gratitude-a-thon day : let’s go

I have been doing a lot of traveling. Part of it is that I got some amazing events and trips as gifts for my birthday, and part of it is, that it’s just time to go. What I mean is, I don’t want to wait for anything anymore. I just want to go, do, see. Because we all know that rarely do things go as planned. I mean, life is about as dependable as a 14-year-old with a curfew.

Elton John was, as the Brits would say, brilliant. At 72, he played three hours STRAIGHT with only one costume change! I am fairly sure I sang every song with a permanent smile pasted on my face.

This concert was part of my gift from this guy for my 60th. I will never get a gift (seven events connected to my life, that lasted all year, in all parts of the world) as good, or as thoughtful as this.

This was my first trip to London and I fell madly in love with it. It’s hip, it’s huge and it’s absolutely beautiful.

This is London’s answer to the Hancock Building, but way cooler. The Shard.

I am a sucker for a flower display. This one was on Portobello Road.

This is the street in Notting Hill that Kiera Knightly lives on in one of my fave movies ever, *Love, Actually.*

This dude just sits on his horse and doesn’t move. No matter what. I love that the “Beware” sign is crooked. Someone didn’t!

If you go to London, you are required to take this picture! Doesn’t get more touristy than this. Westminister Cathedral is behind me.

This is the Castle Leslie Estate in Ireland. It is stunningly gorgeous. I expected Lady Mary to come out of the shadows and have a drink or a spot of tea with me.

The gorgeous couple, Jess and Adam. You guys know how to plan a wedding!

I have met some extremely interesting and funny people in my travels. I have had some experiences that will help me survive another New England winter (bah, humbug). Not to mention the inevitable bumps that will occur along the unpredictable path of living.

On my most recent trip, I had the spectacularly good fortune of going to an Irish wedding in Ireland. If you ever get a chance to do this, do not pass go, do not collect $200, just get on a plane and vamos. And if you don’t, stay in touch because I am thinking of starting a business where I find Irish weddings and sell tickets to Americans. Big hit! First of all, Ireland is stunning. Second of all, the Irish people are so friendly, they invite you to into their pubs, their towns, their homes. Third of all, they know how to throw back a drink (or two, or 27). Put it on your bucket list–Irish Wedding. You’re welcome.

I went to see my son’s house and office. This isn’t either of those, it’s where I stayed in Santa Monica.

Seeing my cousin in L.A. was just great.

This guy! My husband couldn’t come to San Francisco, on one of his gifts–to see jim Gaffigan–so this one flew up! Here we are at China Live. Best chinese food I’ve ever eaten in my whole life.

Along the way, I have felt deep gratitude. I haven’t written about it, but I have laid in silence in my bed in the late night or early morning first thing, letting my thanks pour over me. I have thought about how every time I get home safely from a trip that the experience is mine, something nobody can ever take from me. I can pull out the moments of decadent meals and awe-inspiring art, architecture, culture and food whenever I want. I can bask in every impossibly beautiful sliver of time my travels took up until I can’t remember them anymore. I will see a picture of a place and think, yes, I have been there and I have a little piece of you right here in my brain (left side, upper right-hand corner).

Signs, actual signs in L.A. reminding me to be grateful!

We stack up the experiences in the present and then we get to run the footage in our heads for as long as we want. For this, a plane-ful of gratitude (extra leg room, please).

gratitude-a-thon day : let’s go

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