Dear Universe,

So, I have a confession.

I’m obsessed with Big Ben.

And I am not using the word obsession lightly here.  It should be noted that I’ve thought long and hard about this.  I really do have a thing for him.  You can even say it was love at first sight because from the moment I laid eyes on him, I felt mesmerized and overwhelmed.  All I could do was take pictures—lots of them.

(That’s when I spotted a crepe place there!  I was aching for a banana nutella one, but was too sick to order one.  Another time, I thought.  But I never made it back there.)

The next time I came to London it was the same thing.  If anything, my love for Big Ben had intensified.  There’s just something about Ben that moves me.  I don’t know if it’s his architecture, his massiveness or his beauty, but I just love looking at him.  More pictures—daytime, nighttime, anytime.  My cousin poked fun at me non-stop, but I kept snapping away as if I was afraid Ben would disappear if I didn’t.

(Crepe place closed just as I went to order!  And when I went back my last night here, they were out of bananas!)

This trip was no different.  I knew I had to get to Ben, spend some quality time with him, but I didn’t know when.  Then one afternoon I happened to look over and I spotted him, spotting me—his top peeking out just above some trees.  That little wink was all I needed.  I made my way to him, approaching from this new direction, getting more and more excited as I got closer.  It was the first time I had seen him in shining sunlight.  It really suits him.  More pictures to add to my collection.

(Crepe place open!  Fully stocked with bananas and nutella!  Finally, I had my crepe in hand, sat on a stoop and ate—watching Ben, watching me.)

It was one of those moments when everything comes together without any planning and all you have to do is sit back and enjoy.  So I did.

Thanks for the quality time with Ben. (And for my delicious crepe!)  It left me smiling all day.

With Gratitude,

A