Mind over Mopeyness

I felt it set in the morning after I left Paris. Like when you feel the on-set of the common cold, this shunned emotion started to well up inside of me, it slowly rolls in my mind like thick fog, generating severe synaptic atrophy, jabbing at my thoughts with self-deprecating punches, as if my brain had some how bounced onto a hamster wheel and would bumble along in self pity for all of eternity. There was no doubt about it I had come down with a severe case of mopeyness.

So- upon self-diagnoses I looked around my cousin's flat for my "its cold as hell out there" gear and set out to visit the (free) Imperial War Museum:

At first glance the building didn't look much like a museum but the large cannons posted out in front led me to believe I was indeed at my destination.

I took a stroll through the Tibetan Peace Garden planted next to the Imperial War Museum, you know, get all Zenned-out before I learn about how the world went to war.

This piece of the Berlin Wall posted in front of the entrance had me thinking two things. In what ways should I change my life? And who spent the time to chip away this souvenir.

I had to smile at this poster on the way into the museum, only because it reminded me of Mike Kingen, an extremely talented Marine Corps pilot. Knowing not only how much he would have appreciated the exhibit inside that highlighted a broad range of brave soldiers but also that should I ever be in such a situation as that, I would want no one other than him at the helm.

Full of objects that defined the fury of WWII, I wandered around amazed at the history. And couldn't help but feel I missed my calling in life as I passed through the MI6 display, I mean, there was a lengthy period of time I spent growing up on the farm wishing I was James Bond.

Then came the unexpected surprise. T.E. Lawrence's (AKA Lawrence of Arabia) original Brough Superior SS100 motorcycle. I learned that this motorcycle was the one he was thrown from when he swerved to miss two boys on bikes. Six days later he was dead due to head injuries. His death deeply affected the neurosurgeon Hugh Cairns who tended to Lawrence's injuries, so much so that Cairns dedicated himself to the study of head injuries related to motorcycle accidents. His findings led to the wide spread use of crash helmets.

The walk back to Waterloo station had me so busy consuming the wonders of the world I completely forgot about being mopey.