Two more sleeps...

...in Ireland.  Tuesday morning we'll head to the next town over, Castlebar, to take the train to Dublin.  We'll spend Tuesday and Wednesday night in Dublin, and then we'll get on the plane to return to Florida on Thursday.  We're looking forward to seeing my Ireland of the Welcomes editor, Carissa Casey, when we're in Dublin, and Candee has a few goals to accomplish (including visiting the Emigration Museum).  Carissa is a hoot, and an American politics junkie.  We'll travel south of Dublin to her turf in the town of Bray to meet up for a pint at the legendary Harbour Bar on Wednesday night.  Carissa stayed up late to watch each of the Presidential Debates - they started at 2:00 a.m. Ireland time.  And, for Election Day, she planned to take the following day off and stay up all night to listen to the returns.  Carissa is a committed feminist and social justice advocate and was a strong Hillary supporter (as were most Irish, who have already had two female presidents).  During the long election season, she and I corresponded frequently about Trump, in an amused and bemused way.  Of course, we both thought he didn't have a chance.  Carissa was such a fan that we felt it appropriate for her to have some gear, so I searched online and found the following t-shirts which we sent to arrive in time for election day.  She was tickled and proudly wore the shirts in the days leading up to the election.  On election day, she livestreamed CNN for coverage and, when things started getting dodgy, she switched over to listen to America's National Public Radio to avoid some of the hysteria that was starting to grip TV broadcasting.  It was perhaps a bit too calm.  She fell asleep and woke up to Trump giving his acceptance speech.  A particularly jarring way to learn the news...  We still correspond about the state of affairs in Washington and the Trump administration.  Most exchanges are in line with WTF!?!?  I'm looking forward to catching up.

So, will it be easy to leave?  Are we looking forward to getting into the longstanding familiar routines of life in Vero?  To sleep our own bed again?  Well yes to the bed.  But no to the other questions.  We certainly are looking forward to seeing our girls and grandkids, especially Garrett who was born the day we left.  But honestly, our life here is pretty idyllic.  Here's been the past week - Sunday - nibbles and the Mayo match at the Maddens with a fine dinner and fun pool at the Shebeen afterward; Monday - travel with the Duffys to Sligo to play Strandhill, a good long day of fresh air, fun, good companionship, and great music on the way home in the car; Tuesday - 9 holes of golf with Padraic and The Sweet Olive String Band at Matt Molloy's that night; Wednesday - nice leisurely day followed by a Sean Keane concert at the Westport Town Hall, an introduction to an iconic Irish performer - 2 1/2 hour concert of masterful musicianship; Thursday - lazy day followed by the Clew Bay Critters at McGing's; Friday - to the movies to see Dunkirk followed by some music at McGing's with Mr. Uri Kohen as producer; Saturday - off to the Galway International Arts Festival with Padraic and Marion to see two superb performances - a very provocative and dark play featuring three immensely talented actresses followed by a lighthearted and entertaining acrobatic circus, fully realized.  Good conversation and music on the ride home with Padraic suggesting we stop at the Clew Bay for a nightcap, only to find the Rocky Top String Band playing for a birthday party in the pub.  Hubie and Sarah MacEvilly seemed as excited to see us as we them - great old timey music; Sunday - Fr. Charlie with his always uplifting homily at Mass, the traditional post-Mass scone and coffee at Maddens, a nice drive out to the Reek, north and south sides, to assess the pilgrims ascending the mountain on Reek Sunday, the heartstopping Mayo match, and meeting up with the Duffys to see the Hip-pocket Trio at McGing's - a favorite, and incredibly gifted group of jazz musicians.  They dedicated a song to Candee and me - the theme from The Odd Couple - Padraic enjoyed this a bit too much...  Actually, it was a really enjoyable jazzy takeoff of the song.  On Monday, an invite down to lunch with the Madden family at the Clew Bay Hotel with many sad farewells with their staff, and Monday night, a bit of a tradition - a farewell dinner at The Tavern with Padraic and Marion.  Sad slan abhailes and a bit of an exploration of "coming out to us" - coming to visit us in Vero sometime in the near future.  It would be grand...

So, again - going home.  We must admit we are blessed.  We both have jobs that can provide a feeling of worth, engaging in activities of some significance with the potential to positively effect the lives of others.  Not many can claim that.  And I have an additional blessing - I'm retired and my two part-time jobs provide a great deal of flexibility.  Of course, we both enjoy good health.  After a health scare each, we are clearly beyond the peril these conditions might have meant.  Candee especially is fine, and me with just the normal barnacles of life - a little arthritis in the hip and hands, the occasional muscle soreness and the not-occasional challenged suppleness of movement - God, it's hard to get that golfball out of the cup.

But it's hard to leave Westport.  As I've said previously, our life over the past twenty years has been driven - sleep to work to work to sleep - and we haven't found the time to savor and enjoy building many relationships outside ourselves - to allow them to blossom and to enrich our lives.  That seems to change when we get here.  Whether it's the unfamiliar time we have at our disposal or it's these people that we meet - I'm sure it's both - and I think I know the mix.

I found myself regretful about leaving and expressing my wish to be quickly back.  Padraic stopped me and cautioned about living in the future - actually, part of Fr. Charlie's sermon this past Sunday as well.  Of course they're both right.  And it's a particularly powerful part of how I live.  I think some of Padraic's focus on this is the connection that Irish people have to one another and to the rhythms of a life lived authentically based upon these connections.  Every time we're here, the Duffys will need to change plans with us several times during our stay because they need to attend a wake, a home visitation, or a funeral.  It's just astonishing the attendance at these events.  It is not unusual for people to wait as long as 2 - 3 hours in queue to pay their respects to the family of the deceased.  And people travel large distances to do this - P and M have traveled hours to extend a brief expression of sympathy.  I can only remember one time I've been to a funeral in the last several years.  And I certainly have interacted with as many people over the course of my life as the Duffys.  Heck, both of the churches I've belonged to over the past 40 years have ministries where strangers attend funeral masses so that the church won't be empty during the ceremony.  So, most of us don't face the realities.  We carefully manage our lives to avoid them.

A few years ago during our visit, Padraic went to the funeral of a professional colleague, a man he had collaborated with over the years as peer school principals.  His death was a shock, he was in his early sixties.  I'll never forget Padraic's observation - "They're starting to pull them from our shelf."

I certainly feel no need to be morbid.  But I do feel an obligation to more fully appreciate my blessings and to more thoroughly live in the present.  It's always good to get a reminder...

I will, however, allow myself to live in the future of just a few days.  There is a comfort to anticipate.  Our favorite Vero band - Souljam - will be at our favorite haunt - Kilted Mermaid - on Friday night.  We're certain to take advantage of this serendipitous kindness to ease our way back to Florida.

Life is good.