A little known fact... I am a foreign movie addict. You heard it here. For me, it’s another form of travel. I love the cinematography, the accents and the customs of other countries. I’m the movie watcher who notices the wall paper, the weird lamp, the swing that blows in the wind behind the scenes. I’m that person. The person who waits for the set designer credits and lingers on the name of the set dresser. On Virgin Atlantic there are far too many movies to choose from... but one story happens far too often. It repeats itself over and over again. The unhappy and disappointed housewife. I was one, I know some, I work with many. Call it post partem, maybe poor choices, possible depression...or apathy. Unfulfilled lives are everywhere. I watched-heard a story I’ve heard a million times before... The Exit. It’s a study in discomfort, emotional abuse and mental illness... As great as the cinematography, the language, the storyline seemed...I opted for sleep and turned it off half way through. The actress Gemma Arteton is beautiful and full of freckles. I hope to see more of her in future films. Her husband in the film is the very talented and handsome Dominic Cooper. You will recognize him. Nighty Night! Somewhere between London and Johannesburg!
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London...the land of “lifts, gaps and underground’s”...
We own the fact that we are old and our chemistry does not travel like it used to. We get that 18-20 hour flights and long lay overs are not our ‘cup of tea’. We purposely plan to stay a night somewhere enroute to feel the earth beneath our feet, have a shower and hope our body clocks adjust even if slowly. London is an easy layover city. Although this is the first time back since brexit and we are dealing with pounds not euros...so there’s a new challenge. I love the accents. I find myself mimicking our hosts in my best English lilt and wonder if I’m being offensive or charming. So far, no one has looked at me askance as I try my hand at true English. Somehow I doubt the English attempt to speak “Massachusetts English” when they visit Boston. Virgin Atlantic was terrific. Great flight, wonderful service yet no sleep. We arrived at Heathrow early and had an early check in at hotel. We then did what you are told never to do...and went to sleep. We slept until 4 pm then took a bus, a train and the underground to Piccadilly Circus for dinner and a show. The city was teaming with people! Street performers delighted us! We scored inexpensive (Monday night) tickets to “Chicago” at the Phoenix. The music was fantastic! The Jazz band stole the show! We had the best seats. I struggled not to sing along. I remembered when I met Mark I was on a theater hiatus. It wasn’t until after we married that I started getting back on stage. He was both stunned and impressed when finally he learned of my long history of acting out! I know there are times when he feels dragged to the theater. I no longer expect him to show up at all the shows I do but I’m happy when I can share with him the ‘story’ on stage. I knew he’d like Chicago. It’s a wonderful jailhouse tail of scantily dresses femme fatales who offed their lovers. I had him at scantily dressed. I loved hearing him laugh. Seeing this old show (to me) through his eyes was very cool. Of Course, I didn’t sleep at all. But instead listened to him snore and watched Netflix... this next leg of the journey will be a tired challenge. We have a 21 hour travel day ahead of us. From London to Zulu Nyala. The warning has been made: expect unusual bouts of crankiness ❤️. Fortunately, my partner Steve encouraged me to upgrade our seats on the 11 hour flight... so far my Virgin Atlantic App tells me no one is sitting next to me! It’s as if the Gods are smiling on this adventurer! Peace out people! Internet is going to get more and more sketchy... The air craft is dark. There is a persistent hum mixed with the chatter of the airline staff moving about the cabin. On the horizon, the sun lines the edge in neon orange. Mars hangs in the sky as the brightest light. We are nearly to Heathrow.
I was remembering my very first plane flight. I was 16. The year was 1974. I don’t know who was more excited me or my mom. I grew up in a small town and it took 20 minutes to 1/2 hour by car to get a gallon of milk. Travel, to us, was going to Fitchburg or Worcester to a movie or grocery shopping. My mother worked hard. She had 5 kids and 4 at home after our Dad died suddenly. So any “extras” in our young lives were very special. A year before my first airplane trip, my mother sent my brother Terry on a ski trip to Switzerland. I remember sitting with her in our dining room. Our dining room table was always the “catch all” for miscellaneous stuff associated with a large teen age family. She sat at her sewing machine pushing the material under the needle while I read aloud from the old Encyclopedia Britannica about Zurich, the Matterhorn and Zermatt. She was so excited for him. She was so proud of herself to have given him the opportunity to ski Switzerland! I still have the key chain with the adelviess flower and two wooden skis crossed with the name Zermatt across the top. What a childhood treasure from my brother. When she asked if I wanted to ski the alps only 1 year later, I was starry eyed! The idea of seeing life beyond Massachusetts had me giddy. She gave me no warning when she brought me to the pharmacy for my passport photo. I still remember I was wearing a yellow ski sweater and had regretted my choice right up to the day that passport expired. My mother didn’t have a passport. My first flight was to France with the Wachusett Regional Ski Club to ski Charmonix and Mt Blanc. That’s exactly when I caught the traveling bug. I thought about that gift today. My mother’s generous gift of showing me life outside our boundaries. She first flew when I went to college. I remember the flight vividly. I was 18 and we flew to Chicago. Believe it or not they allowed smoking on the planes back then and she was so nervous she smoked a pack of cigarettes in 3 hours. I actually have a physical response to that memory. I can feel my lungs closing up. Travel “riches”you up. My mother knew that. She eventually got a passport and traveled the globe with her girlfriends. Because of her, I’ve spent the last 40 years collecting countries and sharing the world with the people I love. Thanks, Mom. We are about to land! Buckle up, tray tables down, seat backs up...start planning your next adventure...Challenge your boundaries! What a week!
I know many of you can relate to the “hurry up to wait” week before leaving on vacation. You know the drill...you’re getting your laundry done, packing and unpacking while keeping up appearances. In my case, I’m showing houses, listing houses and performing at Woods Hole Theater Company...while packing, cleaning and planning. As with all things, there are interruptions. Those nasty little pre vacation gremlins that rear their ugly heads as the clock counts down. For example: my new car ... post Woodchipper incident, is backed into and the front seat passenger door is taken out! How to install confidence with your buyer clients! “Sure, ride with me, don’t mind the door...please sit in the back!” Gremlin#1 Oh... then there is the call from the bank. You know the call, the one you hope you never get...”Annie, your account has been hacked.” Gremlin #2 Are you kidding me??? I’m about to travel... who needs to worry about the cyber extortionist! The remedy was to have my computer “swiped clean”... ugh!!!! Gremlin #3 The gym membership I canceled a year ago has been taking $49.00 a month out of my account since August!!! WHAT IS THIS NONSENSE? I try to go complain and guess what???? My key fob for access doesn’t even work! So since August they’ve been stealing from my account for a gym membership that even if I wanted to use... I would not have been able to because I am not granted access! Ohhhhhhhh... my out of shape unfit self has it’s blood boiling over the “Anytime” extortion! As I sit on the plane, about to be removed from my reality, I breath deep and think about Spring in Africa! Babies are being born. The internet is sketchy. My phone plan doesn’t reach... Oh... when I go off the grid. I go off the grid! Stay tuned... A night in London...a night of Theater... I’ll keep you posted! |
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