heaven on earth

I walked out the back of the stately library building and saw the willows draping over the River Cam. I thought, This is what I've always imagined heaven would look like.

That was six years ago, and seeing the River Cam again yesterday reinforced that first thought. Cambridge is a gorgeous city, and it's hard to believe it was way back in 2002 that JAW (who was JAD then) and I first visited.

It was rainy and chill then, and I remember having the best cup of tea I ever had in my life and feeling excited to be surrounded by so many smart, diverse people.

This time, the weather was gorgeous, the city was festive and in the streets were three people from central Illinois (one from each of the Tri-Counties) who now live in the United Kingdom. We walked down the old streets and marveled aloud at this fact. We all worked together in an office in Peoria some years ago -- eight, nine? -- and who would have predicted this?

Before our evening at the Cambridge Shakespeare Festival, we decided to go punting on the River Cam. A lot of people try to handle the skiffs themselves, but kids, don't try this at home. We were more than happy to hire one of the boat companies' muscular young lads to steer us through the crowded river, barely wider than a canal. It was like rush hour on the interstate motorway out there!

Watching the amateurs and even the professionals is a great way to spend the afternoon, as evidenced by all the people hanging over the bridges.

They were treated to an entire wedding party out on the boats, and what might have been a <del>bachelorette </del>party hen do, with a skiff complete with full bar.

How can you top an afternoon like that? Shakespeare, of course.

One of the central Illinoisans is married to a man who directed "Taming of the Shrew" at this year's festivals, so we enjoyed a picnic before the open air show. What a perfect day and evening. I plan to do it all again next year.