First night in Ireland, literally

I now find myself in Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland. I drove on the correct side of the street, used the gear shift with my left hand successfully and deftly navigated every turnabout we came to on our way to the Hotel Esplanade after we had the kind assistance of a couple going to Galway on holiday getting our luggage in the car, It was quite a jigsaw puzzle but nothing a little bit of spacial logic didn't take care of! And it was good for a few smiles and a friendly handshake at the end. The gentleman at the airport who helped us load our luggage into the rental car shuttle on the other hand,  he got a great laugh when I straight-faced supplied the information that I thought I may have brought a little too much for a weeks' stay. 

We arrived early to the hotel and were allowed to park in back while we went and got a bite to eat until our room was ready. We found a lovely place down the way, coincidentally the only one that was open! I received my first euros there and we marveled over them for just long enough to register as "Visitors" in the pub. Glad I got some of it out of my system so I won't be taking as many blatant newbieisms down to Wicklow with me.

I have only heard splendid things about Wicklow so far, which is a smile I am glad to have. Even another mother I met at the playground just down from our hotel was quick to call it a lovely place. She and I chatted for a bit after our daughters hit it off. She told me about the grocery store we'll be going to in a bit. Plus, we now have our first playdate to meet at the playground again tomorrow while certain daring Bray citizens have a New Year's Swim in the ocean. Leave it to my children to manifest a playdate without having even been in the country for five hours! I definitely brought the right travel companions. It can sometimes be misunderstood when a random adult hangs around a playground with no kids. "But I was only trying to meet other parents!" Yeah, never would have met this kind mom.

It was chilly, misty and windy so we didn't stay too long at the playground or by the beach, but we were able to run down to the water and see some brave souls riding beautiful curling waves. I explained to the kids about wetsuits, but I don't think they were any closer to understanding exactly why there were people out there intentionally. It made me chuckle.

I finally laid down for a quick nap after being checked in to Room 404 when I was slurring thoughts together, and now the other two are conked out. I will be waking them for the live Irish music downstairs tonight, you have my word, but I'll let them rest a little longer. They were amazing through the whole trip over here and have most certainly earned it.

Usually back home for New Year's we go to see shows and performances for First Night Springfield, but this year we will be having a first night of an altogether different interpretation. First Night Ireland will be in full swing and I am absolutely expecting to be wonderfully smitten with every moment of it. I hope everyone reading this experiences the same joy on this night, the first night for all of us in the rest of our lives. Blessings, peace and an abundance of love to all! Thank you thank you thank you for the same!!!

cheers

T minus one week and counting

In approximately one week I will be boarding a plane to travel to Ireland for the first time in my life to go explore, investigate and encourage my desire to learn more about a culture one little "fictional" girl is responsible for spawning in me, I am excited, to say the least and absolutely grateful to say the most. I am still not going to feel like I am actually going until I am sitting on the Aer Lingus flight and being launched across the Atlantic, at which point I am sure I will be crying and having both my children, as they do when they see me in states like this, hover around me giving me kisses and telling me its okay, and me telling them, as I do in situations such  as these, it's okay guys, these are happy tears. The feeling that will undoubtedly be welling up inside me is one of such gratitude and thankfulness, I will feel like the entire world was wrapped up in a perfect little package and delivered to me by a smiling courier that pleasantly and genuinely tells me to "have a nice day" which I most assuredly will. Here and every day after, and every day before. All great days, all of them. And I am responsible for them , as I am responsible for each thought I think and each word I say, write and imagine. I respectfully acknowledge a gentle longing for those I know I will miss terribly while I am gone, those same people being the ones most solely responsible for my courage and initiative to go take this step into the unknown and do it boldly with strength and courage, instead of with trembling trepidation or fear. No fear, here, my dear. No fear here. And for that, I am blessed.