Things to weep about

We had a moment in England that I almost forgot about.

We spent the last four days of our trip in London. On the final day of sight seeing we decided to bite the tube and take the kids on the downtown stroll past all the biggies.

London isn’t my city. I didn’t enjoy the hustle and bustle, I didn’t find it charming and mostly, it wasn’t Paris. But I respect it and I was willing to take my very tired feet on one more little trek. We did the bridge, listened to the clock chime 3 o’clock and obediently followed Rick Steves’ suggested walking trail.

It was too warm for my coat and the kids wanted second lunch. I was nearly out of pounds (the money kind) and we were all pretty much done with each other. Jason was on one side of the four kids and I was on the other, if that tells you anything. I wanted to get back to the tube and back to our shabby dorm style room for a nap–hahahahaha. Right.

I stopped paying attention to not stepping on the cracks (seriously, does that game ever get old?) in time to look up and see an older woman about 10 yards ahead of me standing against a building with her shoulders shaking with what seemed to be sobs. It really startled me. The parade was wide however so we passed her without the children noticing.

But I couldn’t help it, I had to turn around. I know, nosy Americans can’t keep theirselves to theirselves. I walked up and just…hugged her.

And she cried.

And I cried.

Then I gently asked if she was ok to see what we were crying about.

“I just…really miss my husband,” she said. “We always traveled together.”

Then we cried a little harder and hugged a little more and spoke for another minute before I moved on.

I held Jason’s hand the rest of the afternoon. It was one of those moments when you think, “I should pray for that person,” but instead of just thinking of it I really did go right on ahead and pray. I’m lucky to have someone to travel with, it would be a lonely world without him.