Personal Reflections

Personal Reflections

I awoke early Sunday morning – actually in the middle of the night. Less than 10 hours to check out. To those that have lived in the cottages of Tullycross, they are quaint. Connemara is exquisite in beauty. The locals were asking about the students and where they were going, etc. A very nice gentleman from Derryinver (a place smaller than TC) was talking with us. We told him we were going to Sligo and asked if he had been there. Oh no, he responded quickly as if we had asked him if he had been to Hong Kong or any other place on the other side of the world. His reaction was more of puzzlement toward us. He is not being judgmental of us, and we are not being demeaning toward him.

His accent was somewhat stronger than some of the younger people. Sometimes Tom and I wonder if what’s being spoken is English or Gaelic, and we can feel silly asking them to repeat themselves. But he told us (I believe) that he has a house on the sea. Why would he go anywhere else? Good question. I have no reason that he should.

But I do not have a house on the sea. And at the moment, I actually enjoy looking out my hotel window and seeing the lights of Sligo. Probably what Rachel feels about the lights of NYC J

So, we will continue to discover Yeats country. And then head back to my “roots” in TC. I’ll save Clare Island hopefully when Mary Alice is here. She’s got me reading a book on Grace O’Malley, Granuaile. Not only interesting because she was the pirate queen, but as MAW mentioned, Irish women at this time could own property. It is a great read about Irish history in general.

There’s something about being in a city – well, large town – that feels very normal. No students to look after. I realize that these 4 months are really an extended vacation/adventure allowing me to reminisce and relive my young days in rural Ohio. Also, understanding why I wanted to leave. Wishing I could take all the good along with me. Missing those pieces. Wishing I was closer to my extended family – like so many families here in TC. I could do woodworking with my brother, Paul! But glad about where I’m at in GR.

Being with Tom has been especially great this trip (not that it isn’t on other trips). I’m the tour director – big surprise. He has a gift to read poetry. The students are lucky to have him even though he may see himself as not perfectly qualified to teach literature. He brings the love and passion. Aquinas, you are lucky he said “yes!”