Back in London after 40 years.

Sunday

Dec 23

On the train from Greenwich back to flat.      

I left Cate and her friend Jasper and his friend Sam to continue the evening in the borough of Greenwich.  

As an 8 year old, I had inherited my brother’s shortwave as he went off to college.    I would listen on the shortwave as I heard, it is now (whatever the time) Greenwich mean time.   

It was literally where time began.   

I met Jasper in Barcelona and we agreed to meet again in London.    I had hoped that a boy from London would offer us a chance to what I loved the most.   To move from tourist to participant.   

In Barcelona it seemed so casual to say, let’s meet in London.   

As if meeting someone in Wilsonville and agreeing to meet in Oregon City.      

Greenwich is the home of the navel college.   It is the school where Admiral Nelson studied.  He was to change history by defeating the Spanish Armada  and establishing Britain as the undisputed ruler of the seas and the world.       

Amazing evening with these 20 somethings

They shared their impressions of Europe and America.    

After a long conversation I said, let me return the favor.   

What do you want to know about America.      

They both had the same question.     

Why would you prize lower personal taxes over access to health care.   

I tried to explain that politicians in US promised lower taxes.    

They said no English politician would be elected if he or she said they would cut health care.     

It was the evening I hoped it would be.   Away from tourist areas and with locals.   

I got on the subway alone.    Cate stayed with her friends.  I rode back on the subway system I had ridden on 40 years before as a college student.  

As then, unafraid of being outside of home.  Feeling at peace.   Feeling alive.