Chasing Ideals

I haven't said a word about Christmas and sadly that spree will now continue in that tonight I have not planned to write of that but of the birthday of my dear brother-in-law Floydsie. The poor fellow was missed out on last year and this year I want to remember him here.

Floyd is a man of integrity who from the beginning in his relationship with my sister showed that he was committed to doing what is right. He was never one to try to disconnect my sister from her family but rather to make himself a part of all that we were doing and even to encourage her participation when she was unwilling. I remember being so thankful for his attitude because so often relationships can cause seperations in families. It was so important for me to see a man older than I with such a deep respect for that foundation. It is a rare example in this day and age for other men to follow. An example that one such as I searches for to be reminded what it is to be a man of one's word and a man who honors the past and those who came before him.

I am so pleased that he and I have had the chance to build relationship over the years. Pleased that he wishes to steal each and every comic phrase from myself and my family and use them as if they are his own. Pleased at his openness to visiting other places and peoples that led he and Tara here just a few weeks ago to be with me and share in the life I am living. Pleased most of all that he wishes his life to folloW God's compass and to do what is best for the family that he and my sister have begun. I am thankful for him on this day and hoping that his time will be grand.

I am writing this post from Warsaw where I and Tymek and Hannah arrived to today. I shall be a few weeks traveling to different places in Poland with no set return time yet. I experienced a wonderful time over Christmas and must write of it soon but not tonight. There are a few pictures up from the period but sadly few of the actual festivities. The only explanation I have is that so much time was spent indoors and when I am required to use flash photography I lose my urge for picture taking which is hardly a good excuse but the only I've got. Take a look at the few that are there at least.

I cannot explain my recent inability to put words to paper though the activity continues to bring great joy to this fellow. Two years in a row now my wonderful Lord provided a way that during birthday, holiday time there might still include the joy and familiarity of my own family. The time with Tara, Floyd, and Faolan while being and feeling like a whirlwind visit nevertheless encouraged my heart in innumberable ways. It was of course a reminder of the strength and joy of my friendship with Tara. Of the ease of time and connection with all three that included afternoons of lazing about in conversation and rest all the while watching Faolan in all his joy and exuberance of life exploring all. This experience also for the first time allowed for a connection of my life of the last twenty four years with that of the start of my twenty fifth. I for the first time in this place was host and tour guide and given a reason to explore more of the surroundings. To once again put miles on the old beast of a Citroen which has taken to smelling like a mouse's home, as Tara can attest that it seems a mouse has attempted residency therein. There is something unmistakeable about the wonder of time with those who shared formative years of one's life and who have seen in my case a wealth of transitions.

I haven't the words today to say much in this post but would like to share the activity of the days. Recovering from exhaustion was the name of the game early on, in fact for much of the first week with the joy of much snow, kulig (Polish tradition that I attempted first in February with the added joy this time of swallowing large quantities of brown snow while laying on my blow up sled with face inches from the ground), and sledding on pure ice mixed in. Later in the week we four set out (often with accompaniment of one of the kids here) on ventures to wander each of the nearby cities of Gdynia, Sopot, and Gdansk and one of the days also to visit what is said to be the largest castle in the world, Malbork. Malbork being the old stronghold of the Teutonic Knights and a massive symbol of the long German presence in the area. Of course back at the homestead there was the experience of the homemade brews and plethora of the local sausage and on Floyd's last night the hot to frigid sauna experience. After Floyd's departure activity slowed drastically including only a few visits and jaunts in the name of furry boot purchasing. For Tara and I as the best of friends a few days of lolly gagging, speaking of the higher matters of family and life, and enjoying the wonder of Faolan's youth was a treasure.

I don't know what to say of how soon I will post again. I have yet to figure what I would like to make of this site in the face of more normal life now. I am committed to this being a winter that includes plenty of self development in the form of learning and reopening the chasms of this brain that transitions to adulthood have attempted to squash. After the new year there are places and people that must be visited prior to my next journey back to the States and the birth of Tara's number two.

Three new albums are up, the first from my marvelous trip to Warsaw before Tara's arrival and of my friends' there beautiful new baby Gabrysia. The other two are of the activity of these past two weeks though slightly disorganized because the pictures came from two sources. Any of you with ideas on what in semi normal living time I could make of this blog should tell all.

I had a marvelous Christmas with the Rellies but right now don't have time to describe it. I'm off tomorrow back to Istanbul. It is hard to believe I will leave my sis again but will keep in my heart that we should be together again soon enough next year. I will try to update this in the upcoming when I may have a little more time. Andy will join me tomorrow in London for the trip to Istanbul and we shall travel together for the next weeks. I'll be glad to have a travel companion as the road back toward West Europe is not a short one and I've been spoiled with company here in Ireland and don't fancy traveling alone right after. Take a look at the three new galleries of pics. The one from Dublin includes pics of old friends, a jaunt to the Guinness brewery, and more visits to relatives there. The various batch are from my film camera finally developed.

I'm sitting here trying to think of what to write but overwhelmed at the activity of the last few weeks. I've lost count of old friends visited and new friends made. Being constantly in the throws of new relationship I haven't the chance to reflect on individual cases. I am so passionate and open in this arena that my heart is overjoyed at each opportunity. One experience that did shock was that of going back to our old home. As usual we were welcomed with open arms by the new owners but on this occasion I had the chance to be guided around by their son. I was amazed that what I had known as large bedrooms and hallways during my childhood now seemed so small through adult eyes. I wondered how our family of seven managed in such tight space with frequent guests to boot. In many areas of the house I had to duck down to avoid a brutal head knock and in others wondered how our furniture had ever fit. In the first frolicking album I had put a picture of my primary school and that had too caused such a reaction. I remembered big classrooms and big classmates so the reality of small rooms and small mates was very strange. Children between 4 and 12 are so much smaller through these new eyes than those of the young fella arriving at that school years ago. I even got to meet the teacher that had caused me so much fear then and actually enjoyed chatting to her and wishing I had more time to do so. She had been one that throughout the first day in her class and even at home in the evening I had wept uncontrollably for fear of her wrath in that coming year. Having her remember me know and talking adult talk was quite unexpected yet pleasantly marvelous. It is a wonderful experience to think back on those childhood times and now to view them from a completely different perspective.

Part of the difficulty of sitting down to muse and write for this is the presence of little babs. Earlier while writing I couldn't contain the desire to play with him and leapt up from writing to play peek-a-boo and hear his squels and laughter. Being with him puts life in an incredible perspective so far as the value of others. Every opportunity I am given to put a smile on his face or help him in learning to walk I think what could be more important. The following is the little rhyme that I am singing to babs on an hourly basis for his enjoyment and my own. Tara and Floyd have joined in the singing of it lately though Tara has belted out some strange variations:

Baby Baby Baby, I put him in my tea
Baby Baby Baby, Two lumps or three

Trust babs to bring out the best in me. I could not think as I do or write as I do or live as I do were it not for devoting myself to relationship. Those that we have met and stayed with here have completely overwhelmed me with their openess to allow us into their homes and lives. I will leave here feeling so refreshed by their love and knowing that whenever I shall return here I am welcome at their doors and in their hearts. That is an absolutely incredible feeling.

For those who may wonder myself and the Hubbardses will spend Christmas with our relatives here. Many of their children will be home for the holiday and will all be gathered together. It was so wonderful last week to stay with some of them for a night and to finally know them as an adult. As a child I thought little of meeting adults so far as remembering names and discussing families and history but now those things are so important to me. I love that there is a connection with them despite years apart and minimal contact during my childhood. They were enthused to know of my family and our lives and I likewise to know of them and their children. I really look forward to the festivities in a few days and the chance to meet my cousins that I would scarcely remember. The weather and environment too have allowed me to experience the feel of this season more so than I have in the years since our departure from this country. I love rainy days and cold weather because all of my favorite things in life involve people being together and this weather can fascilitate such activity.

Some new photos are up for your viewing pleasure. In Further Frolicks the first are from Joanna's house in Limerick. Somewhere in the middle are pictures from a visit to Tara's friends Ken and Melissa and the second picture shows their three kids with Faolan. The last of the batch are pictures of a few of our relatives in Newcastle West. In Kiss my blarney are shots from our time in County Kerry and Cork and our jaunt to smooch the Blarney Stone. The Driving through album is of our journey through Galway and Connemara today. The first few of the Kilkenny time two album are back at Lisa's house. Then some from the closest town to our childhood home including one in front of Tara's high school and one of the house we lived in for 6 months before leaving Ireland. Picture 13 to 37 are of the area near our childhood home and of the house itself. The last pics then come from our friends the Bulfin's house where we stayed two nights ago and of our drive here to Galway. In the next week I have now idea how much or often I shall be able to post though I hope to be able to at least add photos.

I haven't had the internet connection or the time of late to add updates. Today I did throw up a new gallery of pictures so at least you can see some of the people we have been visiting. The first pictures are from our time in Kilkenny with Tara's friend Lisa. The two young chaps pictured are her twin boys. In the middle there is a picture of a cousin of ours Bertha and her daughter Dierdre (only my fam will know of them). After Kilkenny we headed to Roscrea (the closest big town to where I grew up) and stayed with family friends and met with others. Now we are near Limerick in West Ireland staying with Tara's friend Joanna (pictured in the last two in album). I hope to write about places and people soon enough when time and connection allows.