Our European Trip – LAX to London
The aroma of coffee wafted through the cabin, indicating that we were nearing our destination. British Airways’ first class has made this nine-plus-hour flight very comfortable. I slept for about an hour before and then for about three hours after dinner. During my wakefulness, I watched the Bob Dylan movie, A Complete Unknown, which was interesting. I’ve not been much of a fan of his music, but I like stories about people, and this one was not disappointing.
Everything was in flow for the few days leading up to our vacation. Even with so much to get done – packing, tending to my plants, tucking in my clients – it all fell into place. I was even ready well before it was time to leave for the airport, a first. Usually, Reggie is waiting for me, but he had a meeting and a couple of errands to run. He jumped in the shower just thirty minutes or so before the car arrived to take us to LAX.
This trip is such a gift, and I am receiving. In my pre-trip social media post, I shared that to honor this blessing – these 26 days of exploration – I wouldn’t be checking my email or texts. And I didn’t (more on that later!)
I feel like this trip would open something for me. I set an intention, one that slipped between my lips during a conversation with my friend Neel Raman, whom I’ve known for over a decade, and met at Jack Canfield’s Breakthrough to Success workshop. When Neel asked if I had set an intention for the trip, initially, I hadn’t thought to do so. He suggested discovering what’s next in terms of projects or goals. That felt limiting. Then suddenly, I said, “Show me what I need to know.” I then expanded that to “Show me what I need to know with grace. Show me how to receive all that’s mine with grace.”
I’m excited for this trip. I’m eager to discover more about myself and the world.
Surprising Encounter
As we were waiting to get off, Reggie nodded toward the gentleman at the front of the plane and asked, “Is that Keanu Reeves?” His question confirmed my suspicion that Keanu Reeves was in the first row, window seat. His bodyguard was across the aisle from me and had helped me put my backpack in the bin above my seat at the beginning of the flight – and handed it to me when we landed, without me asking.
I first saw Keanu when we were settling in at the beginning of the flight as he stood up to get something from his luggage. Sometime midflight, I was waiting in the galley for the bathroom to become unoccupied, and he walked out. Rather than averting his eyes, he looked right at me and smiled. There was a warmth there, something I felt even in my half-asleep state. I wonder… as I took my turn in the restroom. I still wasn’t sure it was him.
Waiting to deplane, I chatted with a couple of the flight attendants who served our area of the cabin. One of them said, “We had to get him off first.”
I then asked, “Is that Keanu Reeves?”
One nodded and said, “He is so kind. And I can tell you not all of them are.” She then began to list a number of actors and actresses who were not particularly gracious. Their comment confirmed what I’d seen on social about him, and it was refreshing.
Her remark dismissed my cynicism about social media reports of his acts of kindness. I could now trust that his acts of generosity were true. The genuine helpfulness of his bodyguard added to the assurance that Keanu is a man with a heart.
Landing in London
The process of getting through immigration, retrieving our luggage, and then passing through customs was smooth. Reggie and I walked into the terminal and found our driver. Stepping outside, I was glad I brought my puffy jacket, something Reggie said I wouldn’t need. It was cloudy and chilly.
The ride to the hotel took about an hour and a half. I marveled at the scenery along the way. The trees reminded me of those that surrounded my childhood home in Upstate New York. Many of the names on street signs matched those in the Hudson Valley. I am really in London. There were moments of awe sprinkled throughout the trip, times when I had to stop and really acknowledge that I was in another country, and having experiences that touched me deeply.
Time to Explore
We arrived at the Altoff St. James Hotel & Club in Westminster, and our room wasn’t ready. So we changed our clothes and headed out. We walked to Buckingham Palace, expecting to see the changing of the guard, and spent over two hours by the Queen Victoria Memorial watching people and cars pass by, and studying our surroundings.
At one point, we meandered a couple of blocks to find coffee and a snack, settling on two very delicious handmade granola bars. We returned to the palace to find that the changing of the guard was not happening, but rather the captain’s inspection of the Girkhus was about to begin. When I asked a police officer what a Girkhus was, he said they were the toughest, most loyal fighters, even more so than Special Forces. He laughed at me for not knowing. I chuckled. Silly American!
We were too far away to see the inspection clearly, so Reggie and I began our trek back to the hotel. Our timing was perfect because we were able to see another inspection taking place at Wellington Barracks. Reggie filmed the very elaborate ceremony.
After returning to the hotel, we went to the bar for a drink. Reggie wanted a Scotch, and I had an Ian Fleming Vesper, Reggie style (with the vodka and gin reversed). I drank mine slowly, so I took it upstairs where we unpacked, and I took a bath. The goal was not to sleep until it was time for bed. I was a bit jet lagged, but not debilitated by fatigue.
About 6:30, we ventured out, intending to go to Bennie’s for dinner. We walked in, and the place was empty, and the reception was very cool. So we left. After strolling around the streets for about thirty minutes, we discovered Motcombs near Sloane Street in Westminster’s Belgravia District. The atmosphere, including the staff, was much more welcoming. I had a shepherd’s pie with lamb, mashed potatoes, and peas. Reggie had a flank steak.
With our bellies full, sleep was calling. By the time we made it back to the hotel, it was nearly 10 p.m. We had walked 15,259 steps.