I was about 12 years old the first time I went to the Grove City Library and came upon an author named Jean Plaidy. She also wrote books under the name Eleanor Hibbert (and I guess she did romance stories under Victoria Holt but I didn't read those). The ones I read were historical novels on the kings and queens of England, Scotland, and France, mostly. They fascinated me. Whether they did this by the sometimes gruesome but royal stories or because I realized that these were real people and these books were mostly accurate accounts, I am not sure. All I knew, is that when I read one, I was taken to a world of castles, towers, riches, war, danger and intrigue. They tickled my imagination. I felt like I knew the likes of King Henry VIII with his 6 wives, whom I always remember by....Divorced, Beheaded, Died, Divorced, Beheaded, Survived! I could see the beautiful Anne Boelyn and the young and foolish Catherine Howard as they were locked in the Tower awaiting their deaths, after being the darling of the king and having everything they ever wanted. I felt like I knew Eleanor of Aquitaine, who married two kings in her lifetime, and who traveled on Crusades (quite a big deal in those days) and lost the love of her husband, King Henry and ended up captive until her son Richard freed her at Henry's death.
England seemed so far away from my little world in Ohio. It seemed farther away still as I moved to Virginia and life continued on....England a distant thought, though occassionally, I pick up a history book now and then and read more. I actually one time asked the Lord if He would just let me take a fly down and look around before He destroyed it someday! :) I also kept notebooks, writing down things to remember if I ever got to go.
Then one day last year, my friend Rebecca asked if I would like to go with her to England in the spring. My first thought was "no way"...I am in no position in life for a trip like that. I have responsibilites, a few bills that need to be paid, trips like that are for the other people...not me. Why, I am lucky if I get to go someplace besides Ohio to visit family! Rebecca told me we should just pray. I wanted to laugh...I may have actually laughed aloud!
But as time passed, and the opportunity to stay on the Air Force base there became available and my wonderful husband kept saying...."this could happen"..."this could be your last chance!" I actually allowed myself to think maybe I could do this!! I took the plunge and we bought plane tickets!! I was going to ENGLAND!!!! I still can't believe it! I still wonder if at the last minute, SOMETHING will keep me from going. As usual, my life took it's turns with my mom's death and Korie having a medical condition...I honestly didn't believe I was going until last week. So, right now...it looks like I am taking an adventure! A trip that I have only taken in my dreams! I think I am going to England....I don't know if I will believe it until I am in the air.
I am behind now....I only started seriously getting ready this week...I have so much to do....A widow's luncheon to plan, a women's retreat to get ready for, packing to do...and I have to plan for the three days in London...which I thought I had done but had to start over today....BUT, that's okay.
As the plane flies away from the States, I hope to leave my worries behind and concentrate on taking in everything I can. I am going to stand on the very spot where Anne and Catherine "lost their heads"....I am going to go to the Palace where King Henry VIII lived, to where every king and Queen since William the Conqueror has had their coronation....I am going to take in every sight, drive Rebecca crazy taking pictures and make memories that will last a lifetime...yes, mother!!.....if you can read this, you will be thrilled with me...thanks for making it happen and yes, I will make memories...just like you always told me to.
So, I leave later this week, but once I get there, I hope to blog and share what I saw and how I felt.....unless I am exhausted!! :) We will see. London, England....here I come!
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