...Reflections a year after being in the midst of the 2017 London terrorist attack

It was just over a year ago that my wife and I left Ireland after spending St. Patrick's Day with some dear friends who are living there on a work assignment. We had a magnificent and enchanting time exploring Ireland and catching up with our long time friends. Before heading back to the States, we decided to spend a few days relaxing in London which is a long-time favorite city of ours.

Since we only had a few days to spend in London we decided to stay central to all of the action London can offer. This picture to the left of Westminster Abbey and with Parliament peaking out in the background was taken a block from our hotel the day we arrived. We were very excited about our time London;however, little did we know how much "action" we would encounter in London.

During our stay in London we did the things we love to do there. We ate in wonderful pubs, visited historic museums, enjoyed a couple of plays and walked most everywhere we could. In the past we have always stayed close to the city centre, but during this visit we were right in the midst of some of London's most prized and protected sites.

On our second to last day in London my wife and I went for a morning walk and we were met with a deluge of classic London rain and winds. The weather limited our ability to walk great distances and at one point we were looking for shelter and attempted to get into Parliament (one of the places we have not visited during previous stays and always wanted to visit). We did not know where to enter so we asked two London Police Officers at a small gate and entrance outside of Parliament where to gain access. Per usual, the Officers were very kind and showed us where to go, but they informed us we may not be able to get in because the Prime Minister was scheduled to address The House of Commons.

As we left the Officers my wife and I both commented on how light the security appeared that was guarding a main entrance into Parliament. We also affirmed how nice the Officers were to us and everyone else they engaged with. We walked to where the officers directed us and, sure enough, they were correct that we could not get into Parliament because the Prime Minister was due to speak. They did, however, encourage us to come back later in the afternoon, if, indeed, we wanted to visit. It was lunchtime so we grabbed some lunch at a local pub and returned to the hotel. After lunch the weather was not improving so my wife decided to stay back at the hotel and I decided to head out and attempt to get into Parliament that afternoon.

After standing in the security queue and going through standard X-ray machines and occasional searches, I was directed down a hallway to meet an escort dressed in formal tuxedo tails. They greeted me and welcomed me to The House of Commons, and I instantly knew they were not just a greeter but part of the added security screening as they were asking me lots of questions. I passed the first screening and actually ended up having to go through two more similar screenings before I was able to enter the gallery above The House of Commons. I was seated next to a bus load of British School children on a school trip and told I had to sit in complete silence and could not take pictures, etc.

There is thick bullet proof glass that separates the gallery from The House of Commons which makes perfect sense. As I watched the proceedings I was amazed at how little was going on. Yet on the TV that was broadcasting the proceedings, you would think that The House of Commons was full session and it reminded me of our US Congress and how few actually are present to listen to various speeches. After spending some time gaining an appreciation for the proceedings I decided to leave and head back to the hotel.

Exiting Parliament was expedited due to no screening on the way out. However, on my way out I did notice the visible presence of heavily armed Police Officers posted in strategic positions.

As I walked down the beautiful marble stairs to exit I found myself walking down the the very historic Westminster Hall where various Kings, Queens, and select British dignitaries were laid in state over the centuries. This included Sir Winston Churchill who was laid in state within Westminster Hall for 3 days and until his final burial and resting place at Bladon on January 30, 1965. Since I had a little extra time on my hands because I left early, I decided to visit the gift shop which was conveniently located just before you exit.

The shop was full of all of the traditional tourist souvenirs and trappings, but I was intrigued with small bottles of House of Commons Blended Malt Scotch Whisky and a very nice small crystal glass next to the bottles that had a nice etching of The House of Commons. The problem was there was only one glass left on the shelf and I wanted a matched set. The local shopkeeper was very kind to assist and determine that they did not have any other glasses in stock, but she informed me that their sister store just outside of Parliament had one in stock. So I purchased my 20cl bottle of Whisky and my one glass and headed out to procure the second glass.

As I left the gift shop I found myself in The New Palace Yard which has an exit for everyone visiting Parliament to include the public. There is also a private a heavily secured entrance into Parliament from this location for those to enter who have the proper clearances to do so. The other amazing part of The New Palace Yard is that you have a 100% unobstructed view of Big Ben and from a great angle and vantage point. As such, many people I exited with decided to stop and take pictures. The weather had dramatically improved from the morning so now there were blue skies and sunshine. I, too, love to take pictures but took note that I was running later than planned, wanted to get back with my wife and noting that I still had to make a stop for the second matching crystal glass.

As I exited Parliament I lost my bearings on where the shop clerk told me where to go. So, I asked two of the Police Officers who were standing at the same entrance my wife and I had stood that morning for directions. I told them I was looking for the other House of Commons Gift Shop and they seemed confused. They conferred with one another and told me..."You mean the Book Shop...it's right across the street" and they pointed to it, and I thanked them and we all had a good laugh that 3 people who speak English were having a hard time communicating with one another! As I left I was literally struck with how kind these officers were; one, in particular, who had very kind eyes.

Once in the little Book Shop / Gift Shop on the corner and across the street from Parliament, I found myself surrounded by a sea of school children walking around with their one-two pounds and standing in a long line to buy various souvenirs. At this point, I was ready to give up and leave with my one cyrstal glass, but one of the shop clerks must have read my mind and asked how she could help. I told her of my objective and she kindly secured a matching glass for me and kindly escorted me to the front of the line to check-out (in the midst of glares from the waiting school children I might add!). Having accomplished my objective, I headed out of the shop to head back to the hotel and, then, my activities of the day came to a screeching halt because this is what I encountered...

...I instantly knew something was wrong and terribly wrong because of all of the activity in and around Parliament. As the crowds gathered, everyone including myself reverted to our cell phones to taking pictures.

As even more people arrived on the scene, we started to compare notes and, at times, get a quick word in with the Police on the scene who seemed just as confused and concerned as the rest of us. All we could discern was there was an "accident" on the Westminster Bridge and that people were hurt. We also learned that someone attempted to storm the security gate at Parliament and that people inside The New Palace Yard were injured.

It was when the Medivac helicopter landed across the street from Parliament and when heavily armed Police started going through the crowds where I was standing with dogs desperately searching for people that I felt is best to leave which I did. As I started walking back I could see multiple streets being barricaded off and more and more police rushing to the scene. Not fully knowing what was going on I called my daughter and my brother, who both confirmed that there were alleged multiple terrorist attacks happening in London. They both encouraged me to get out of harms way.

After walking back literally miles to the hotel because the streets had been closed off, I was able to pick up the news of what had transpired on the hotel TV.

As the minutes quickly passed by, more and more information was becoming available. It was becoming clearer and clearer that a major terrorist attack had occurred. I learned a vehicle had brutally plowed down pedestrians on the Westminster Bridge, killing and injuring many innocent souls of all ages and backgrounds from all over the world. It was also getting clearer people were injured / killed inside The New Palace Guard gates...right where I was standing minutes earlier trying to decide if a take a picture of Big Ben or leave to buy a crystal glass.

When I got back to our hotel room I informed my wife of what had happened as she had not heard anything at that point. Suffice it to say, we were glad to be together and unharmed, yet so deeply saddened and shocked by what had happened. It was clearly only by God's grace that I had survived unscathed.

We had one more night in London and even contemplated trying to catch an earlier earlier flight out back to the States. We also had tickets to a play that evening and, in the end, we decided to go. After all, it was the British who coined the saying during WWII ..."Stay Calm and Carry on". That evening everyone was keenly aware of what had happened and very concerned for the loss of life...yet they did "Carry On". Later that evening it was disclosed that the officer who was stabbed to death by the terrorist WAS THE SAME OFFICER I SPOKE TO AND ASKED DIRECTIONS OF TO THE BOOK SHOP! I knew it was because of the very kind eyes I recalled engaging with earlier in the day! Given the timing of events I realized that I may have been the last / one of the last people this officer spoke to, Suffice it to say, I had a hard time sleeping that evening.

It wasn't until the next morning when we awoke early to leave for the airport that we had a more complete picture of what happened based upon reading the various news accounts from around the world. I also had more time to process and reflect on my own finite but profound time in the midst of all of this. However, given how quickly the events unfolded real time, the entire time and my experience within it still seemed like a blur.

Then I realized that I had the two receipts from the two shops that might shed some light on exactly where I was when, etc. In fact, the time date difference between the first receipt I got inside of Parliament and the time date of the second receipt showed a total of only 8 minutes and 23 seconds...

By the time we arrived back home safely in the States, there was even more detailed information of what happened to include the overall timeline of the attacks. When I matched my receipts and timing with the overall timeline I realized that I was literally within minutes or seconds of being in the midst of the attack on the very kind Police Officer ..which led me to a serious of "WHAT IF" questions...

WHAT IF I had stayed in the first gift shop a few moments longer? WHAT IF I had stayed a few more seconds and took that picture of Big Ben? WHAT IF I had stayed and had a longer conversation with the kind Officer? Then my WHAT IF questions turned into what would I have done if my course of events was altered and I found myself at the entrance to the attack?... Would I have assisted the kind Officer who was under attack? I would like to think I would have; however, no one ever knows for sure until they are confronted with a brutal situation and how their instincts and adrenaline reacts.

Indeed I still have many questions that go through my mind a year later. Sadly terrorist attacks like this one have become too common place around the world. However, having been in the midst of one vs. watching it on the news, I have a first hand account and perspective. As I attempt to reflect on this a year later, here are three things I would like to offer:

1) Be more vigilant and keenly aware of your circumstances and surroundings, AND be prepared to act and serve if called upon.

2) Days and conversations WILL BE ordinary if we think and approach them in this mundane manner; however, days and conversations CAN BE extraordinary if we think and approach them with this proactive mindset.

3) Cherish and make every day and conversation EXTRAORDINARY because it could be your last, and only God is in control of when that time will come.

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