The L word (part II)

Published: November 24, 2023 / Updated: November 24, 2023 Vilma The London story

You know how the girls do anything and everything to get ready for a date?

I did it all: I dyed, I waxed, I polished, I soaked… You name it, I did it. I was not going to London as I was (having said that, I do take pretty good everyday care of myself, I believe. But it could always be better).

‘Mommy, where are we going?’ – my daughter kept asking me, once I had told her about the trip ahead of us.

‘Where do you think we are going?’ – I wanted to keep it a secret. It was more fun that way.

‘To England’, – she said.

What? How?..

She was my daughter. She could feel London running through my veins (although she had not mastered her geography and could not figure out the difference between a city and a country). Weeks later, feeling confident in herself, she told me that London was a continent of Africa. Bless her little cotton socks.

I was so looking forward to the trip. Three years of dreaming.

‘Vilma, just keep in mind that we will not…. and I will not… and I can’t…’ – London boy was setting boundaries alright. ‘We are not walking in the park holding hands. I hope this is clear’.

I instantly adjusted my expectations from 200 to -5. ‘I can do this, I expect nothing’ was my mantra days before we were due to fly out.

I knew I had made this a very big deal for myself. I couldn’t help it. I really, genuinely adore the guy. I tried to imagine the moment we meet. I tried not to think about it. Whatever I tried, I was a mess.

‘Mama, I changed my mind. Please tell me now’ – my girl couldn’t take it anymore. We had agreed I’d tell her our destination upon boarding the plane. But she needed to know before. She did last a long time, as she asked for this once we arrived at the airport.

‘Ok. We are going to London’.

‘Oh!’ – she sounded pleasantly surprised and a bit excited. ‘It’s where London boy lives?’ – she did know more about him than I had led on. I was an open book, even to a four year old.

‘Yes’.

‘Will we get to meet him?’ – she got even more excited.

‘I don’t know. I can’t tell you’ – I told you this was fun, for both of us, I think.

The flight did not seem long. The airport transfer went as planned.

You could say that the whole way I was busy with logistics. Until we reached the 21st floor.

I believe by then I could not think, I just needed to see him.

When we located the right apartment, I asked my daughter to knock on his door.

She knocked.

The L word (part I)

Published: November 11, 2023 / Updated: November 11, 2023 Vilma The London story

I can’t concentrate, my breathing is too shallow and I smile like a fool. I think I’m in love.

I’d say it’s about damn time.

Let’s start with a fact that my daughter has a vivid imagination. Very vivid. And for a long time her only response to my any statement or question was: ‘When I lived in England… ‘. It was cute at first but then it started to annoy me a little bit. She had never lived in England. I had. She knows nothing about it.

So after her many responses of ‘when I lived in England…’ I decided to do something about it.

We we going to go to England.

And not just any part of it, but the best part – London.

When I started to put a plan in place I decided to keep the trip a secret from my daughter. Her birthday was coming up so this was going to be a part of my gift for her.

I was surprised to find out that so many people I had talked to about it have not been to London. It was hard to believe – London is just 2 hours and a bit away on the plane. There is a huge expat community over there. So many of my friends had lived there (some still do) for years. And I myself had been to London so many times! Wait… What?

And then it came to me. I have not visited London many times. I have done it only once. I’m talking about a proper visit, where I got to walk, see, eat and take pictures. That was 11 years ago.

All the other times I was simply at one of London airports, catching a connecting flight back home. Ha! And personally, when somebody says they’ve ‘been’ to a city or country, but had only seen the inside of the airport, that is the true ‘not been there’ to me.

So I felt that visiting London after many years would be good for me as well. Of course, though, it was all because of my girl – she had to see what England (and London) was all about.

My friend Karla saw straight through me:

‘This is like Homer Simpson getting a bowling ball for Marge’s birthday just because he wants it himself’, – she said in her voice message.

That is after she found out I was going to take Mia to London and we were going to FINALLY meet London boy. Not only that, we were going to stay with him. Yup, you read it right, this was happening.

For the sake of me I can’t really remember how the plan fell into place. I am not sure whether he offered to stay with him or I asked. All I knew is that we were going to London and something big was going to happen.

Here’s a gentle reminder: I’ve know the guy for almost three years and I’d done it all (mostly begged) but he never came to see me.

And now, with everything set in place, bags almost packed, all I could think about was his question:

‘So will you kiss me when you’re here?’