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November 18, 2009
Monopoly?
Having just returned from leading a 4-day retreat, I decided to go on a bit of a 'monopoly board' run around London early Sunday morning. Blow out the cobwebs, and all that. And though most who read this will not live in The Smoke, I challnege you not to recognise something along the way.
So I set off towards Archway, and then down through Camden to Regent's Park - very poshed-up now. Past Madame Tussaud's, (Don't go there; it's so shit,) down Baker Street, (Elementary, my dear reader!) along Oxford Circus, (dull shops) Marble Arch and then across Hyde Park, taking in the Serpentine.
Then? Then back along to Knightsbridge (Swanky Simon!) and down Sloane St (OK Yah?)to Chelsea Bridge and then along Mother Thames, past Battersea Power Station, (As in Pink Floyd's 'Animals' album; not their best,) cutting up to the Houses of Parliament, (Order, order!) 10, Downing Street, (Not Cameron, pur-lease??) Trafalgar Square, (Insert your own jokes about Nelson's column here,) then down the Strand past the Law Courts, (where you have to know your judge from your jury; and your gavel from your wig.)
Where now? On to Farringdon Road, my friend, eyeing St Paul's Cathedral, past Smithfield Market, then Sadler's Wells, (People in tights and musical stuff), Chapel Market, Upper Street, (now mostly bistros and really expensive gift shops; I can't even afford a card,) Holloway Road, (not like Upper Street at all; really not) the Emirates stadium (Wenger Boys) and then home.
Highly and deeply enjoyable, starting in the dark; then the heavy clouds and rain; and then blue skies and sunshine for the final 45 minutes.
Having lived in London for 25 years what surprised me was that there was barely a step of the way when I wasn't remembering some incident or other. It turned into an unexpected memory-fest. So many things! In a way, I wanted to go back and do everything again; fail again, but at least fail better. Oh, please; one more chance at it all?
But that isn't how it is. I can only hold the memories; hold each one of them lovingly and with care. They are not all they might be; and I am not all I might be; but they are also quite perfect, and I am quite perfect, with only today to live.
Alive and running in London. Alive. Wow!
Posted by Mr Bojangles at November 18, 2009 03:34 PM