Yesterday was such a brilliant day. To be honest, it was the best day I’ve had in such a long while. Why? Because yesterday, I went to Pride in London for the second time (the first time was two years ago). The sun was shining (a lot); my voice is still a bit rusty but I feel like I truly made memories that will last a lifetime.
It took a bit of organisation, first of all. Originally, it was going to be a group from school – me, Wren and our other friend who’s moving abroad in a week or so for university. Then, I invited one of my closest friends, Lu, because she’s a fabulous bean and I haven’t seen her in months. Pearl – who I talk about here – was added to our group too, along with her two sisters and I was so hyped for that that I did a lot of screeching. My other friend who I’ve known since I was 4, Ivy, would also be at Pride and so we planned to meet her as well. In the morning, Lu and I met at a train station, then met her friend, before I went off to have a really early lunch with someone I hadn’t seen in months. As you can tell, there was a lot of “And then we met this person!”
The friend I hadn’t seen in months was actually a woman who had been my chaperone in the filming I did in December last year. Her name’s Chris and I hadn’t seen her in six months. Despite that, as soon as I saw her, I immediately felt just as I had when I’d seen her last – we joked, insulted each other, laughed and almost cried. We went to a cafe, spoke about our lives and had such a lovely time. I forgot how much I got on with her but hopefully, we should be seeing each other soon – I think there are some people who will remain in your life, no matter how much time goes between you seeing each other. Saying goodbye wasn’t difficult, simply because of that.
I sometimes get an attitude where planning isn’t so important. That was why, after having met Chris, we then met up with the friends who we’d originally organised the day with. Waiting outside Leicester Square station, it took a while for them to find us but when they did, I full-on screamed and rushed at Wren. Our other friend from school (who is a genuine icon) was there too so our group, who now numbered five, wandered off to find the parade. Along the way, Lu and I got rainbow flags; Wren helped me tie it to my cane (and by helped, I mean did it for me because I’m pathetic). Again, I screamed a lot as we neared the sounds of music and cheering.
Eventually, after much walking through crowds and stopping to see people going past us, we found a spot by some railings in Trafalgar Square. The parade would be passing directly beneath us – we were one of the first people there and so we stood right by the railings. As soon as the parade started, a huge cheer went up: people blew whistles and screamed and the whole square was a mass of noise and celebration. That continued as everyone passed us – I honestly roared at one point. After a lot of attempts, Pearl and her sisters found us and then Mit (another friend I met through blogging) arrived. Everyone was there and because I couldn’t see the parade, what filled me with joy was all my friends being there as the celebration and cheers swirled around us. It was so beautiful; Lu and I were yelling; I tried to hug everyone: it felt like I was on top of the world for a brief moment.
After a bit of time, when the heat was increasing and we felt our energy declining, we decided to leave the parade. Instead, we walked to a cafe and then to St. James’s Park, the sun beating down as I almost melted. Going through the streets whilst laughing and then finally arriving at the park, finding a place to sit and then just chatting was just as special as the parade. It was calm: some of us talked; some of us watched the football game “FOOTBALLs COMING HOME) and some of us decided it would be a great idea to climb a tree. Pearl, her sisters and her friend had to leave early to say goodbye to some kittens they’d been fostering (which was sad because seeing them again was so wonderful) and after that, Ivy arrived with a friend of hers. By the end of it, we were pretty much sitting in a circle, with two or three conversations going on at once as the weather slowly started to become less humid.
At around half 5, Ivy, her friend and I went back to her house. I felt quite emotional saying goodbye: I hugged Mit until it was painful, wailed at Lu that I loved her and told our school friend that I was proud of her – as she’s moving abroad and I may never see her again. A day was over that felt important, where I was entirely present and loved by people.
I smiled, or felt happy inside, all day which is a rarity for me. Not only was the atmosphere electric and amazing but I was surrounded by people who I love and who have become special to me in their individual ways. We laughed and I screeched and it lived up to a day of acceptance for me, where my identity – whatever that may turn out to be – was alright because people around me loved me. I felt like I truly connected with everything.
That’s what I live for. And I want to repeat those kinds of days for as long as possible, save up the snapshots of memory from Pride and love and beauty to hold with me, to remind me that though my identity can change, I’ll still be marching forward in the parade of existence and no one can stop me from feeling that euphoria.
From Elm 🙂
Just Call Me Elm or Something 
Oh gosh, it sounds like you had such an amazing and special day, I’m so glad! ❤ (It was SO hot though, I still don’t think I’ve recovered)
Oh godd same!!!! Did you go anywhere after the Parade? 🙂 And thank you!! How was your time? xx
My friends and I just went home for the afternoon since we all got a bit hot and sweaty haha. It was good thanks! It was pretty upsetting to see transphobic protesters but apart from that I enjoyed the day.
Ugh yes, that was disgusting 😦 I’m glad you enjoyed yourself though! It WAS so hot!
I’m glad you had such a fab time!! We need more rainbow canes
YES!!!! When we go together (WE SHOULD) we should get our spare canes and paint them rainbow. Oh and thank you!!!
“And paint them rainbow”… oh, commander of words, Elm
……. I am the commander of non-sensical words that are bad. What I MEANT was put rainbow stuff on them okay shhh!!!!
Sureeeeeeeeee 😜
HOW DARE YOUUU
Aaaah that sounds so wonderful, I’m so happy for you!!! Maybe one day I’ll get to go with you (just have to save up lol)
YEEES!!!! Or I could come up north 😀 I HAD SUCH A GOOD TIME!!!
Leeds pride is coming up… 😉 but AAAH YAY!
WAIT WHENNNN??
5TH AUGUST APPARENTLY
DAMNN 😦 I’m busy that day WAIT HANG ON I need to text you about something one sec
This was so beautiful to read!! Glad you had a lovely time 🙂
Ahhh thank you, Em!! I’m glad you liked this xx
Looks like you had an amazing time, I’m so glad you did!!!!
Loved this post!!!! 🙂
THANK YOU ANA!!!! So glad you liked it, love you friend! 🙂 xxx
NO PROBLEM ELM!!!! Love you too!!!!!!
SO GLAD YOU HAD AN AMAZING TIME!! I hope you can go to pride next time too! It sounds like you really enjoyed it!
Aghhh thank you, Jerrod!!! I’m so excited to go next year if I can!! Hope you’re doing well xx
I’m so glad you had a great time! xx
Thanks, Holly!! 🙂 Hope you’re doing fab xxx
I’m good thanks lovely, hope you’re ok xxx
Yass I’m good!! xx
It sounds like such a good time! I love the friendships where you can jump back into it after so long of not seeing eachother and it goes back to normal! Also, I haven’t been to a pride event yet but I’m hoping to soon!:)
Ahhh yes, those friendships are the best and feel so natural!! OOOH awesome 🙂 Do you have any near you? They are such fun! xx
I think there was one in a city like half hour away and there was a big one in Toronto but that’s two hours away and I also didn’t have anyone to take me/go with
Ughhh that’s so frustrating 😦 Are your family accepting?
Of the LGBTQ community as a whole yes, but some of the orientations specifically, they don’t understand
I really get that. I feel like some of my family aren’t willing to understand orientations that aren’t gay, straight or bi.
Exactly! Specifically Asexual for mine right now, as that’s how I’m identifying
Sounds like a lot of fun! I love your writing style! Chelsey
Ahhh, thank you!!! 🙂 I’m so glad! xx
I’m so glad you had fun!!!.
THANK YOUUU, ASPEN!! Have you ever been to a Pride?
nope I haven’t
You should some day, it’s awesome!
I can bet you were EX.CI.TED. for Pride cause everything’s in one paragraph and just glorious rambles 😻😻
OH NOOO I had no idea it was in ONE PARAGRAPH!!! I went and put it back to what IT SHOULD BE, AGHH, why does this keep on happening!!! But thank you, it was wonderful! X
Chill, I loved it 😀
❤ ❤
It sounds like you had a really brilliant day and that’s what Pride is all about! I wrote a blog post about Pride yesterday and I would love if you read it
Ahhh hi, I just saw this! I’ll have a look at your Pride post soon – I can’t wait to read it! Xx