On the Streets of Edinburgh...

A little more than two weeks ago, I returned to New York from a long overdue vacation to Edinburgh, Scotland. I had started planning this trip pre-pandemic, complete with a Word document containing hyperlinks to several of the sights I wanted to see. #ThatsHowIRoll 😊 BUT, the trip had to be shelved temporarily, as did travel for all of us during that time. Cut to 2023, and I finally found myself amongst castles and coos, pubs and palaces, not to mention some very delicious accents coming at me from all directions. 

It’s not always easy for me to completely check out when I’m on a vaycay, but at least with a Writers Strike on, there was little fear of my Netflix breakthrough role passing me by while I was basking in the highlands. So I felt a bit more free on this trip as a result. With that said, as I’ve gotten older I’ve worked hard on developing a healthier mindset in terms of “Acting is not my life, marvelous and magical as it is. My life is my life, and it deserves attention, Writers Strike or no.” I blew the dust off my passport, and away I went.

It truly was a magical time, and I highly recommend stepping outside of your comfort zone as often as you can to see how other people live and how big the world actually is. Also, from city life to medieval history to the nature of the lakes and highlands, I found Scotland to have such incredible variety that would satisfy any type of travel lover (for those contemplating their own adventure). I was already feeling so grateful and fulfilled when suddenly, on my last day there, a super fantastic dream came true. 

​I still cannot believe the luck and timing of it all. For my final day, I had planned to visit Edinburgh Castle in the morning and then leisurely stroll throughout the city for the rest of the day. But when I got to the castle gates just before 10am, I was turned away and directed towards a QR Code: “No tickets at the door.” the guard said. “You have to buy online.” Online? I’d been on airplane mode for the better part of a week! How can I buy “online?” But resourceful and not to be beaten (like most actors), I shimmied up to the window of the nearest pub I could find (closed, obviously, at 10am in the morning) and hopped onto their WiFi (which operates 24/7, whether open for business or not). I was able to buy a ticket, but not until a 3:30pm entry. Oh well, I would figure out the day.

I spent the late morning and early afternoon strolling and exploring, and then finally did get to tour the castle, which was pretty majestic and spectacular. After a couple of hours inside, I decided I had seen enough and it was time to head back to the hotel for a bite to eat and to pack for the trip home the following morning. As I slowly made my way down the Royal Mile, I noticed a small crowd gathered off to the side of the cobble stone path. They were entranced by two people showcasing a couple of wild birds for viewing and also to be held, if you wished, for a small donation. One of the birds in question was this beautiful owl; “Bramble” was his name. OWLS are my absolute favorite, and I couldn’t believe I was seeing one so up close and out in the open let alone in a place as magical as Edinburgh. So I paid the £5 (I couldn’t believe that’s all it was - I would have paid £100 LOL) and it took everything in my being not to sob uncontrollably as I was holding this beautiful creature. I offered to hand Bramble back a couple of times, but I think the girl could tell I was really moved – she let me hold him for a good 5 minutes and snapped several shots as well as a couple of short videos.

What an incredible button for my Scottish journey. That wonderful, unexpected moment is a bit of a parallel to what I’ve been struggling with in NY lately, and often do when things are slow. And yet Scotland was sending me home with two stunning bits of inspiration: 
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1. Just when I thought the vacation was “over” and  nothing else was going to happen, BOOM…. a dream came true.
2. ​And, if everything that day had gone according to plan - if I had experienced the castle earlier in the morning as I had originally intended - then I would have missed the owl completely. 
   
   

Since I’ve been back, I’ve thought often about that experience and everything it has to say about timing. I may have been turned away by the castle initially, but “no” wasn’t “no,” it was just “not right now.” Not only that, but “Later is better for you… trust me. You’ll see.” 

​So, I keep trucking along, pursuing dreams but also filling my days with beautiful things - more reading, artist dates, time with friends, expanding teaching opportunities, planning more travel. And all of it with a picture of Bramble not far from view.