Lagniappe: June 2009 Archives

1. Went to London.  Duh!
   
2. Saw a major show on The West End (Wicked).
3. Took my daughter to London to see a show on The West End.
4. Saw Abbey Road and took the obvious photos of it. 
   
5. Got within earshot of a Beatle.
6. Rode a Double-Decker Bus
7. Went to Baker Street.  Hello?  Sherlock Holmes!!!
8. Round the London Underground.  A lot.  I'm a pro now.  Where do you need to go?
9. Saw Buckingham Palace.
10. Was part of the best kept secret in years!
    
11. Did I mention I went to London?

We instantly set out about getting some essential things done and let Rene' get a nap.  After buying our 3 day Underground passes and roaming the streets a bit, we were on our way back to the hotel to get dressed for the show!!!

Morgan and I have seen Wicked before.  We love it.  It was even more amazing than I remember it and the London Cast was phenomenal.  The show was moving and funny and we even enjoyed chatting with the staff that were working at the Oz Dust Boutique!

It's been my dream for over 20 years to see a show on London's West End and it came true in a HUGE way. 

After the show, we all headed to our respective hotels (Actually, we had more of a shoebox, but it was..."cozy") to get some sleep and prepare for our next big day.

We were off to find Abbey Road Studios and spend a day devoted to our fave fab four!!!!  On our way, we traveled through Baker Street!  Made famous by one of my favorite guys, Sherlock Holmes!


Why, yes, that silhouette of Sherlock Holmes is made up of tiny silhouettes of Sherlock Holmes!

We made it to Abbey Road Studios and found we were allowed to write on the wall!  So we all signed a little message to the boys and headed down to take our picture.  I'm afraid you'll have to wait to see it, though.  Although Rene' and I use the same brand of camera, I didn't have a card reader for the D50 memory card and so we had to swap CD's via the international mail.  I'll get em up as SOON as I get them. 

We did, however, get some shots at the Beatles Coffee Shop!  Namely, my daughter took some AMAZING photos.  I think it's fair to say she has talent as a photographer. 

We also strolled by the house of a Beatle!  I am not going to post the pics here as I don't want to feel like Papparazzi, but it was an amazing experience for all us girls to touch the gate that Paul McCartney touches.  *swoon*

Suffice it to say, we'd had a huge day and my feet were ready to relax! 

On Sunday, which was the actual Big Ol' 14 for Morgan, we were off to see some of the common London sights.  The London Eye, Big Ben, The Tower Bridge and Buckingham Palace!


We walked...and walked....and walked....then we walked some more! 














We ended our last full day at Buckingham Palace and lazed around out front just taking in the sights and taking some pictures! 

John & Rene' let me swap lenses with them so I got a few with the Wide Angle.  MUST GET!

Morgan, yet again, took some great shots!!!! 

To sum it up...The trip was everything I'd ever dreamed of and then some.  I had a blast with all the girls...oh, and John.  (Sorry, man, I didn't realize to later just how much estrogen you were surrounded by!!!)

I'll leave you with a set of shots I like to call "A Study Of The American Teenager: Just Give Up, Pal, You'll Never Get It!"

My Dearest Darlingest Morgan,

     Today, you turned 14.  Another year headlong into Teenager-Hood and another year closer to the dreaded Driver's License.  I think I shall go jump off a cliff now.  It will save me the hours of panic I think I'll have over the idea of you driving around a 2 ton hunk of metal. 

     We are, right now, in London.  The place I've dreamed of visiting since I was about 8 years old.  Not only is the dream coming true, but it's coming true with you by my side.  Funny how that's happened a lot in the last 14 years.  Everytime something good happens, I look and seem to find you sitting right there.  I don't think it's a coincidence. 

     I know you're going through some of the growing pains of being a Teenager, but when you aren't overcome by BNTS (Big Nasty Teenager Syndrome), you are just too cool for school.  I love that we can talk and laugh and sometimes even share a moment without speaking.  You are me.  You are also uniquely you.  Sometimes just when I think I can predict you, you prove me wrong. 

     You've had a lot going on lately, but you're really starting to show me how much of a wonderful young lady you are becoming.  Let the rocky times just be rocky times.  A flash in the pan.  They are not what defines you.  They are just moments and are gone.  It's the memories we're making that I want you to hold with you forever. 

                                                                          Love,
                                                                             Mom

P.S. Please keep using the camera.  Your photography is brilliant!!!