semi-happy thanksgiving
I cancelled my trip for
London today. It made me physically ill. Seriously, I have a trash can sitting beside me right now as I write this. London was my last chance to see Idina Menzel in Wicked (I’ve seen Wicked several times, but never with Idina and she’s my favorite). I purchased two non-refundable, will-call tickets for the show back in July. Will–call meaning, I have to pick them up in person thirty minutes prior to show time. I can’t even sell them on e-bay. The tickets were three-hundred dollars…wait, hold on, where’s the trash can? I purchased and booked this trip under the assumption that my “friend” was going with me, I know, how stupid of me. He reassured me that he was most definitely going, that he couldn’t wait, and was excited that we would be spending a week together. Well, this had me all excited; He has never been to London, so I was thrilled to be the one to show him around. There were so many places I wanted to take him; I had already mapped out three whole days of the trip: Go to the Victoria and Albert Museum, shop at Harrods, Trafalgar Square, Borough Market, Portobello Road, Piccadilly Circus, go to the British Library (where we could see Shakespeare’s original folios), have a picnic in Kensington Gardens, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and Leicester Square. And this was just the first three days; this didn’t even include the BIG tourist sites; Big Ben, London Bridge, Westminster Abbey, and the House of Parliament.
Then, a few weeks ago he informs me that he has exams the week of Thanksgiving and cannot re-schedule them. Apparently med-school does not observe the Thanksgiving Holiday…basically, med-school SUCKS. Fine, I really wanted him to go, but I wasn’t going to let that stop me from seeing Idina Menzel, HELL NO. She is the only reason I planned the trip in the first place. So, I decided to ask someone else, it’s Thanksgiving week, everyone’s off…right? No, that’s just it, THANKSGIVING WEEK, everyone has plans for Thanksgiving. But who wouldn’t give up family, even on Thanksgiving for a chance to see Idina? Could I be the only one? Come on people, its Idina Menzel, in London, an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity…ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME. No takers? Fine, no big deal, I’ll just go by myself.
I was ok with this decision for a while. Then, it started to become real. I was going to be spending a week, alone, in London…WHO DOES THAT? Granted, I know I would be safe and I’m sure I would have a good time, I love London…but not alone. I wanted to be in London with someone, exploring, shopping, and eating. I wanted to have tea at Harrods and shop at the street vendors on Portobello Road Saturday morning. I wanted to do these things and I wanted someone to do them with. Could it be that my only options were; go alone, or not go at all? Yep, that’s what it boils down to. I guess I will have to catch Idina the next time she’s performing in NYC, but who knows when that will be.
Luckily I was able to cancel the room and flight, but I’m still left with the three-hundred dollar tickets for the show. What hurts most is that come November 23, I will be sitting at my aunt’s house eating Thanksgiving turkey (which I HATE) knowing that at the Apollo Victoria Theatre seats M 26 and 27 in the orchestra will be empty. p.s. those are FREAKING AMAZING seats just so you know. Have I made the right choice, probably not. Will I regret it, probably. I can just add it to my ever growing list of regrets. Though, I feel sorry for my family, who has to be around my depressed butt all day. I’ve already called and warned my mother, “I’m telling you now, do not expect me to be in some happy, thankful, family loving mood on Thanksgiving. It’s not going to happen. You better make the BEST apple and pumpkin pies EVER or live with knowing that the one thing that will make me semi-happy on Thanksgiving, you ruined. You don’t want that hanging over your head now, do you?”
