We shared the journey to Heathrow with thousands of others; most of them on our train, or so it appeared to my unsociable self at that ungodly hour. We had to stand all the way to Victoria, endeavouring, along the way, to respect one another’s millimetre of personal space. In a fast moving train this is a challenge.
I did not try to imagine doing this every day. Happily it will never be my lot.
As a young thing I loved this people crush each morning and evening on my way to and from University. The novelty of traveling en-masse did not have time to wear off. My life rushed on under its own speed and before long I had dropped my traveling companions in favour of married life in America. Another aspect of shared journeying.
Each time we drew into a station a few people alighted, pushing against the flow of swarming potential train riders, fighting for the privilege to stand looking out at where they’d been looking in.
They brought with them more than determination, folding bikes, large suitcases and protruding backpacks broke the millimetre rule of personal space the rest of us adhered to.
They voiced their needs,
“Move on down…Please!”
An imperceptible shifting of bodies resulted.
Two desperados squeezed still further and managed to burst free of their heaving compartment-fellows to make it into the relatively spacious standing areas of mid carriage. I watched them breathe deep sighs of relief.
We arrived at our final destination, Heathrow, bruised and triumphant.
Hubs went to check the electronic information boards, unconsciously drawn by the crowd.
I wandered off. It’s a habit, I prefer not to stand still.
I watched the customs exit doors as I paced.
From behind me I heard a voice,
“Who are you waiting for?”
I turned and for an instant thought I was looking at an overly friendly cab driver, ‘this is England,’ flashed through my mind, ‘no such thing!’
He smiled. American teeth. My son!
We hugged and walked towards the spot where I’d last seen his father…he hurried up to us,
“Where did you go?” he asked.
“More importantly, look who I found!” I answered.
Our zoo keeper son is here for sixteen days.
Well hello there! My name is Vivienne McNeny.
I am an empty nester exploring life as a Boomer…you could say I'm happily Boomering along!
As a homeschooling Mum I have finally quit the job of role model and mentor to my four children. I do what I want to do, eat when I feel like it, enjoy life with my blue eyed cowboy and clean my house once a month or so whether it needs it or not!
In true English form I write about the emergence of my true identity now that I can no longer hide behind my children as their Mum.
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