Hi, I’m Judith Ashley, author
of The Sacred Women’s Circle series, soul nourishing romantic women’s fiction
that honors pagan spiritual practices. My stories show you what life could be
like if you had a place like The Circle where you are unconditionally accepted,
supported and loved. And where, with this support, you do overcome obstacles and
find your happily-ever-after.
I lived well-over a quarter of a century never traveling
far from home. I was in my thirties when I first visited other countries unknown
to me and experienced a few Adventures in Travel.
But which story do I share?
Ending up in a bordello in Mazatlán, Mexico?
Being stopped by crossing guards and relieved of my
passport when leaving Croatia during the Balkan War?
Or the tamer, missing my bus and almost missing my flight
back to the US from a visit to Australia? Thankfully the bus driver turned
around and came back for me.
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| Photo bySkitterphoto |
Said passport was confiscated.
I spot against the wall was designated “mine” as in with
finger pointed at my heart “stay there and do not move.”
Oh, and I had a travel alarm clock in my checked luggage
that “ticked” (this was in 1994 when there were active hostilities between the
IRA and England. Passengers were warned that luggage could be destroyed if
thought to be carrying a bomb).
If that wasn’t enough, I, unwittingly, had mace/pepper
spray in my purse.
My efforts to be prepared on my first trip traveling
alone as well as across the Atlantic was a dismal failure.
As I type this I’m smiling.
But in that moment, my heart raced, my hands sweated, my
mind imagined all sorts of dire consequences.
I was grateful for a wall at my back when my knees
weakened.
So how did I manage to create this disaster?
To this day I’ve no idea. I got off the plane from Dublin
to London where I had to change to my flight to the U.S. I followed signs and
asked directions to the United Gate. I did end up, at one point, outside
Heathrow and knew that I’d taken a wrong turn somewhere. I felt immense
gratitude to have finally made it to The Gate when my adventure truly began.
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| Yep, bright Yellow but tape and words "Security Inspection" on it Photo by Kat Wilcox from Pexels |
While polite, the security man was stern.
Did I know that carrying pepper spray was illegal in
England and I could go to jail? Words failed and I shook my head.
Did I understand bombs ticked? I nodded.
Those questions I could reply to. The one that, to this
day, I still cannot answer is “How did you get here?” Oh, I had a response. “I
followed the signs and asked people when I wasn’t sure where I was going.” I’m
sure my blurted confession that, at one point, I’d been road side didn’t help.
“Don’t move.” More threatening because of the deadly
quiet tone than if he’d yelled.
Here I am in 2019, sitting at my computer, writing about
this Adventure in Travel and not including my experiences in an English jail
(and No, I do not watch Locked Up Abroad). It seemed hours when in fact it was
under an hour before he returned and gave me back my passport.
When I arrived in the U.S., my luggage had bright yellow
“security” tape. It had obviously been searched.
The next year when I traveled to Croatia during the
Balkan War to help with a conference for my Glasser colleagues, my suitcase was
also wrapped in yellow tape. I was pulled from the line and went through
additional security when travelling within the U.S. Years later, when I
traveled to Australia for yet another Glasser conference, my luggage still was
wrapped with the yellow security tape!!!
Who knew that getting lost at Heathrow airport would have
such long term consequences!
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| Available now in e-book and print |
However, in 2008 I took my granddaughters with me to a
Glasser conference in Edinburgh, Scotland. We flew in to Heathrow, and much
to my relief, all was well. We safely made it through baggage claim with no
yellow tape in sight! All’s Well That End’s Well!
You can find all of my books at your favorite
e-book vendor. Be sure to ask your local library if you’d prefer to read my
books through that resource.
© 2019 Judith Ashley
