“Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.”
— Anais Nin
It was a bright Sunday afternoon and myself and two dear friends, Kim and Emily, were standing in the shadows of a towering cathedral, scratching our heads with confused looks on our faces.
Last time we’d checked, we were in Washington D.C., but with such a structure before us, with its formidable towers looming and its limestone exterior gleaming against the bold blue sky, we couldn’t help thinking we’d somehow found our way to Paris. Who knew the National Cathedral was so regal?
Three and a half years ago, Kim, Emily and I moved to London together. For six months, we shared a flat in Chelsea, took night walks along the Thames to the Royal Albert Bridge, and soaked up all the history Europe had to offer us: from St. Paul’s in London to the pale green-domed Helsinki Cathedral.
Even though life has since taken us in different directions, we still make time for reunions. As we all visited the National Cathedral for the first time last weekend, we hardly seemed to care that its construction was only completed in 1990 — when all of us were four years old. Even if it didn’t take us back in time like its European counterparts, it was still the perfect excuse to reminisce about our galavants across the Atlantic…and make new memories while we were at it.
So when this week’s #FriFotos theme was announced on Twitter as “My Happy Place,” I decided to give the posts on India a rest and look to a destination a tiny bit closer to home. Not only because it was my first time properly exploring D.C., but because we don’t always get the chance to explore a new city with good friends, and to do so makes it a happy place indeed.
Gorgeous. Absolutely. A little bit of Notre Dame right in your own country!
Ah, I know! That’s all the three of us kept saying as we wandered around the cathedral, “Let’s pretend we’re in Paris.” But on the other hand, it was also cool to find such a beautiful church in our own “backyard,” so to speak, and not on a Euro-adventure 🙂 Hope you’re well!