My day started earlier than most days, rising well before the sun even poked his head out and said hello. It was to see a friend off who is part of the Ireland Program we're in and she stayed the night due to the early day. Jill took her to the airport, along with a few other friends, and saw them off. Strange that in less than a week we will be flying to Dublin Ireland for an epic journey.
Over the last few days we have laid our ducks in a row and prepared for the trip - from paying bills early to getting new equipment. I must say it feels good knowing when we leave things will be okay.
But it does take a toll on one's emotions. The highs and lows have been tremendous as we anxiously await the day we leave. To call it any ONE emotion would be too simplistic, instead having a barrage of them coursing through me. Like an adrenaline rush without the drug.
While we thought it would take forever has finally come down to the long stretch. I plan on testing my new equipment out before we leave, maybe I will post a picture or two.
Slán!
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
The Time Slowly Ticks
It is slowly getting closer to the time of our departure. Ireland has never looked so close and yet feel so far away, it is a melancholy feeling I am left with. I find myself running out of things to do, as I await the final things for packing.
I have been listening to the music from our class, songs like Kilkelly and Skibbereen, the previous song whispers haunting memories of my own. I have books picked out, clothes planned and my drum aches to finally be on the road. In all this elation I find myself reflecting on the past, not to dwell but to remind me from where I come.
I have my traveling butt freckle, Gerry the Garcia, who will be traveling with other butt freckles, and keep my journey on the lighter side of life. The group will eventually make their way on to Facebook somehow I am sure. As I find ways to occupy myself, while the day gets closer, I keep outlining papers and planning short videos. The curse of an over-active mind.
One week from tonight we will be finishing up final details, packing (for the fifth time!) and organizing passports and I.D's. I look forward to the travel chaos!
I have been listening to the music from our class, songs like Kilkelly and Skibbereen, the previous song whispers haunting memories of my own. I have books picked out, clothes planned and my drum aches to finally be on the road. In all this elation I find myself reflecting on the past, not to dwell but to remind me from where I come.
I have my traveling butt freckle, Gerry the Garcia, who will be traveling with other butt freckles, and keep my journey on the lighter side of life. The group will eventually make their way on to Facebook somehow I am sure. As I find ways to occupy myself, while the day gets closer, I keep outlining papers and planning short videos. The curse of an over-active mind.
One week from tonight we will be finishing up final details, packing (for the fifth time!) and organizing passports and I.D's. I look forward to the travel chaos!
Sunday, March 7, 2010
It's All in a Name
I used to walk a lot. I'd go on these walks that would take me from the north side of my hometown into the downtown districts. I'd walk east towards the plains, head south and then wrap it up with a loop back home. I'd be gone for hours at times, just whistling and thinking.
Except back then it was about where I was going to end up, and today it's more about what does my future hold. But mostly the walks help with sorting ideas, memories and information, giving me that chance at a mental recital. Which brings me to why I named this blog The Great Walk.
As I began the second stage of my life ten years ago by getting married to Jill, I had in essence began a new walk. I had finished walking alone and now had someone walking beside me as we journeyed through this stage of our lives. More over, we all go on a great walk in life, and we begin it at birth, walking through different stages of our progression.
Sometimes those progressions are hard and dark, other times they may be light and easy, but it is the experiences from these walks that grant us insight, knowledge and hopefully happiness.
In the truest sense I began this walk many years ago, the day I opened that aforementioned book - Celtic Magic - that I started down a spiritual path that would have me recollecting on every choice I had made. It would show me how connected we all are, yet how distinct each one of us is, and in a perfect world we would all get along.
So it is this that I have named this blog An Siúl Mór, The Great Walk, for it is that which I have been on for sometime. In the coming weeks I will begin posting material here from a portion of that Great Walk - in Ireland - and hopefully share the adventures and experiences I have there.
Slán abhaile!
Except back then it was about where I was going to end up, and today it's more about what does my future hold. But mostly the walks help with sorting ideas, memories and information, giving me that chance at a mental recital. Which brings me to why I named this blog The Great Walk.
As I began the second stage of my life ten years ago by getting married to Jill, I had in essence began a new walk. I had finished walking alone and now had someone walking beside me as we journeyed through this stage of our lives. More over, we all go on a great walk in life, and we begin it at birth, walking through different stages of our progression.
Sometimes those progressions are hard and dark, other times they may be light and easy, but it is the experiences from these walks that grant us insight, knowledge and hopefully happiness.
In the truest sense I began this walk many years ago, the day I opened that aforementioned book - Celtic Magic - that I started down a spiritual path that would have me recollecting on every choice I had made. It would show me how connected we all are, yet how distinct each one of us is, and in a perfect world we would all get along.
So it is this that I have named this blog An Siúl Mór, The Great Walk, for it is that which I have been on for sometime. In the coming weeks I will begin posting material here from a portion of that Great Walk - in Ireland - and hopefully share the adventures and experiences I have there.
Slán abhaile!
Anticipating the Trip
So I am heading into the last week, number ten, of the Winter Quarter of the Ireland program and I am suddenly filled with feelings of apprehension and uncertainty. I am excited, like I have never been, for this and am trying to make every possible plan I can for while we are away. It is a nerve wrecking experience.
I wanted to start this journal early to kind of give myself a way to put into words and form what I am thinking before I take the trip of my life. I have wanted to visit Ireland since the days when I first stumbled across the Celts in a book by D.J.Conway called Celtic Magic. It has been many years since I opened that book I bought so long ago, the crease is now falling apart and the pages are loosening, and I have learned and grown since those bygone days. They almost seem like distant dreams I once had.
Which is sort of strange to me. I had always thought things would stay the same, not sure why, and would just always be. I was so young those days that it all seemed mystical and wondrous and dangerous. We read lots of books about the Celts and their pagan system of beliefs, which would lead me towards my current path. One could almost say that it was "destined" to happen.
But that destiny would take many twists and shapes before manifesting into the reality it is now. I have worked my ass off over the last four years - Student Government, Phi Theta Kappa - and many hours writing, scripting, acting and growing. I had to change my attitude in order to do all this, a negative one would not have been very conducive to my goals, and I had to open my mind and be open to all situations. I had to step outside my comfort zone and trust.
Not only have I done this but my wife of ten years has joined me on this journey. She seeks to fill her knowledge with Folklore, Music and Art as I embark upon the path of discovery in different cultures. She has equally been involved and reached higher plateaus by being open to her experiences. Together we are learning about the ancient world and how our myths and spiritual systems came about. That very question, which resided in both of us, is more or less what drew us together, besides her awesome cookies!
Now, as we near our 11th year of marriage, we get to go live among the Irish in Ireland, the County Donegal, in Gleanncolmcille with about 90 residents. The class size is 28 and one professor so it should be a great time and awesome learning experience. I really cannot wait to see what transpires.
Well that is all for this day, tomorrow I'll talk about why I named the blog what I did.
I wanted to start this journal early to kind of give myself a way to put into words and form what I am thinking before I take the trip of my life. I have wanted to visit Ireland since the days when I first stumbled across the Celts in a book by D.J.Conway called Celtic Magic. It has been many years since I opened that book I bought so long ago, the crease is now falling apart and the pages are loosening, and I have learned and grown since those bygone days. They almost seem like distant dreams I once had.
Which is sort of strange to me. I had always thought things would stay the same, not sure why, and would just always be. I was so young those days that it all seemed mystical and wondrous and dangerous. We read lots of books about the Celts and their pagan system of beliefs, which would lead me towards my current path. One could almost say that it was "destined" to happen.
But that destiny would take many twists and shapes before manifesting into the reality it is now. I have worked my ass off over the last four years - Student Government, Phi Theta Kappa - and many hours writing, scripting, acting and growing. I had to change my attitude in order to do all this, a negative one would not have been very conducive to my goals, and I had to open my mind and be open to all situations. I had to step outside my comfort zone and trust.
Not only have I done this but my wife of ten years has joined me on this journey. She seeks to fill her knowledge with Folklore, Music and Art as I embark upon the path of discovery in different cultures. She has equally been involved and reached higher plateaus by being open to her experiences. Together we are learning about the ancient world and how our myths and spiritual systems came about. That very question, which resided in both of us, is more or less what drew us together, besides her awesome cookies!
Now, as we near our 11th year of marriage, we get to go live among the Irish in Ireland, the County Donegal, in Gleanncolmcille with about 90 residents. The class size is 28 and one professor so it should be a great time and awesome learning experience. I really cannot wait to see what transpires.
Well that is all for this day, tomorrow I'll talk about why I named the blog what I did.
Slán!
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