The Memory of  ‘Heathcliff’

                Part 1    Edinburgh

     The same as many middle aged-women, I was troubled with the question how to care aged-parents and how to deal with two teenaged sons.  What is worse, my hair was beginning to turn grey, and I felt my strength declining these days.  I needed to refresh my mentality.  And it is just 30 years since I was baptized in 1966, and it is just 20 years since I was in London 1976.  I stick ‘time’, so I wanted to make my happy memories in 1996.

     I was greatly influenced by Cliff’s faith and his activity, and I became a Christian when I was 16.  In those days, as I was dreamy girl, I wanted to have same faith as Cliff had.  I became a Christian not for deep thought but for selfish motives.  But, I think there are a lot of ways to have faith.  Cliff was the entrance to Christian faith for me.  Now, I enjoy being a Christian, my husband is a vicar of Japan Anglican Church and I like church activity.

     I could not start to write this essay easily.  Seiko’s telephone call from Tokyo Airport encouraged me to write this.  I have got to know Seiko several months ago, but she is like an old friend.  “I am coming to Birmingham to see Cliff’s stage after 30 years.”  She said very cheerfully.  She overcame a lot of difficulties, now she is in the plane JAL 401 to London.  I prayed her safety with deep impression.  She and her son, niece enjoyed very much 17,18,19 ‘Heathcliff’ at Birmingham Indoor Arena and Pro-Celebrity tennis.  Moreover, she met Cliff outside of Arena and shook hands, got his autograph.  How lucky fan she was!  She has a dreamy state even now (Sep. 1997 ).

　　　I left home at six morning on 11 Nov. 1996.  I didn’t tell anybody about my travel because I didn’t know whether I can go or not just before departure because of my parents illness.  It was traveling alone.  I am always very careful about my passport, so I thrust passport pouch into my stomach.  Whenever I show it at check point of airport, it was warmed up with body temperature, steam was rising from it.  The plane JAL 401 took off for London on schedule.  The seat was too narrow to move freely,  Thirteen hours flight was almost torture.  As I ate my full, I had an upset stomach. I pushed leftovers into my bag, that was housewife’s habit, wasn’t that?  It is very rare thing for housewife to go abroad to see favorite star’s stage.  My family (husband, two sons ) is sympathetic to what I do.  I thank for their sympathy (resignation?).

     The plane landed safely at 15:45.  At entry counter, a officer asked “What is your purpose of this trip?”  I wanted to say ‘Cliff chase’, but I said, ‘Sightseeing’ as a formality.  I took the underground to Russell Square.  And, I arrived at Royal National Hotel which was near British Museum.  “Well, I’m coming to Edinburgh tomorrow and to see ‘Heathcliff’ three nights 12,13,14 Nov.”  I didn’t book a hotel in Edinburgh, but I wanted to buy a ticket for Edinburgh at least.  I went to King’s Cross Station to get a ticket with a return 72 pounds.  I was too tired to walk about London at night, and went to bed.

     In the morning 12 Nov.  I took the limited express Inter-City, London-Doncaster-York-Newcastle-Edinburgh.  The scenery of this area is lovely.  I was moved by tender green hill which comforted my tired heart because of urban life.  Many sheep were pastured on a low range of hills.  From York Station I saw York Minster which famous stained-glass is ‘Five Sisters’.  I remembered that I visited this old city just twenty years ago, and walked the city wall.  The scene of the novel ‘Wuthering Heights’ is the depths of Yorkshire.  There were only white people, no Asian on the train, I nodded with a smile,  “ I will be noticeable in Edinburgh.”  The train arrived at Waverly Station 14:45.  The cold air of tension welcomed me who visited the city in twenty years.  I like cold winter which braces up me, and my head becomes clear.   I said myself, “I came here Edinburgh!”

     I stayed at B&B inn near the station.   I saw a big poster of ‘Heathcliff’ at crowded shopping centre　and I made sure ‘Heathcliff’ on.  In these twenty years I became a tired middle-aged woman to make family and to bring up two sons.  But the magnificent Edinburgh Castle has been changed nothing at all.  I wanted to come to here the most beautiful city in Europe.  Edinburgh is the right place for me to have an extreme of chase.