November Notes

For Thanksgiving I flew to the states to spend the Holiday in Iowa with family.  Unfortunately Steve and Zach couldn't come along, but it was a good trip nonetheless.  All of my brothers and sisters were able to come to our hometown of Dubuque, Iowa and enjoy my favorite holiday together!  Jane and Bill drove from Ohio, picking Connor up along the way in Joliet.  Dick drove up from Kansas, and though we missed out on seeing Lisa and the boys, it was wonderful to have Ricky Dicky Doo come to town!  Connie and Dick and Satchel drove up from Milan and actually had some REAL TIME OFF so that was grand!  And Jack and Sharon flew from CA - where it was sunny and warm - just to be with us and Emily!  It was fantastic!  Good food, good wine, and GREAT COMPANY!!! 

See, we really are a fun bunch!

Haley picked me up at the airport and we spent a whole week in Dubuque.  I got to see my Aunt Ellen and Uncle Bob, my cousin Barb, and my cousin Carol and her husband Terry.  I also got out with June and Pat and other high school classmates and so felt I'd made the most of my week in Dubuque.  I did also learn that moving back to the midwest, if and when that occurs, will be a real jolt for me, as I am not really used to the below freezing temps anymore!

I did appreciate the regulated heat in the US homes!  Our rental home is heated by oil.  You can turn it on or turn it off - using a timer so it goes on and off throughout the day, but you can't really regulate the temperature - at least not in our house.  So, even though it is colder in the Midwest, the indoor temps are better because you can set it for a good temperature and keep it there, generally.  We go from  warm to cold throughout the day here in Camlin Willows. I guess we're lucky it's rarely below freezing here!

While I was away enjoying time with my family and friends, a poem I had submitted to the local paper got printed - along with my pictures that I had taken and submitted!  I credit my time kissing the Blarney stone for my ability to wax poetic and actually get published!

So to recap:

Here is my official Blarney photo of proof.

Here is my official Certificate of Eloquence.

And finally, here is my official publication in the Longford Leader!

The pictures are the ones I took when I climbed Knocknarea in October - the day before I turned 51!

Since it's hard to read the newspaper clipping, I am reprinting my poem below:

CLIMBING KNOCKNAREA

Rain then sun and azure blue,

The tempest pauses, light pushes through.

Soaking gloves and sopping feet,

Slippery grass and white, wooly sheep.

The wind picks up but the hill protects,

Until it’s on the top I step.

All alone, or so I thought,

But felt the soul of one long-lost.

Bullied and buffeted like a leaf on the gale,

Tried to stand, couldn’t, failed.

Then to my feet, I circle the mound,

Heavenly view, heart’s desire:  found.

I left a stone, Queen Maeve I pleased,

The winds died down to a lovely breeze.

My spirits charged, heartbeat renewed,

Worries and cares had come unglued.

Lighter now I descended the hill,

But Maeve and Yeats, are with me still.