My Perfect Day
The Glamorous Edition
Many thanks to Lucy King for her latest prompt.
Lucy encouraged us to cap our stories at approximately 200 words. In typical Bonnie fashion, I have failed spectacularly. (Seriously. I have yet to comply with a prompt in its entirety. I always seem to tweak them!)
I agree with Elle Beau. More than one type of perfect day exists.
I’m going with my more, ahem, indulgent perfect day.
I wake up around 9 am in the Corinthia Hotel. I fight the urge to loiter in the luxurious bathroom that is infinitely nicer than my bathroom back home and one of the finest in all of London.
I dress quickly and grab a Cherry Coke a couple of blocks away at the convenience store near Embankment Station. The partly cloudy skies beckon me to the Jubilee Bridge for a quick view of Westminster, the Thames, and other iconic London sights.
I try to suppress my grin — the telltale sign that I’m not a local. But my joy is hard to contain!
I scurry down the other side of the Thames and walk back across the famous Waterloo Bridge. I get a blueberry and granola parfait from EAT and meander over to a quiet bench in Covent Garden just before the shops open.
I pop into the gorgeous, fragrant Petersham Nurseries to eyeball the latest floral arrangements. Then a quick stroll through my favorite stores before the crowds arrive — Hotel Chocolat, Kurt Geiger, Cath Kidston, Burberry, and Claudie Pierlot.
Then off to Regent Street I go — to bask in my beloved Liberty!
Next on my list is a walk through the Apsley House, the coolest bachelor pad in all of London. Lord Wellington’s house adjacent to Hyde Park.
From there I make my way further West. I quickly gawk at the Victoria & Albert Museum’s stunning chandelier. A walk through the upstairs ironworks section, then onto whatever fabulous exhibit catches my fancy.
I’ll make my way back to Leicester Square to see what tickets are left for the evening’s theater. Comedy, drama, musical — I’m open to whatever suits my mood!
After the show, I’ll allow myself the luxury of popping up to the Hungerford Bridge so I can see the full moon over St. Paul’s Cathedral.
It’s a quick walk back to Corinthia, but I’ll take the long way so I can see Big Ben.
At the hotel, I’ll walk past the table with the latest floral delights on display, marveling at the stunning arrangement.
I walk into my room. Turn down service has left low lights, soft music, and chocolate truffles on my pillow. The vibrancy and energy of central London fall away.
I draw a bath in the oversized Corinthia Hotel tub with the silkiest bubble bath I’ve ever encountered.
Afterward, I wrap myself in the fluffy bathrobe and snuggle in for the night.
And I’ll ask myself: How did I get so lucky?
Thank you for including me, Lucy King. If they should so choose, I would love to see what Jon Scott, Ellie Scott, Heath ዟ, Iva Ursano, A.J. Kay, Deb Knobelman, PhD, and Jessica WildFire have to share!
Until her 40’s, Bonnie’s worst nightmare included writing and sharing personal stories publicly. At her friends’ suggestion, she bemusedly started Bonnie’s Mixed Tape on Medium in 2017. She remains shocked that anyone reads her stories and that P.S. I Love You, the Writing Cooperative, and the Ascent have published her work.
She is moving to Mississippi in the coming months and is trying to embrace the fact that she has no idea what she’s getting herself into.
Thank you for reading this story
I know you are busy and have lots of ways you could be spending your time. You using your time to read my work means the world to me — my sincerest thanks!
