Amy's America

Guest blog, travel blogs, maps, etc.

August 6, 2010 by altatwood

So here are some random updates:

On August 25 I will be guest blogging on onetravel.com. I wrote about my favorite London spots – the must-do things for London visitors. It was all fresh in my mind as I tried to revisit all those places during my final weeks in the UK. I really like the onetravel.com blog because it features travel bloggers from around the world, so it’s a great mix and lots of interesting reads.
Speaking of travel blogs, I’ve added a couple of travel blog links to my home page, including one written by my friend Laura who just moved to Tokyo for (almost) a year. Talk about a different way of life! You should definitely check it out.
With the realization that I can finally begin planning, I went to AAA today and not only renewed Nick and my memberships but also got a US map. I LOVE maps! And now I can start figuring out where the heck I’m going to go on this road trip. A few of us were trying to guesstimate the number of miles I’ll drive (maybe we should have a pool?) but there’s really no telling until I figure out where I’m going – and in what order. I have the feeling I’m going to be zigzagging a lot…
Speaking of AAA, I highly recommend anyone in the US becoming a member if you’re not already. The discounts alone are worth it (many retail stores, amusement parks, movie theaters, hotels, etc.). And you get free maps, travel books (they said there’s no limit – wait until I am ready for those!), towing, assistance if your battery dies or you lock your keys in the car – so many benefits for a small annual fee. I already bought discount movie passes, and of course got that free map. Now to get out my highlighter. Although maybe I better start with a pencil…

You CAN go home again, but …

August 5, 2010 by altatwood

I’ve been meaning to post an update because I realized I left things hanging a bit, but life has just been all consuming since I got back. Apologies for it taking so long! (When I first arrived in England someone told me that if you start by saying ‘apologies’ all will be forgiven no matter what it is – and I did find it to be true much of the time!) Anyway, I really am sorry for neglecting my blog and promise to be better from now on, especially since the road trip is quickly approaching.

So much has happened in the past two and a half weeks, I hardly know where to begin. I guess I’ll start at the end of the last post: yes, I did stop crying on the plane, and yes, I did have a big smile when I saw all my family and friends. But it hasn’t been all good. I have to say, Marion’s comment about my last blog was right on: “You can go back home, but it’s never quite the same as it was before…not so much because IT has changed, but because YOU have!” In fact, I’ve experienced more culture shock moving back home than I did going to London – not at all what I expected. I won’t go into all the details as I don’t want to dwell on them and am somewhat getting over it, but let’s just say it hasn’t been easy and if it wasn’t for my family and friends being here, I’d move back in a heartbeat.

I want to focus on the positive:

We got to see LOTS of family and friends, including several of those from Florida and West Virginia. We had a house full for a while but it was so much fun – like one big sleepover!
Speaking of the house – it was as bad as I anticipated. But there are positives to this too! My mom, Mark and Katrina (and Seth with the lawn) did their best to make it nice although I don’t think anything would make me want to be there. Other family, especially my brother and sister-in-law , also really helped while they were there. (And Ally, I still can’t believe you cleaned my fridge!) The best part was the yard sale and the dumpster, which was completely filled. Literally getting rid of most everything I could definitely helped! It will now be ok until I can sell it and finally move on.
We bought two new cars. No, I didn’t go with the Mustang, but I did listen to many of my friends who gave advice through this blog and followed my heart AND my head. I got a 2010 silver Volvo S40. I always wanted one like that and absolutely love it. And while I was looking for certified preowned as some suggested, I ended up with similar – a car that had been used by the dealer so has some miles on it, but was officially new. The dealership was great (Steingold Volvo in Pawtucket, RI) – very straightforward, easy to deal with and relaxed even as Mark checked over every single spec of the car (he literally said to the poor guy ‘I’m your worst nightmare’ – hee hee). I definitely recommend them. Then – after a zillion hours of searching on Craig’s List and finding cars that weren’t exactly as described – we lucked out on a car for Nick, too. Uncle Tom brought us to some car dealer friends of his at Rojo Auto Sales on Rt. 1 in Norwood and we got a great deal on a 2001 white Volvo S80 for Nick. So he’s in seventh heaven, too. And I’m just glad to have it all over with!
Phones – as many of you know, that was a dilemma too. I did decide to stick with Verizon as they seem to have the best nationwide coverage which will be important when I’m travelling the country. Nick stuck with the Blackberry and got the latest Curve (so he can bbm for free with Alivia), while I went for the brand new Droid X. It took forever to get and many hours at the Verizon store and on the phone with Verizon, but now all is up and running. Am really liking it – it seems to be able to do all I need and want it to. The only major downside is the battery life -it doesn’t even last a whole day when you’re on it a lot. But I have the car charger and will be on the road a lot so will just keep it charged, and will probably buy an extra battery. I thought the size would bother me too, being so big, but I haven’t had any real issues with that.
I’m back to work for my final weeks and that is going great. I am so enjoying being in the office and seeing the people I’ve worked with for most of the last fifteen years. I’m thankful for this chance to say goodbye. I will miss everyone, but I won’t miss the hour and a half commute to Waltham! Luckily, I still believe I’m doing the right thing (even though I’m also still scared to death) and know I can keep in touch with everyone through this blog, facebook, email, etc.

So yes, I am really, really missing London and everything and everyone there, but am going to try to put that out of my mind and focus on the road trip. I am now officially giving myself permission to start planning – woo hoo! Time to get out the maps, US guidebooks, talk to AAA, explore other road trip Web sites, and start connecting with all the people I want to visit along the way. Keep sending your tips, suggestions, places to see, people to visit, songs to listen to, etc. I’m open to anything! Well, almost anything…

Posted in Home | 6 Comments »

Can you go home again?

July 17, 2010 by altatwood

This was written enroute home on Thursday, July 15 – just took a while to get on the internet!

(In the car on the way to the airport)

For probably the first time ever, I actually had double (triple) checked every room, drawer, cabinet and closet and was zipping the last of my five suitcases when my video doorbell rang for the last time. It was the car to bring me on the first leg of my journey home.

I’m now in the car and the driver is taking a rather interesting route to Heathrow. I’ve driven there (and in that general direction – it’s on the way to Nick’s high school) many, many times and have never taken such a scenic route. But it makes me happy. Maybe the driver knows I am leaving for good (at least for now) and thinks I should see the sites one last time. Bye Ben, Westminster Abbey, Horseguards and the London Eye. I’ll miss walking in you, St. James Park. The Thames – so glad I spent so much time by you. I must always live near water and you certainly more than sufficed.

Farewell, brave guards protecting the Queen and trying to keep a straight face as all those tourists photograph you. Thanks for the great dinner last night, Palm. Bye Sloane Square and Alivia’s street. No worries – I’m sure Nick will be back real soon!

South Ken – I really didn’t spend enought time at the museums. They are so wonderful. And look – the blue circles on the buildings that boast the famous people who lived there or events that occurred there. All historic, though, nothing current. You won’t find one that says ‘Jude Law lives here’ – sorry Erin!

Oh, there’s Hammersmith and Chiswick, our original London home. Glad I got one last perusal of the charity shops, but really wish I’d gone back to Primark for that shirt! I’ll miss Turnham Green – home of my favourite London Lebanese resataurant Elias. No, we are not actually passing Turnham Green – that would have been even more strange, but just being by Chiswick reminds me of it. Ah, now we’re on the M4 – the normal route. We’ll be at the airport soon.

I can’t help but be so thankful for Nick and my time here. We are so blessed. We were lucky to meet such wonderful people in London. From my work colleagues in Warwick and London to my line dance and meet up friends – especially my book club girls! Then there was the dating foray where, of course, I met someone special. We had an incredible few weeks together and he really made the end of my time here that much better – and both easier and harder at the same time. It was so hard saying goodbye this morning – but I know it’s the right thing for both of us.

On the plane

I thought of asking the flight attendants if many people cry their eyes out on the plane. Yes, that’s me. I don’t think I’ve made it through a flight to or from England without any tears, no matter which direction I was heading. I actually made it through almost four hours – two movies and a meal – before making the mistake of putting Lady Antebellum on my ipod and closing my eyes. Then it hit me.

I hid under my blanket and tried to cry as softly as possible, although that’s not easy and it actually physically hurts trying to hold it back. I imagined someone asking me what’s wrong. No one ever does – people just look the other way when they see a stranger cry. Not sure if I would want to talk to someone right this moment or not, but I suppose it is always nice to feel like someone cares.

So what would I say? Why the hell am I crying? I guess because I’m sad (duh). And scared. And guilty.

I’m sad to leave a country I love so much. Correction: a city. London. I know that sounds strange from a girl who started this blog two months ago because she was so anxious to return home. But something happened in those two months. I made a commitment to really live in London. To make the most of every minute. I did and it was wonderful. Whether it was with Nick and Alivia, friends, visitors, a date or by myself , I was doing something, somewhere in that incredibly diverse city. I will make the same commitment in the next city I settle in, but I’m not convinced any other city can really live up to London. I will try though.

I’m scared of so much. Leaving my company which has been so good to me for the last 15 years. It’s been home and my colleagues have been my extended family. I grew up there. And I was able to support my son and feel secure in my role there. I wonder if I’m crazy to leave, but deep down I know I’m doing the right thing.

I’m also scared of going back to my house. Dread is more like it. I don’t want to live there any more. As many good memories, there are just as many bad. I just want to sell it and be done with it, although I know it’s not that easy and I have to be sensible too. For now I have to go back there.

And I feel guilty. I know it’s silly. (Crap, just thinking about this has caused the tears to start flowing again. And I can tell some of my fellow passengers have noticed. Hopefully they’ll keep ignoring me. I’m pretty sure they will. Oh – a little girl is watching me. Sorry sweetie. I’ll try to stop. I just have to get through writing this.) So I know it’s silly, but I feel guilty about this road trip. For so many reasons. Mostly to do with Nick, of course. As people make such a big deal about my starting my new life, I wonder if deep down he feels like I’m abandoning him. Like I’m happy to be without him. No, no, no! I’d love to continue our London life together, but know he has to go to university. I have to let him grow up. And that leaves me home alone. (No, I won’t let him live at home. I think living in a dorm is so important and something I never got to do – I don’t want him to miss out on that experience.) So that leaves me at home alone. So back to the beginning – me, alone, so why be at home at all?

I also feel guilty doing the road trip because I’ll be unemployed and unable to spoil him like I have in the past. I know he’d rather I stay where I am but I just can’t. I need a new challenge. A new start. I know it, but that doesn’t stop me from second guessing myself.

So I’m now an hour and a half away from landing back home. Yes, I will leave my job, my last day is just a month away. And yes, Nick will go to Salem State just a few weeks later. And once he’s settled, I’ll be on the road. I can do this, I can get through it all. (deep breaths) I am strong. I may cry a lot about it now, but as soon as this plane hits the Logan runway and I get in the car, drive down the highway and see the Pru, Fenway or the National Grid gas tank (depending on the route we take), I will have the biggest smile on my face. And then seeing everyone I have missed so much – I feel so much better just thinking about it. Come on pilot, fly faster! I’m done with the tears and ready to be home!

Posted in London | 5 Comments »