Looking ahead.

8/12/2011

The drama of the past two weeks have left my eyes red from lack of sleep and my body feeling wrecked. A stent remains as a reminder that I should never take my health for granted.The pre departure details for the trip to Ireland snuck up on me yesterday as I hobbled around feeling overwhelmed as I tried to find some type of order that has been missing for a while now. Finding order has never been my highest quality. I have become so accustomed to being without it, that the personal every day miracles I see around me seem to happen regardless. I look ahead to a vacation to Ireland and know that as I travel over the pond, I am also journeying away from summer, my most beloved season of the year. Upon return, the adjustment of two new schools for the kids will begin. To add, people will expect me to bring Go Far into the cardiovascular systems of local kids once again and like the vocation it is, i'll do my best to make it happen. The excitement of digging deeper into photography opportunities will entice me, regardless of the fact that winter lay just ahead. Lastly, 40 looms just weeks ahead and I'll accept it thankfully with some Ensure to help keep my bones strong. Despite the chaos ahead in September, the trip to Ireland will be an opportunity to do what I long for each day of the year. As my feet find the floor each morning, the promise of exploration will be close at hand. I'll enjoy the expected and relish in the unexpected knowing that my one's personal exploration in this world is the most poignant part of life's frontier. I'll be seeing green and lots of shades of it. The kids will see their first castle, a task I'm eager to explore with them. I'll walk in the faded footsteps of my Irish grandmother who I was never able to meet, and get to know her as I journey through the country she called home. I'm excited to share with you the vista's of Irish heritage over the next weeks so you feel like your up close and personal. Bring on the green, and yes, I'm leaving in three hours and still haven't packed. Ireland awaits!

6 Comments

martha

8/12/2011 04:14:12 am

Wrap yourself in this amazing family experience and savor every moment. September will wait, and with it the expectations and new adjustments. Relax, enjoy, discover, and journey on!

Tina link

8/12/2011 07:13:38 am

Safe travels! Can't wait to see what you bring back!!!

Kim Dietel

8/12/2011 12:08:48 pm

Once again well written have a good time traveling, what a great place to go. Have two friends traveling in Australia,New Zealand and Fiji. Can't wait to see the photos,have a safe trip.Hope your feeling better.

Wendy

8/12/2011 10:25:45 pm

I hope you have a fabulous time!!!!! We should try to get together when you get back.

pat scales link

8/15/2011 02:15:22 pm

Hi Jen - While you're touring the countryside, think about the fact that your Irish grandmother used to deliver mail in Carlow county... that's about as Irish as you can get! Think about what she learned as a mailman (or woman) back then... she probably knew a lot about the people who lived in the community...wish she shared it all with us in a diary or something...guess we'll never know now.Grandpa Cliffie was much better about writing things down; Molly not so much. Didn't even know about her four other brothers until after she died and I visited Carlow back in the seventies.(Who knew she had five brothers altogether?) (Who knew her favorite brother was Michael and that that would affect your mother's naming of her son?) She kept a lot of things close to the vest. But she was the epitomy of all things Irish and I hope you keep her in mind as you travel through this marvelous land. Gail and I have a great appreciation of Ireland thanks to the fact that we were able to see it through our mom's eyes...at least as much as she was able to share with us.(March 17th always brought shamrocks in the mail from Auntie Katie, who looked so much like my Mom.)
She left so much behind when when left Ireland at the age of only 18; God only knows what was going through her mind when she arrived in America.Thanks to your help, you and I were able to at least document some of what she went through and you, your brothers and the 13 great grandchildren have at least a part of her life in Ireland and her journey to America.I remember how sick you were that day (the flu as I recall), but you managed to get "Molly's book" printed just before Christmas even though you were sick as a dog...a great memory I will carry with me forever. As usual, you went for the greater good. You're a terrific young woman Jen; you seem to have inherited the best parts of both of your families. Seems like the good Lord gave you a great gift, and up to now, you've been using it as you should. Keep on going on girl; proud of you. Hope you are getting better and have the good health to enjoy Ireland. Love you, Patsy

pat scales link

8/15/2011 03:03:55 pm

Hi again Jen.
Forgot to mention that today, as you are in Ireland, is your grandmother's birthday. It is also the Feast of the Assumption, which Gail and I were never allowed to forget. Somehow in her mind, it was a great honor to be born on the Feast of the Assumption. And there you have it...Either you're a Catholic or you're not...and if you're not (while in Ireland}, you're in deep ..it. HaHa! But especially while you're in Ireland, you better be Catholic and you better say happy birthday to your grandmother!
If you don't, the Banshees might come after you! Guess you don't know a whole lot about the Banshees, but I'll tell you about them when you come home. I experienced them while I was in Ireland back in the 70's...a wild trip. Just thought you would like to know that today is Molly's birthday (1909) and http://anordinarymiracle.weebly.com/1/post/2011/08/through-the-lens.htmlyeah, she was 3 months older than cliffie:)What a legacy she left! My hat is off to her! I would give anything for her to see the great kids who are part of her today... Remember August 15th, because I'm sure she's looking down upon all of us today and I'm sure she's proud. What better legacy than you and the thirteen great grandkids that are part of her?

Looking ahead.

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