Reflections

There have been some constant motifs on this trip, and it is my duty as an English teacher to point them out. First, every time I visit Ireland, I burn my tongue! The food and drinks are piping hot over here. It was a cup of coffee that got me the other day. I have been careful with the food, though.

Second, the acronym ABE has been drilled into my head. What does it stand for, you ask? ANYONE BUT THE ENGLISH. The Irish were rooting for anyone but France in the World Cup, but the Scots and the Irish are unified in their enmity for the history of arrogance of the English and this goes back to Imperialism, for sure. To be fair, though, I met several English people at my program, and they were wonderful company, and we all got along so well! But in my other travels being American has been rather easy on me, as my view of people has been without past associations.

Third, although I have noted that Johnny Cash is a popular guy over in Scotland and Ireland, the one musician who has represented the tone of my soundtrack on this adventure has been Bob Marley. It started up in The Scottish Highlands when we were listening to him one evening on the iPad, and then we got Ben to play him on the guitar. "Everything's gonna be alright, everything's gonna be alright. No woman, no cry." We listened to Cash's cover of Redemption Song and got chills. THEN, a few days later I heard Bob Marley in an organic shop in Laragh up in the Wicklow Mountains in Ireland. As slurped up my meat and bean goulash (very tasty) and brown bread, I read from Laura's novel No Wonder I Drink. "No Woman No Cry" came over the little shop's speakers and I paused for a moment to think, "This is the theme of my trip. From the beginning when Mike wrote me a sweet card to say good luck and to let go of all the school year's stresses through to the writing workshop and up until the solitude of my goulash and Laura's story up in the scenic Glendalough region on a sunny afternoon, I have found some space to live and be without worry about daily routines or changing diapers (smile). Yes, I know . . . I have some diaper changes and middle of the night wakings coming my way when I return. It's only right. I've come away with new friends, a deeper understanding of how writers create stories, wonderful experiences in the beautiful landscapes, and the makings of a story, which I have started.

Fourth, I definitely feel like I arrived home during my time in Scotland. I looked and looked for family names that are connected to me, and I came across Pollock Hall at Edinburgh University, which is the original name of my ancestor on my dad's maternal side. He hurt or killed an English officer when he was in the army, and he fled to America but gave up his last name of Pollock ( a well known family) and took his mother's maiden name of Glass. Then I saw a lot of Walker shortbread, and I hear we are connected to Walkers in Scotland. Finally, I did see a soldier's name (Shields) at Edinburgh Castle museum that made me wondered if we were connected by way of my great grandmother. I did not come across any Bogle's in Dublin, though. Next time I should really go into some papers to see what I might find out about my dad's paternal Irish roots.

The best part is that I am flying back to summer on Cape Cod with Mike, Kole and Jessa, and we have two months to enjoy each other before schoolwork consumes all of us. Well, not Miss Jessa. This is close as I get to feeling like a carefree 15-mth-old!!! When I came through the custom gates and saw my wee family waiting eagerly for me, it was surreal. I kept looking at my watch on the flight, counting the hours and then minutes until I could see them. Kole jumped up on me, I gave Mike a big kiss and then Jessa's puzzled little face figured out who I was and she reached out her arms to me. She hugged me for a good 5 minutes before lifting her head off my shoulder. There I stood with a pile of kiddies on me and I could not be happier, and as I glanced up I saw that the gaggle of smiling people waiting to welcome the other fliers knew that we were the picture of happiness. Happy Anniversary, Mike!