People and Places

15 05 11 00:58

In planning a trip like this one, much of my focus was on places we wanted to visit (Big Ben, Buckingham Palace....) But as I think back over where we have been and what we have done, the memories most deeply etched in my mind are of people. Saturday was a good example of that.

We spent some time in the center of the city with what seemed to be most of the population of Europe. Some cities are less congested on weekends, but not London; tourists were everywhere, but mostly right in front of us. The sights of Westminster are indeed something to see. The likes of Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, are impressive, and we will remember them. But the highlights of the day came a bit later.

Suzanne wanted to see the house I lived in for the first seven years of my life, so we took the underground to Colindale, and without much trouble made our way to 75 Booth Road. Standing outside someone else’s home taking pictures is a good way to be noticed, and we were. When Suzanne told the current owners that I had lived there six decades ago, we were welcomed like old friends and graciously invited in for orange juice and conversation. The house has changed little over the years. The almond tree in front is gone, but my adopted sister Pat’s name is still etched in the brick above the house number, and the heritage of hospitality begun there by my parents in the 1940s continues.

From there we took the train out to Hemel Hempstead for dinner with Pat’s daughter Carol and her husband Grant. Carol met us at the station and took us the few minutes drive to her home where she served us a huge and delicious beef wellington dinner. Time melted as we talked about everything and nothing. What mattered was that we were together. It was a treat to spend a bit of time with family that we rarely get to see, and a chance for Suzanne to connect names she has known to real live, loving people. The rest of the Hemel clan were otherwise committed for that Saturday, but we were delighted to be able to spend some quality time with Carol and Grant.

Places, it turns out, are not the only things with interesting histories. We are blessed with people memories from this weekend.
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