I’m taken by surprise as we come to Westminster Abbey. I hadn’t seen it on the map. I want to come back and see it during the day. A quick search tells me it opened in 1269 and I cannot believe they were able to build something so incredibly impressive back then. I once had a professor say that as humans we are getting dumber. That as our technology increases, our intelligence decreases. I’m not sure if he meant that as correlation or causation, or if he was correct, but it’s interesting to think about.
“There’s Big Benny!” Peter calls out as we come around a curve and Big Ben comes into view. He clearly thought it would be hilarious to rename the famous clock tower after his stuffed dinosaur named Benny.
We cross the street into a grassy area to look up at the giant clock. It is really cool to see in person. The lights on the building and the illuminated clock faces take me back toPeterPanand it makes me so very thankful our Peter didn’t go off to Neverland today.
The kids are quickly bored, so after taking a few photos, we decide to take one of those classic double-decker buses back to the hotel. We got seats up top, and you would have thought the kids were riding on Santa’s sleigh, for all the excitement that brought.
It’s hours later and I can’t sleep. Midnight is only seven at home. I’ve been tossing in this bed for an hour. I should probably just get up for a bit. Instead, I lie there and pick up my phone.
9
Alexander
It’smidnightand,ofcourse, I’m wide awake. I normally wouldn’t go to bed for another seven hours or so. It gets harder to adjust every time I come home. So instead of being in bed, I’m sitting in the living room, staring at the new riddle on my phone.
A connection, it does make
But not over a lake
Confusion with a song
But you might have it wrong
“Oh! I’m an idiot,” I yell.
Mr. Brown rushes into the room, apparentlyhaving been nearby. “Sir? Are you alright?”
“Yes, I’m sorry. I was just calling myself an idiot.”
“Carry on, then.” I didn’t miss his tiny, cheeky smile as he turned from the room. He acts like he doesn’t care, but I know he does. Wonder why he’s up at this hour.
I head to bed, where instead of tossing and turning, I pick up my phone again. I’ll leave Ivy a message for her to see when she wakes up.
ALEXANDER
Good morning, beautiful Ivy.
ALEXANDER
It’s Alexander. I’ve been thinking about you and would love to see you tomorrow (or today, if you’re reading this when I assume you will.)
Three dots start dancing above the keyboard. She’s up!
BEAUTIFUL IVY
Can’t sleep either?
ALEXANDER
Nope. Haven’t got on London time just yet.
ALEXANDER
So… tomorrow?
BEAUTIFUL IVY
I came on this vacation with my family. I can’t just abandon them. But maybe you could join us for some sightseeing tomorrow afternoon? I know it might be boring to a local, but plan to go to the London Eye and London Bridge. I mean, who knows what we’ll get up to, but that’s the plan.
