope to catch up with Stateside [Hi, Kate!], and two old co-workers I met up with over lunch in Hammersmith). Incidentally, I have to say that while I did not have the "Oh yeah, I hate London" reaction I was not-so-secretly hoping for, I did think, as I was exiting the tube in Hammersmith and looking around the all-too familiar surroundings, "Oh, how I HATE HATE HATE Hammersmith." Of course, Hammersmith was the site of my old job and my miserable pregnant commute, so I suppose that is no surprise. Not that I didn't squeeze in a little shopping at the Mothercare there before fleeing its treacherous grasp.

I guess I can finally say that moving to Baltimore was the right decision for us. I know because 1) I did not dread coming back, 2) When people asked how I liked it, I said, "I really like it!" without pause. (It's always taken me a long time to profess my love to anybody or anything--if I remember correctly, I was second to say I love you to each of my two dogs and even to my daughter--so I expect that will come with time.)

As for Ellie, in spite of sprouting three new teeth on our trip and keeping all of us up most nights (Sorry, Mara!) I think she had a pretty good time visiting the place of her birth and her very first friend, who wasted no time getting the younger Ellie into serious trouble while her mother was in the other room:

Delinquents. No doubt hoodies are in their future.

Comments

[Marcy]

Cute cute!

We're getting set to move back towards the end of this year, and as I took Donovan out on a walk in our village earlier today in the glorious sunshine I was marveling at the amazing place in which we live, and at the same time running down a mental list of all the things I can't wait to get to do again once we're back in California.

[kate1976]

I am sorry I missed you! I am glad it all worked out and you didn't end up leaving yearning for a London life. I really hope we can meet up next time I am over your way! In the meantime, keep in touch! Ellie is looking SOOOO cute.

[Mara]

It was no problem with the teeth, seriously! What's funny is that those are the same 2 photos I put up on Adena's website ;-)