Great Expectations...

The great philosopher Mark Twain said a thing long expected takes the form of the unexpected when at last it comes. And, as usual, he has it about right.

I'm in London now. I didn't expect the cherry soda to taste like cough syrup and I didn't expect it to rain every time I step out of the flat wearing sandals without my umbrella. Statistically, I think this is impossible but my drenched jeans say otherwise.

But I also didn't expect the rhythm of rain on the Thames, or the involuntary gasp when I saw Handel and the Brontes at Westminster, or the mental happy dance whenever someone calls me "love" and I realize all over again that I'm in London and the time is now.

You know in movies (well, chick flicks) when the protagonist goes to a faraway place but somehow discovers herself and they have the montage of music and foreign images while she walks the streets? (Think Sabrina.) Today that was me, and the song was "Black Balloon."

For the record: I'm spending 6 weeks in London with BYU study abroad and my friend Daniel pretty much forced me to do this blog. Over and out.