If you give a college kid a trip to England . . .

. . . she'll fall in love with the country.

She'll leave a piece of her heart there and feel a profound need to go search for it every couple of years.

She'll probably want to take her husband there someday, hauling around backpacks and staying in Youth Hostels as a way to save money before they have children.



She'll read books that take place there.

She'll peruse travel websites regularly, just to get a feel for what's going on there.

She'll bore her friends to death with her talk of her beloved country.



She'll take her husband a second time, not staying in Youth Hostels, but castles instead.

And then she'll have children and want them to experience this place she loves so much, so she'll concoct a plan--a very special plan to brainwash her children into loving England too. (Good thing she has a really wonderful husband who goes along with this plan.)

And if she's really lucky, her kids will get to study in England someday too.



In just a couple of hours my dear friend, Amy, will pull into my driveway. I will lug a big suitcase to her car. Amy will drive Abby and me to the airport for what I know will be a very special week together.

Since I won't be around next week, I'll post a few of my old favorites for your reading pleasure. And if you're new to my blog, maybe you'll get a sense for this wild life that I lead.