So here I am. London. Pinch me. Or actually, don't. Because if I'm dreaming, I'd like to just keep on dreaming. It's lovely.
I was wandering around Notting Hill yesterday with Nina, my roommate from college who I wanted to absolutely KISS ALL OVER when she said, quite frankly, "God, Jen, you look absolutely fabulous. You're one of the lucky ones who looks better now than she did twenty years ago!" Now, people, doesn't that deserve kisses all over? It does. And trust me, Nina doesn't give compliments just to give compliments. She meant it. So it felt so good!
Anyway, we were wandering around Notting Hill together and I just gushed,"God it feels so good to be home!" And, truthfully, it did. London really does feel like home for me. I can't explain it. But there's a comfort. A buzz. A spring that comes back to my walk. I absolutely ADORE Santa Cruz. I can't imagine my life without Santa Cruz. Truly, I can't. But London. Ah London. London just beats my heart.
Whilst walking from the tube to Nina's new house (and goodness what a house she has, it's truly AMAZING), I happened upon a man from Canada who asked me how to get to Paddington Station. I gave him directions and then he asked me where I was from because clearly, with my American accent, I was not a local. I laughed and said, "Oh, Santa Cruz, California! But I lived here for quite a while..." and then he asked about whether I could recommend an emergency clinic for his friend who had a terrible sore throat and was worried it might be strep. I told him I was actually a naturopath and sent him off to Boots with a list of herbal remedies and things to request from the chemist. He was so grateful. How cool was that?
So Nina has had a baby! Which was really quite a shock to learn as, well, I just never expected Nina to have a baby. And I met Sasha yesterday and my god is that child ADORABLE. She's just so charming and sweet and full of personality. And very much like her mother. I had so much fun playing with her. I told Nina when she has the NEXT one (and she might!!) to please fly me over to be the doula (and she will!). Poor Nina had no idea I was a doula (how did she not know??, bad nakedjen for not telling her) and she hired her own maternity nurse here in London who turned out to be a complete disaster. All's very well now, but I felt my own sense of guilt that she went through all of that and I wasn't there to help. People, we've been friends since we were freshmen in college. I should have been there to help! I will be there to help next time.
After I left Nina, I stopped by Fresh and Wild, which is Whole Foods here in London. And guess what I purchased? Cherries from California. Now, I will not go into a huge rant about just how very WRONG I think it was that I was able to a) purchase cherries from California in London, and b) that they were CHEAPER here than they are at home, but honestly, there's something just not quite right about our global economy when they are selling organic cherries from California here in London for a price that is CHEAPER than they are at my own health food store that is actually IN California. Something is not right at all. And yet, yes, I contributed to the madness by purchasing the cherries because I was so happy to SEE THEM and I wanted them and they were FRESH and edible and well, that's that, isn't it?
I came back to Michael and Mikaela's flat and we went around to Clapham Green where none other than Ben and Jerry were having a festival. It was sold out, but I convinced M&M that I could get us in by telling the folks that we were on the guest list. Which is exactly what I did. We not only got in, we got backstage passes! How cool are we? Of course, I'm sure that my American accent certainly helped in this situation, but I just walked up to the window, told them I was with Ben and Jerry's from America and that I was on the guest list. And then they asked how many were we? Three! And off we went. It was almost TOO easy.
Of course we all, me included who is not eating dairy or sugar, gorged ourselves on all the free ice cream. There was WAY TOO MUCH free ice cream. Eight different kinds. All being dished out for absolute free. And there were all kinds of environmental folks there, so I made sure to go around and chat with all of them and that was actually very interesting for me even when I was absolutely FLYING like I had taken seven lines of cocaine up my nose from all the sugar in the ice cream. 
We also did take advantage of our backstage passes and hung out in the backstage area quite a bit as there were lounge chairs, a bar and private toilets back there. Nice. Mikaela was excited because Jose Gonzalez from Sweden was the final act of the day on the festival stage, so we also got to see his concert. Honestly, it all just turned out so well and was a great way to spend a Sundae afternoon.
Came home and had a light dinner and then spent the evening sprawled about the living room chatting away about the forthcoming nuptials. Saturday!! It's all getting so close. And the Bride and Groom are getting more and more excited. I still have five more days to do loads of exciting things in London and must go cram in as much as I can even though I'll be back loads more before I actually fly home.
But as I say, this city beats my heart. And if it is to continue beating, I need to make sure I put it on major life support.
