It was an out of body experience, like walking on clouds.

I almost couldn’t contain myself, and much of my internal excitement did spill out in bouncing waves. I felt the huge urge to frolic and spin, but I held back just enough. It was a spiritual experience, one of the highest points in my life.

Driving down into northern England from Scotland, we took a detour to a remote location to see a well-preserved section of Hadrian’s Wall…the far stretching stone wall built by the Romans to keep the empire’s borders in check.

Northern England, marker & ink doodle

June 22, 2014

“In the middle of the gorgeous – amazing – quiet, rolling hills of northern England, in the breeze and sunshine of an early summer morning, the only sounds being singing birds and bleating sheep, we hiked up a steep, craggy hill among the green grass, yellow flowers and purple thistle. It was like a dream.

I felt like crying, dancing, standing still and never leaving. I was ready to sell my belongings and send for the kids, moving to that fantastic countryside. One of the happiest, highest moments of my life.”

My entire sense of self was overwhelmed, the landscape had such a pull upon my soul. I wanted to stay there forever, letting the hills become my waterlilies, an artistic obsession like the garden for Monet. I imagined the scene through all its changes, in its snowbound winters and russet fall, the light rising, the sun setting, the moon glowing.

Clover Crown, marker, colored pencil & ink doodle

On the walk back to the bus, a sweet friend and I picked clover.

As I dawdled slowly behind, soaking every second before we drove away, I tied the flowers into a crown. Being the responsible, adult, 32-year-old working mother of three that I am, I of course popped the crown on my head and skipped around like a small child. Why not?

It was glorious. I am surprised I did not physically explode.

One day, I will be back.