I live in Ireland but I am originally from the Bay Area in CA.  2-1/2 weeks ago I went to visit a friend in upstate NY for what was supposed to be 2 weeks (you can hum the tune from Gilligan's Island while reading this post). My friend and I had great fun just hanging out talking and doing things around the house. You see, the Irish weather followed me over there. It has a bad habit of doing that wherever I travel to.

 The first day there was a lovely sunny day, then it turned, lol. Nothing but some serious rain and alot of big loud thunderstorms, which, by the way, I do love. It was my first trip back to the States in almost 5 years. I ate all my favorite foods that I can't get over here, drank tons of fruit juices I can't get over here, and was even treated to a home cooked belated (or early, depending on how you look at it) Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings since I don't cook and they don't celebrate Thanksgiving over here. YUM!!! It was heavenly.

Then it was time for me to return home. That's when things started to go from bad to worse. I felt like I was in the movie Planes, Trains, and Automobiles!

On the day I was supposed to return home my friend (who lives an hour from Albany airport) dropped me off after we had checked online to make sure the flight was going to be on time. It said it was. When I got to the airport my flight was delayed. OK, no problem. I had a 5 hour layover at JFK before making my connecting flight so that was no big deal. Then it was cancelled due to the weather. Rain was lashing down and lightening was hitting the tarmac. Not good. I phoned my friend and she came back and took me back to her house after I rescheduled my flight for the next day.

Day 2- I am once again dropped off at the airport after the Delta website said the plane was on time. It wasn't. It was only 20 minutes late, which wasn't bad at all and we actually made it onto the plane this time. We taxied out to the runway, the pilot revved the engines. I crossed my fingers that we would actually take off that day. I was wrong. Due to the severe westher and back log of planes waiting to land we were informed that there would be AT LEAST a 5 hour delay in taking off to get to JFK. So off the plane we came and I made a beeline to the Delta ticket desk. By now they knew my name(it's a small airport, lol). I asked them to get me on the earliest flight out the next day to another hub that would actually get me to my connecting flight and get me home!!! This time they booked me through Atlanta then on to Dublin. I once again called my friend, and good friend that she is, she returned for me once again.

Day 3- Again we check the Delta website and it says on time, so off we go. We arrive at the airport again and this time she refused to say goodbye because she thought it was better to just say "until we meet again", and I thought that was appropriate. So, off she goes. I go and check in. THE FLIGHT WAS ON TIME!!! No delays, no cancellations. I boarded the plane and just prayed that we would actually make it out of there that day. We did. Got to Atlanta where it was beautifully sunny and warm. Since I had 5 hours to kill I sat outside enjoying the warmth reading a good book by my dear friend Vila SpiderHawk, who I met here on Covenspace (please check her out and her books. They are FANTASTIC)!!! When the time came, I walked to my gate and settled in. Then the time came to board the plane and suddenly we were airborne. HOORAY!!! I was finally on my way home. After an overnight flight we landed in Dublin where I grabbed a taxi to my friends house who only lives 2 miles from the airport. Then another roadblock-literally. The weather from NY had crossed the Atlantic the day before and slammed Ireland with torrential rain, the likes of which they had never seen (and that's saying something because it always rains here, lol), and the roads we mostly closed due to flooding. All I wanted to do was get to my friends house and pass out because I was so very tired. I don't sleep on planes. Finally, after making a 1/2 hour detour we got there. I got my suitcases into the house and fell into bed where I slept the entire day!

The next day I made the 5 hour drive back down to my home in Cork and to my poor husband who was sure that the USA was just really pissed off at me because I had the nerve to move away from there and was now holding me hostage. The rain was lashing down once again, from the second system that had delayed me in NY, but I was not about to stop for anything! I just wanted to see him and sleep in my own bed once again. I finally made it home, breathed a sigh of relief and settled in. I was asleep by 10:30pm. It took me literally 5 days of travelling just to get a plane out of the States, back to Ireland, and back down to my home. I'm still seriously jet lagged but I should be back on Irish time in a day or two.

Next month I'm off to the Isle of Mull in Scotland to look after my husband's elderly cousin who has had a stroke while I was away. I'm REALLY hoping it's going to be easier to get home from over there, and I'm returning Stateside in Jan for a month of visiting my family but I'M NOT GOING THROUGH JFK this time, or EVER again!!!

I never thought I would be so happy to get home.  I feel like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. There's no place like home!   

Today it has been 4 years since I touched down on Irish soil (moss) to start my new life here. What an exciting 4 years it has been. I've met so many wonderful, interesting people here, seen so many amazing places, and done so many things I thought I would never get the chance to do in my life. What I really miss on this day, though, is the BBQ's, the parties and fireworks, and right now, the warmth that comes with July over in the States.

We managed to have 2-1/2 lovely weeks of sunshine and warmth here before the storms returned. Today is pouring down rain, howling wind,  thunder and lightning. Looks like the Irish Summer is over, but maybe it will surprise me and we will have a bit more nice weather. I hope so.

If not, I have a back up plan, lol. Later this month I will be going to visit a friend in upstate NY for 2 weeks. No doubt I will have more heat and humidity than I would like, but at least I will know that I have a lovely cool place to return to again.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY EVERYONE!!!

"LIVE YOUR DREAM"

 When I was but a wee lassie I remember hearing Dr. Marin Luther King Jr's famous speech "I Have A Dream" You see, I also had a dream. I was determined to make that dream come true and I did. If you wish hard enough,work hard enough, and never ever give up you can make it happen.I promised myself that no matter what life threw at me I would never give up. I lived a hard life but after 43 years I made it happen. Alot of people who love me helped make my dream come true and I am humbled to know so many people love me. May the Goddess always watch over you all and make your dreams come true too!

SPIRIT DANCE
We go roaming in the gloaming two searching souls are we.
Holy wells and magick spells, kindred spirits wild and free.
I live in an enchanted land. Come join me, take my hand.

Happiness is walking in a field of grass, heartfelt joy
That is meant to last. Riding horseback by the sea, the
Wind in my hair wild and free. Or find myself upon the
Shore listening to the wave's crash and roar. Go out
Dancing in the rain, perhaps walk down a tree filled lane.

Two lovers deep in the night embrace with passion and delight.
Our spirits dancing in the lights, ever reaching greater heights.
Secrets shared, souls bared, happiness beyond compare.
Breath quickens bodies unite.
We surrender as spirits take flight.
A new union is forged search no more.
All is possible on All Souls night.

© 2004 Avalon MacKinnon