Singing with Ali

10/13/09 - Evening

Today was another beautiful day. I have been so incredibly blessed with perfect weather over here. A time of the year full of dreary rain and cold afternoons, it's been unseasonably perfect every day and we are getting some great site seeing in!

This morning I joined David for his work travels to Salisbury, England (a 2 1/2 hour drive from London) with the day ending in Bath (a 1 1/2 hour drive from Salisbury). We spent some time in the car yesterday as well but it wasn't until today that I realized that I was singing aloud to all the songs that came on the radio or our iPods. A habit I usually reserve for friends I know better, I belted out Queen, Dave Matthews, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Lady Gaga, etc. like I was alone in the shower...if I knew the words (or even if I didn't) I sang along, and loudly. David didn't seem to mind and joined in on the songs he knew and we had a good old fashioned road trip. Something I did often with Ali growing up and as an adult so it was a great way to bond with her friend. And something she would've joined in on as well.

So, Salisbury...cute town full of little winding roads and shops. I weaved through and saw familiar stores like TKMaxx (anyone know why it's called TJMaxx in the U.S. and TKMaxx in the U.K.? I personally prefer the "K" but us Karen's have an affinity for the letter "K" ). Recognized a few stores, and checked out new ones including many charity shops (a.k.a. Goodwills). Nothing worth mentioning there, but a good morning of just taking in the city. I was dressed ready to run in the afternoon so I was a bit cold and looked strange in a city that doesn't wear workout clothes out on the town. Not sure if I looked like an American, fool, or both, but my "workout skirt get up" got some strange stares.

Met back up with David and we left for Stonehenge. Ali and I were only so-so excited about Stonehenge. We heard from everyone that it's cool to see, cross off your list, but nothing to write home about. Now that I've been there, I can say I agree. Sorry, I know it has an incredible history and what not, but after about 10 minutes of walking around and taking pictures you are just kind of done. I was more intrigued by what I read in books and online than the rocks. Maybe that's because there has to be some stuff in this trip that isn't awe inspiring...or maybe it's cause Ali and I set out to kind of just squeeze-it-in-between-stuff about the whole thing. Whatever it was, the rocks were cool. Been there, done that. Check the checkbox and off to Bath.

From Stonehenge we headed toward Bath, another favorite...I mean "favourite" (when in Rome) off of Ali's itinerary. Historian I am not, so here's the highlights Wikipedia states about Bath:

The city was first established as a spa resort with the Latin name, Aquae Sulis ("the waters of Sulis") by the Romans in AD 43 although verbal tradition suggests that Bath was known before then. They built baths and a temple on the surrounding hills of Bath in the valley of the River Avon around hot springs, which are the only ones naturally occurring in the United Kingdom. Edward was crowned king of England at Bath Abbey in 973. Much later, it became popular as a spa resort during the Georgian era, which led to a major expansion that left a heritage of exemplary Georgian architecture crafted from Bath Stone.

Just driving into Bath I could see it was going to make for a beautiful city. It's the gorgeous countryside you hear England is known for...breathtaking. Of course, there was some singing again. Made for a quick and entertaining drive.

When we got into the city, we parked and headed into the town center for our lunch - brie baguettes on a bench in front of the Roman Baths. Again, David went on to another meeting and I had the afternoon to take in the new town.

I got a short run in but when I reached the Bath Botanical Gardens I decided to just lay in the grass out in the sun and just reflect. From my car trips this morning, I had lots of fun Ali stories running through my head:

Like the time Ali, Laura and I did a lip sync video to the B-52's "Love Shack" in middle school. We had on short mini dresses, tons of makeup and danced around to the song like the weirdos that we were. I soooo have to find that video!

Or the time Ali sang solos in our summer church plays. She had a beautiful voice and was a natural at the solo spotlight. As we got older and her voice changed, she claimed to have lost that talent. Though I'm convinced her raspy, mature voice was cooler than her middle school days. Sure she sounded a little "masculine" (her words, not mine!) singing soprano, but she put all her heart into it so that made up for her range. Anyway, like me, she always sang out loud to the radio:)

Or the time Ali, JeanAnn, Laura, Erin and I belted out Clay Walker's "What's It To You" on a long road trip to a church camp. There were some handmotions and dance moves to awesome accompany the song as well...

"Love is the rhythm of two hearts beating
Poundin' out a message steady and true
Talk to me baby tell me what you're feelin'
I know what love is
What's it to you"

And for those of you that learned the movements to M.I.A's "Paper Planes" from Ali, you'll know how great she was for turning a sing along into something so much bigger when it has dance moves to go with it!

After my run in the park, David and I hit up the Thermae Bath Spa (Britain's only and original bath spa). The book informed Ali and I that it's the only place to, "bathe in Britain's only naturally warm, mineral-rich waters as the Celts and Romans did over 2,000 years ago" so we were sold. I don't believe the Celts and Romans had blue pool noodles over 2,000 years ago but it was a very fun trip and enjoyable.

Everyone is in a swimsuit (sorry to disappoint some of you hoping for a juicy turn in my blog) and you move around from an indoor mineral pool to a rooftop mineral pool to the steamrooms infused with aromatic scents from eucalyptus mint and lavender to frankincense. And I have to agree with David, frankincense smells like athlete's foot. But the other steamrooms were quite nice.

Had dinner there and reflected on the day and both agreed, "Ali would've loved this" - a theme I don't grow weary saying and will say time and time again for the rest of my life, I'm sure. Watched the sunset from the rooftop mineral pool. The view of the old churches in the skyline of pink and purple clouds made me feel very Roman...or Celtic. Whatever. Either way, it was just cool.

Spent the evening drinking the fancy wine I bought from Ali's 30th birthday trip to Napa Valley. We were going to save it and uncork the fancy wine (expensive by my standards) after she walked for receiving her doctorate in AuD but since she won't be able to do the walk, I decided to open it tonight in her honor.

Cheers to all of that had he privilege of knowing Ali! Sing aloud and out loud!