Oct 28: England, Post-Vacation Non-Euphoria

So, you need the update on the last week of my 'Victory Tour'.

The time at Chrissy's was wonderful, very relaxing. Her husband's job took them there 3 years ago, and they really love it there. The only restriction was time; she drops the kids off in the morning and then has to pick them up in the afternoon, so only a six hour window. This ended up working out very well for me physically, especially since there was no energy expended in actually getting to the various places.

On Monday we went to Avebury, listed in the prior post. Just a little elaboration, for those interested. The stones were much larger in the outer circle than comes across in pictures. Many of them were 12' or higher--really towering. Although they are not shaped such as the ones at Stone Henge. The inner circle ones were about 6', nothing to sneeze at. It's more difficult to picture it as it was because of the roads and town now built inside of the stones. And it's very big, it would have taken more than an hour to walk around the outside. But we got a good feel for what was there with just walking around the ones that were more clustered together. On the way out of the parking lot we were able to see Silbury Hill, a large conical burial ground, also from more than 5,000 years ago.

Unfortunately, Monday night Chrissy found out that the mother of her best friend had died. She started making plans for coming back to the States for the services. So on Tuesday we drove out to Windsor Castle where she dropped me off and then went to get clothes she needed for the trip. (Any woman can tell you that no matter how many clothes she has in her closet that the 'perfect' funeral outfit is rarely among them!) So I did the tour of some of the outside of the castle, which is very large, and then some of the indoors as well. The entire place could have easily taken a full day, and Chrissy gave me the option of coming back on public transport, but since I was still tired it just didn't seem worth the extra effort. Maybe next time.

Wednesday, Oct 21, we spent the day around Chrissy's area so she could show me some of the 'off the map' places she has discovered in the last three years. There was a lock on the canal with nice gardens around it, then a forest with wonderful old trees and glimpses of English countryside peeping through. The reminder of harsh reality was in a couple of deep depressions (such as in 50' +) where bombs were dropped during WWII, although there has been regrowth over the earth. And finally a real English country estate called Engelfield, where they let you just wander through the extensive gardens. Private land in England is very different than over here. If there has been public access, which over the centuries there often has been, then the owner must keep it available. There is still privacy around the house, but otherwise the public can roam around pretty extensively. This will be where I picture the setting every time I read a Jane Austen novel from now on!

Thurs, Oct 22, Chrissy dropped me at the Reading Train Station while she continued on to the airport. From there I proceeded into London to meet Susan for the last leg of the trip. It was especially meaningful since it was Susan's birthday, and I can't remember the last time we saw each other for the occasion--well over several decades. We explored around, met up with a former student of hers and had a very late (for me!) supper--Susan is used to eating at 8-9 pm, which is the standard European time frame.

Friday was the day for the double-decker red bus tour around the city, where they take you around all the major tourist spots and you can hop on and off all day. I'd seen the Changing of the Guard on a prior trip (very boring), was disappointed that Westminster Abbey closed at 12:30 before we got there, and there wasn't enough time to see Tower of London (which will be reserved for my third trip to London!), but we saw Shakespeare's Globe (the new version!), St. Paul's and a host of other sights. That night was my choice of theater: Les Miserables. I've seen it twice in Philadelphia and the 10-year film version, but had always wanted to see it in London. It was wonderful.

Saturday morning reality hit. I hadn't felt really well on Friday, knew it was so much activity with not enough rest. Unfortunately even sitting on a bus or in a theater doesn't seem to be as much recuperation as my body needs, and waking Saturday morning I knew physically it was time for a break. It was frustrating because there was so much to see and do, but I was very cognizant of the fact that I'd already met my most important goals. Everything at this point was icing on the cake, and it was time to pull back. So I stayed in the hotel room and sent Susan out to experience more of the city. It was the only way my body would be able to handle any more. And, honestly, I was OK with that.

While still not feeling terrific, after 6 solid hours on the bed in the room I was able to go out to dinner and see Wicked, Susan's choice for the other theater experience. Sunday was packing up, then a quick trip to the National Gallery so we could feel like we'd done something besides travel that day, and then Susan got me out to Heathrow for the flight back. Those last few days would not have been as enjoyable without her, as well as the physical stuff that she did for me, such as scouting things out and handling my still way-to-heavy luggage.

On Friday my admission to myself was that I was ready to come home Sunday, the physical strain was being felt. Saturday night coming back from the theater I had a sore throat and ear pain, which increased some on Sunday. By the time I got home Sunday night I really didn't feel good, but had been up for almost 20 hours so that wasn't surprising.

I'd taken off Monday because of the time change and jet-lag, and woke feeling absolutely horrible. Temperature more than 100, coughing up nasty stuff, wheezing, headache. Called my primary and got an antibiotic, started on the Advair, mucus thinners.... My asthma really kicks in when an infection hits. Yesterday I felt even worse, and called Bidge to see if he could take me in for an appointment and chest X-ray if needed, my temps were running higher than 101 by that point. But over the day the chest seemed to ease up some, so just let it be. This morning my temp is down to under 100, the coughing is less and, while I don't feel terrific things are on the mend. My plan is to go to work tomorrow, since that will be the only day I'll work this week and will then have Friday and the weekend to finish recuperating. In addition of the usual aches and pains is the entire right chest cavity which is very painful from all the coughing. The muscles in the right back from the thoracotomy had seemed to be improved, but they're back to sucking in and out with every cough. But hey, it's better than it was two years ago.

So, that's the rest of the trip report. It was a phenomenal experience, and meant so much to me spiritually and personally to meet so many goals I'd set for myself, and all the ones hoped for during this trip. It was the first major return to activities from 'before', with adjustments for the 'new normal'. But it was proof positive that, even with some restrictions, I can still get out there and enjoy myself and see the world. I've felt more hopeful in the last couple years of recovery, but now I'm feeling much more positive. This is especially important since from a financial standpoint it wasn't the smartest decision to make, but psychologically and spiritually it was imperative. This trip was more than a vacation, it was a taking back of my life. And that really is priceless.

Thanks for following along, Laurie