Five Years Ago

Five years ago today I went on an ultimate trip, my first time to Ireland. There was so much to this trip that it is hard to sum it all up into one blog post but I had to walk through the memories of that journey once again. I remember landing in Dublin and feeling so excited. I immediately was at home. I remember walking through the airport once we were through customs and making my first purchase using Euro. I don't know what made me do it, but I bought a newspaper to mark the first day I had been to Ireland.

I remember sitting behind the steering wheel on the wrong side of the car and then slowly navigating on unfamiliar roads also on the wrong side of the road. I remember the brilliance of the colors, like a cool spring day with deep blue skies, and brilliant greens. I also remember thinking how Dublin was a lot like other cities; busy, fast-paced, and full of people and cars all racing off to one place or another.

I remember driving through small towns with roads so narrow that cars parked on the sidewalk. I remember loving the way signs throughout Ireland were written in English and in Gaelic. I remember the delicate beauty of Waterford Crystal and the bold grace of Giant's Causeway. I remember the dizzying height of standing atop a cliff while overlooking the ocean and how small I felt floating on the water at the base of another cliff.

I remember the overwhelming stink of cow manure that wafted through a part of a small town but also remember the wonderful aroma of Lamb Stew so expertly prepared. I loved the restaurants and learning that a sandwich with salad didn't mean two dishes served together but rather a sandwich with lettuce and tomato. I remember having dinner at a Chinese food restaurant and seeing a daily special being served with fries. I remember fries (chips) were served with just about everything and remember being sick of fries by the time we left. I remember the continuous struggle to order a soda and having to explain by naming brands of soda before the server would understand what I was asking for.

I remember visiting an old church ruin and the guide telling me to pray for a husband. I remember getting soaked on the cart ride back from the church and laughing because I'd prayed for rain instead. I remember spending three weeks looking for sunglasses for mom because she'd left hers back home thinking it would be cloudy all the time.

I remember the community and friendliness of the various owners of the B&B's as well as the easy camaraderie among strangers in a bar watching the Hurling finals between county Cork and county Clair. I loved seeing the good-natured barbs that were tossed between the fans of both teams.

I remember the sadness as we neared the end of our journey and the ache that filled me as we headed to the airport to go back home. I remember how long the flight was and remember how odd it was to drive on the left again. Today, five years later, I remember so many details of this journey, like it just happened. I will have a moment, or the air will feel just so, and I'll think how it is just like it was when I visited Ireland.