About nine years ago, my then-girlfriend-now-wife and I graduated from university and took a trip to Europe for a few weeks. It was kind of our graduation present to ourselves (albeit funded by our parents) and at the time it was the biggest adventure we had ever set out on.
Of the three weeks we were in Europe, an entire week was spent with a friend of ours and her husband in England. Quite frankly, their generosity over that week is what made the whole trip possible, as free room and board in the UK will save you hundreds of pounds/millions of dollars.
Our friends lived in a suburb of London called Gypsy Hill. As cool and gothic as the city’s name sounds, it is every bit as cool in real life. Many of the houses are built right into the side of a small hill, many of the streets were cobbled and the old historic pub was actually an old historic pub, and not some lame re-creation filled with mock-antiques and brand new bar stools.
Yesterday, I opened Google Earth and took a trip down memory lane, back to Gypsy Hill. I retraced our steps from the train station, up the long sloping hill, into the small courtyard and up to the walk-up flat where our friends lived at the time.
We all have experiences in our lives, that we live and re-live over and over again in our minds, that represent some of the fondest memories we have. For me, Gypsy Hill is one of my fondest.
It signaled the start of my life as a real adult. Back home, a job awaited me and this was my last chance at true, real unencumbered independence. I had nothing to do. No work to worry about. No obligations, other than to worry about what to do in the morning.
As I took my virtual stroll through Gypsy Hill, something very important and very real occurred to me that had never come to mind before.
That trip to Europe was the start of something big for me. But for my parents, my trip to Europe was the end of something big. Their eldest child was on his own. He had followed the traditional steps through life, thanks almost entirely to their support and guidance. And as I left for Europe, things were immediately different for them as much as they were for me.
As I considered this notion, I also wondered about what that day would be like for my wife and I when Pea reaches that point in her life. Would she also embark on a trip to Europe, or maybe a job in another city? So many thoughts rushed through my mind.
Then I shut my mind down, because I’m just not ready to consider that point in my life. Or Pea’s.
Sorry Julie…
I am feeling quite frightened at this point. I remember when you took this trip to Europe. That was nine years ago???? Oh Lord, help me.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Had a BIG moment like this yesterday. My son recently talked about having a “girlfriend”. He is nearly 11 so I figured it was kinda like “going around” in my day. You know, you don’t actually talk or anything but acknowledge that you like each other and go about your business.
Well, I was in the schoolyard at lunch and a bunch of girls called him over. When he got there his “girlfriend” stood up and they HUGGED. Wtf? My baby? My little boy? HUGGING a girl?! Next it will be making out and then…oh god. I actually cried walking home.