"Memories are the key not to the past, but to the future." - Corrie Ten Boom
I have returned home from a ten day trip to the U.K. spent reconnecting with Merv's family and reveling in time spent with Jacob exploring new worlds. In so many ways, it was a magical time. We started with a weekend in a small village in Wales for my brother-in-law's wedding and spent a week in London meeting up with family members who unfortunately didn't participate in wedding celebrations. They are a fractured family. Jacob and I spent the final five days of the trip alone after Merv returned home to meet some work commitments.
It was an emotional time for me. I met one of Merv's nieces for the first time and another for only the second. We took them on our tourist activities, a spin on the London Eye, a tour through the London Dungeons, hours spent exploring the Museum of Natural History and lots of tea and scones. It was great to watch Jacob connect with his cousins. For a couple of days, we had the pleasure of the company of our friend Emma. It was a whirlwind of museums, gallery, high tea and theatre. And on our last day in London, we were lucky enough to share lunch with Merv's stepsister and her husband. I so much appreciated that all those wonderful family members travelled to London from different parts of England. In the precarious state of my heart health, I didn't feel I could summon the energy to travel about the country to see them all. Still, I amazed myself with how physically active I managed to be, averaging 20 kilometers on my pedometer every day. My feet managed to carry me through The National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, Museum of Natural History and the Tower of London. I walked the mall, strolled Regent Park, Hyde Park, Westminster, Baker Street, Soho and Carnaby Street. I climbed and descended the long, steep staircases of the London Underground, many, many times.
But the very best memories of this trip did not come from seeing the sights or attractions. The best memories came in the quiet moments when I watched Jacob take care of me in the same ways I took care of him when he was small. He carried my bags and helped me up and down the stairs. He navigated all of our journeys on the tube. He dealt with my technology issues several times a day. And I sat with a lump in my throat as I watched him tighten the laces and tie up my running shoes.
The week ahead will be challenging. I am feeling a bit nervous about the angiogram I have scheduled on Friday morning. I know it is generally a safe procedure but like all things related to the heart, it is not without its risks. Within the next couple of weeks, there will be more - another pacemaker procedure that's a bit trickier than the last. I am trusting that it will go as planned but if it doesn't, Jacob will always have our memories of London.
