The last Irish post (for now, wink, wink)

Through the magic of the Universe I find myself flying back to the United States four days after my originally planned departure. Sufficed to say, I would have rathered a different tactic in getting me to change my date, but seeing as I would not have done it of my own volition, out of the things that could have happened, I'll take this one. Hiking with a friend, my purse was stolen out of the vehicle after the window was smashed. Trying to be prepared for my upcoming flight, I had started carrying my passport with me, so there it went. And there I stayed.

I was able to get a new passport with little to no difficulty, just added expense, and change my flight with the same characteristics. I don't try to understand anymore why things happen how they do, but I do stand stronger in the knowledge that they all happen for a reason and always in my overall best interest. I am grateful to be swept along in their kind currents. Go with the flow, as they say.

I used those extra days to make a peaceful departure from the land I had come to love so deeply. I knew it wouldn't be a good-bye all along. Just a see you later. I was blessed with the gift of a 12 hour intense writing session on Tuesday and the entire time I kept smiling, knowing that this session never would have happened if my passport hadn't been stolen.

I miss my purse, a loving gift from my sister last summer. I miss my wallet, a loving Mother's Day gift from my daughter two years ago. I even lost that wallet for eight months and found it again! Maybe it will come back in the mail! I miss the little swath of fabric my daughter sewed her first button on with her name in marker scrawled across it. Even so, I hope the money in it was able to help someone in need, and I hope the action of it teaches the thieves as much about gratitude as it has me.

I now know this 6 month plus journey in Ireland was the grand beginning for me of so many more journeys just as profound, rewarding and fulfilling. And when I'm finished with it, I'll even have a wonderful story to share with everyone at the end!

I'd like to draw a brilliant spotlight on all those that have contributed to my accomplishing this monumental feat. My soul's gratitude is overflowing and I am here for any and all of you, and will always be in whatever capacity I can give. Thank you for your encouragement, your support, your love, your belief in me and your willingness to believe in a dream. Now go out there and believe in your own, because the world will rise up to meet you and I'll be first in line to shake your hand.

Such love!
cheers

One Week Left, It's Going to be All Right

I am sitting here staring down my last week right in the face, and it looks a lot like boxes and bits and bobs leftover. How does one accumulate so much over the course of six months?! Oh yeah. Life. And that fact that "one" is actually "three." "Yes," I told my son, "I'm sure there's a way to fit your awesome paper mache castle you made on the last week of school to go back with us! And of course the replica of the WWI trench you made a few months ago. We will definitely have room." (Especially after I go back to the hardware store for more boxes... Nigel is very kind.) It certainly is a different look into your life when you have to pack it all up. Anyone who's moved knows this. Here I thought, yes, if I send my children back with my father and brother on the 30th, I'll have all that time to finish up my research and go to the rest of the places I need to. I've been doing alright in that department (like looking at microfilm reels until my eyes are rolling back up into my head) but I still didn't take into account just how long I was going to take packing the rest of it all. Thank goodness I gave myself the extra time is all I can say!

Now that the children aren't here (I do miss them something fierce, though) I have the evenings and nights to go out. Not in the sense of the word "go out" like party, but just being able to be out of the house after eight or nine. Last night, I went and parked outside Kilmacurragh (the gates were locked at 6pm, I arrived at 7:30) and walked in to have a look around and get a feel for the place during summer evenings. It was lovely. It was a little reminiscent of being there in the winter with so few people around (none last night) and watching twilight drift over the land. Since we are so high on the equator over here, it stays light until almost eleven around this time of the year, and as it was, I wandered in via a route I had never taken and made my way down to the pond where I sat and had a small meal of hummous, crackers, cheese and tomatoes, with a bit of vino to quench my thirst. It was a delightful evening and I imagined if Sophia ever snuck down to the pond at night to try and catch frogs or see some flower that only bloomed at night. There were gorgeous Calla Lillies blooming on the bank in front of me, and since it had rained earlier in the day, everything had a refreshed, crisp clean scent to it. It was heaven.

If I get these last few boxes packed this afternoon, I am going to try and make it for a night hike in Deputy's Pass tonight, so I better get going. I'll be flying back to the States this time next week, and I will be honest in saying that, as much as I am absolutely looking forward to seeing friends and family, I am not all that excited about going back to the country I so easily left behind. So, I'll focus on the people!! Can't wait to see you all!!! Much Love!!

cheers