May 31, 2023
In Mesa,
Arizona
Temp in
the high eighties, so not too bad.
Back to
normal living
laundry,
meals, dishes, writing,
trying to
figure out computer issues.
Played
Canasta with daughter.
I haven’t
won one game this trip.
Son is
doing better with his health.
Plan to
go home on the sixth of June.
And then
next stop, Peru.
May 30, 2023
We knew
this day
would come too soon
and it
did.
Got up
early, got ready,
caught
the shuttle to the Dublin airport.
Fumbled
around until we found
what
terminal to go to.
She to
one and me to two.
It’s been
real. It’s been fun.
It’s been
real fun.
See you
in August.
My
longest jaunt through security.
“Liquids
must fit in this bag.”
My
“TSA-approved bag,” a bit too big.
Discarded
shampoo and toothpaste.
Went
through the line.
“What
else is in your laptop case?”
Forgot to
pull out kindle.
It had to
go through the line again.
“Do you
have liquid in your carry on?”
He opened
my case and my makeup bag
to find
foundation I had also forgotten.
Thankfully,
no dirty underwear fell out.
Laptops
in other line, retrieved it.
I was
glad I wasn’t in a hurry.
I still
had plenty of time.
Had a
snack.
Did
morning devotions.
Thanked
God for a wonderful trip.
Took me a
while to find the gate.
It wasn’t
posted clearly
and they
moved it from what I was told.
Jet West
doesn’t text notices like United does.
Took off
at 1 PM
Sat by an
elderly couple.
But
realized they were about my age.
I had an
aisle seat,
so when I
went to the bathroom
they went
too.
I waited
for them,
so they
could be seated first.
Watched
four movies.
Arrived
in Calgary.
Chatted
with a lady
as if we
were old friends.
She
traveled a lot.
She said
she had a son
and a non-binary
child.
I swallowed
what I was thinking.
I told
her my two were also a bit different,
both single
in their 30s and 40s,
sharing a
house.
Slept
almost the whole way
from
Calgary to Phoenix.
When we
landed,
the woman
sitting next to me
asked me
if I had a good sleep.
I told
her I came from Dublin
and to me
it was the wee AM.
We
chatted amiably till time to get off.
Lori
picked me up,
a little
ticked that I took longer
than she
expected
since I
sent my carryon through
and had
to go to baggage claim.
But she relaxed
after a bit.
At her
house, greeted by a happy husband.
May 29, 2023
Happy
Birthday to Meg.
Packed
and had breakfast.
Meg, Sis
and I walked
to The
Linen Green Shopping Center.
The whole
town used to be all about linen.
Bought
Meg’s birthday backpack.
Josh
joined us. Had lunch,
the best
chicken wrap I’ve eaten lately,
just
enough spice for flavor.
Back to
Meg’s
Josh’s
birthday surprise,
a torch
atop a cupcake.
We
laughed when
it set
off the smoke alarm.
Meg
looked overwhelmed.
She
opened her gifts.
We had a
smorgasbord
of sweets
and icecream
and of
course tea with sugar and cream.
I’m going
to miss the UK’s love for tea.
Went to
New Grange
by the
River Boyne.
Toured
the museum
of the
large ancient mounds
of grass
and stones,
some
carved in spiral, circular
or zig
zag designs.
One of
the first ancient calendars.
Even the
mounds openings
were
situated according
to sun
and solstice.
Shuttled
to the mounds.
Went
inside one
which was
quite cramped.
And then
back
to yet
another souvenir shop.
Arrived
back in Dublin.
Josh
pulled my suitcase stack for me.
Meg
hauled Sis’s.
We ate at
an Italian restaurant.
Said our
goodbyes
Comforted
by saying,
see you
in August
for the
Shannon Family Reunion.
I had
trouble figuring out the
online airplane
check-in
but
finally accomplished that.
Sadly,
didn’t play last game of Splendor.
Got to
bed by 12:30.
May 28th
Got up at
six, bathed.
Slept
sitting up
on the
couch
till time
to go to church.
Old
building
Box
like-pews
Stern but
well-balanced preaching.
Just what
I needed,
about
loving God and people and using money,
not
loving money and using people.
Picnic at
Lough Fea.
Judy and
I sat in chairs.
Meg and
Josh on a blanket.
Didn’t
discover picnic tables
until
after we ate.
Sandwiches,
chips, carrots.
Meg even
brought my squishy prunes.
Driving
country road.
Lamb out.
Meg chased
it to the horizon.
Herded it
back. Caught it.
She and Josh
plopped it over the fence.
I stood
there cell phone in hand,
thinking
I was recording the whole thing,
but
neglected to push record.
Do it
again guys. I don’t think so.
On to
Beaghmore circle of stones
reminding
us of past peoples
and shortness
of our own lives
Rested at
Meg and Josh’s
Supper of
left overs
from
restaurant
and
pumpkin soup.
Church at
Brigh
High
singing
Song a
bit harsh
Preaching
balanced
Great
overall
Tea and
sweets afterward
Meg
trapped poor Miller with me.
We talked
about everything, especially,
he and
his wife sponsoring
a young
mom and her daughter from Ukraine
while her
doctor husband remained,
bravely
helping during the war against Russia.
I told
Miller I wrote devotions.
He asked
about the Daily Bread.
I
couldn’t remember
if I had
written for them or not.
I didn’t.
Ride to
Megs
Endless
rolling fields
Green and
yellow with gorse
Sheep and
cows
Fell
asleep
Talk with
Linda and Dave
Told them
the lamb story
We
laughed.
Talked to
Jim
and cute Margot
and Charlie.
Margot
became a junior ranger.
Charlie
opted out for snacks.
Journaled.
Saw Meg’s
birthday come in.
Went to
bed with thoughts
of the
next day’s packing.
May 27, 2023
Meg and I
walked and snapped pictures
of us by
the Moygashel sign.
She
introduced me to the local park,
very
green and shady, a bridge,
a
waterfall, a duck family,
a large
metal butterfly
waiting
to be planted
into a
multitude of colors.
Sis and
Josh joined us.
We went
to ONeill’s Hill
where an
elaborate police barracks
stood
like a castle,
designed
to be in India
but with
mixed-up plans
found its
home in Ireland.
On to
County Antrim.
Lunch
ordered at a window,
but eaten
in the dining room.
I got two
sausage rolls,
one would
have been enough.
Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge,
one
hundred feet above the sea.
Fifteen
pounds a pop
to walk across
it.
I thought
they should pay me.
Almost
said no.
Sis
provided for two tickets,
I forked
over fifteen,
reserving
the right to renege.
Lots of rocky
steps
Rough,
green terrain by the sea.
Intimidating
steep stairway to the bridge.
Josh, Meg
and me
with
“Don’t look, take a step,
Don’t
look, take a step”
getting
me across the bridge.
More
beautiful scenery
And old
fishermen’s hut
Picture
taking
The
bridge again
“Don’t
look, take a step.”
And back
up the hill
with
rubbery legs.
On to
Giants Causeway
Multitudes
of rocks
in
geometric shapes.
Fun
climbing
And the
ever-beautiful ocean.
On to
overlook
of
Dunluce Castle ruins.
Dizzying
heights
Beautiful
rugged rocks,
Sea,
purple, yellow, pink wildflowers
A long
wait for dinner,
by the beach
in the car
protected
against cold rain.
What did
I order?
Finally
eating.
Too spicy
to eat.
Judy
helped me out with her dinner.
I turned
over the spicy food
to Meg
and Josh for takeout.
Ice cream
Meg and I
running down the street,
ice cream
cones dripping.
Meg
laughing.
Finding
Josh and Judy in the car.
I got a
tub and thought to be wise.
Arrive at
Meg’s at midnight
Took down
laundry, journaled,
made it
to bed before 1.
May 26, 2023
Slept in
till 7:15
Quiet
morning
Bath,
breakfast
Did
laundry.
Lunch at
café
Donation
basis
Ministry
to connect
Catholics
and Protestants.
Delicious
food
Leek soup
and hot dog
which was
more like a sausage.
Yummy
dessert and tea.
Killymoon
castle, majestically beautiful.
Tea and
cookies with the unassuming owner.
Large
rooms filled with interesting items,
collected
over hundreds of years.
In a
painting, I met myself.
A
painting exactly like one my sister had.
The
center child looks like me at that age.
I
couldn’t believe it was there.
Cooktown
Used a
deli bathroom
Hot
chocolate and scone
Bought a
painting
Lough
Neagh
Largest
lake in UK
Looked
like the sea
Host was
an eel fisherman
He told
us all about eel fishing.
Took us
to a remote shack
where we
all had images
of murder
and mayhem.
But he
politely served us
tea and
cookies
of the
nonpoisonous variety.
Nice, but
seemed out of place.
Back to
Moygashel
where
niece served us
freshly
baked bread
and homemade
pumpkin soup.
Had tea
and fudge
and
conversation.
We had
tea and sweets
five
times this day.
