From my last post you all know I am in Ireland. Well in the midst of what was already destined to be a fantastic time, my fantastic Mother in Law booked us and several other family members into Trabolgan . This is fabulous concept for a vacation spot! A place where there is tons of stuff for kids in all age groups as well as activities just for us grown ups. Everynight they put on a family friendly show in "The Cove" while all us grownups sank into pints of Guinness and bottles of Budweiser. Our little ones quite enjoyed slush puppies and buying all manner of gag toys and light up sparkly and gooey weird things that only someone under nine can truly appreciate.
After the show all the littlest kids were falling asleep so some of the moms went back to the houses while the rest of us went into the pub for live music and a karaoke competition. My husband and Mother in Law both placed as finalists for the main competition on wednesday. I on the other hand sang Angel by Sarah Maclachlan and didnt do quite so well but at least I did it.
This trip is the first trip in a million years that weve gotten to come home to Ireland under pleasant circumstances. I am so very grateful for this time. I guess I should explain, briefly, that Just after my husband and I met in California which is where I was raised, He had to go home because his youngest brother had been killed by an idiot driver. I followed him over a few months later and we eventually married and had our first child. We moved back to the states for some reason, and a little while later we got to go back for a visit, because my husbands second youngest brother died. (I am still not privy to the reason behind his death, but it was quite obviously not anywhere near his time to go.) The next time after that that my husband got to return to Ireland was because his Nana was ill. We couldnt afford for all of us to go at that time. So there you have it. In ten years time this trip that we are on right now, is the FIRST trip since weve been together that weve gotten to go home for something not related to tragedy.
My mother in law and sister in law and nana in law have all visited us in america a few times, but this trip is the one I feel like I can finally get to know all my family. Ten years is an awfully long time to feel baricaded away from your family. Dont get me wrong they have all been wonderful in spite of it all, but my own mental insecurities and having not ever had to deal with death in such a large way caused me to withdraw. I couldnt help it.
But now enough of all that, I want to focus on the joyfulness life seems to be offering right now. I have two of the best children in the world and all kinds of nieces and nephews over here and I just want to scoop them all up and hug them and buy them chocolate and make sure everything is always wonderful for them. I pray I pray I pray that there be nothing but good times ahead for all of us, but most especially them.
