2-26 –06 through 2-29-06
 
TROUBLE IS BREWING…
 
Noeline was upset about something.  In the past I would think that I did something to upset her, but in the last few years I realized that the world did not evolve around me- good or bad and I figured I hadn’t done anything wrong, so she must be upset about something that happened while I was out on my job interview.
 
She was very short with me and abrupt with her directions.  She had to go to Castlebar in the morning and I knew that she didn’t like to make the drive and the cost of parking and attending boring meetings – so I figured that must be occupying her mind.
 
 When we returned to the house, I tried to make myself helpful with packing stuff for Ghana, but her mood made me feel that I should just go to my room and get out of her hair.  I really wanted to go to my room, but I was still trying to get a hold of my cousin Teresa to see if I could get a ride from Mary in the AM or have to walk to her house.  I didn’t want to walk to her house (I would die!) but if I had no other choice, I would have to.   But I hadn’t heard from her and I kept trying to call and no answer.( Teresa was at an Irish wake!)  There was nothing I could do and I was tired from the events of the day, if not physically but mentally, I figured I would talk to Teresa in the AM.  I heated my two hot water bottles and got my flashlight and made my way to the stone house. 
 
The next morning I was up and packed and as I came out of the stone house walkway I was expecting the throngs of dogs to jump all over me- but all I saw was Noeline with her head down storming through the front door to the van.  She snapped, “Your cousin Teresa called last night and she can’t pick you up, I have to drive you to her so we have to Chop Chop!”  I said “OK’, got all my bags into the back of the van and started to pull the blanket that she keeps over the car windows off (to keep the frost from sticking) and by mistake I caught one of the wiper blades.  Noeline of course walked past just as I had done it and said- “don’t ever do that alone again- get in and I’ll fix it!”  Man, with that tone I was in that van as quick as I could and just sat and didn’t dare breath!
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Feb. 24-25, 2006

I GOTTA GET A JOB !!

Well, I’m looking for a job. OK – I HAVE to make money, and getting a job seems to be the only way to get. But I HATE WORKING! (This statement does not surprise everyone that knows me) So I have to start looking and I have help too- her name is Marie and she is one of my cousins. She combs the weekly Mayo News and calls me up to tell me what’s available. But she also calls me on what I have done towards getting a job – everyday! I think that my sister Traci has cloned herself and moved over here without me knowing! And since I know that Marie will call me the following day and will ask what I have done on the current job lead, I have to do SOMETHING in order to give her my report. But I HHHHaaaaaTTTTEeeee working! Because they expect me to be there at a certain time and leave at a certain time. That’s what I really have against working! It’s not the work it’s self – it’s the time requirement! I like to do things on MY time frame. My attitude is: Tell me what to do then get out of my way and I’ll do it. I’m certainly not lazy, but I like to do it in my own time. When I first got my job as a bookkeeper at the florist/landscaping job- they were “you be here at this time and leave at this time” kind of place. But I didn’t like that, so the last few years I got them to accept me on my terms “I’m on time, the moment that I walk in the door” that might be 10:00 or 10:30 or even 12:00…and I MIGHT not show up at all today, but don’t worry, I’ll have my job done…I like it that way and always have. I got spoiled in my very first job and I find that I work much better and happier that way. I get away with it- BECAUSE I’M GOOD at what I do!

But alas, I have to start over again! I am a trained bookkeeper and manager, but I don’t want to do that job in Ireland. Because it will be a noose around -my neck. They expect you to be in a 9AM and have a ½ to hour lunch and click out at 5PM. YUCK! And because of my “work visa” situation- I can only work for THEM and I will be nothing but an indentured servant for my one-year term with them! DOUBLE YUCK! PLUS- if I work 9-5 when will I have time to go out and get AMAZING photo’s for my card company in America? I have worked in the traditional work field for the last 30 years – and I’m not even close to being rich – so I want to try a less “traditional” field. So a 9-5 job is not it! But I need money, so how can I make this “work” thing work? (I know my sister Traci is rolling her eyes at this point!)

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2-20- thru 2-24-06

TRYING TO FIGURE IT ALL OUT

Well, it’s my first week in my new home, Noeline’s animal farm. I haven’t told you the name of the home (there are no number address’s in Ireland- they all have names for their address) or the name of her animal rescue or even Noeline’s last name. I do want to give her some privacy. When and IF she ever wants me to ask for assistance from the people that look at my blog- I will then give you the information.
This blog was designed for me to share my experience with other members of my family and friends- to share my impressions of Ireland through MY EYES, from my own warped prospective. I hope never to upset anyone with my views of the things that I experience or even the people that I experience. I feel that I need to be as honest as I can- so much so that originally I had cards made up with my face, my e-mail, my blog address and my .com address. I made up 800 of these cards. Well, it turns out that I might of handed out 10 in my trip so far. As I started to write about my experiences, I realized that I would be writing about the people I meet, through work, living and the new family I found. And I didn’t want them to feel that I would have a conversation with them in the day and end up writing it all up in my blog the next – I realized that it would make them a bit paranoid. And I really didn’t blame them. Not that I’m not proud of this blog- because I am and really try to be honest with my impressions but I also try to be really fair too.
But if I met someone who was blogging everything, I might be a bit more protective as to what I share too. I do want you all to know that I don’t share things that I see as too personnel or something that shouldn’t be put in the blog. But I have also decided not to give out the information cards any more. I even blacked out the addresses and such on the card and just use it as a “calling card” a way to give people my name and face- so they remember me better. You would remember someone if they gave you a photo of them on your first meeting- wouldn’t you? I know I would.
I have told my new family little tid bits of information that I wrote in the blog. Sister Teresa (as Anthony calls her – and I like it so I use it too) has been concerned about this blog thing. I did read a bit of the entry that I wrote that concerned Sweet Mary. She and Sweet Mary just wanted me to share my feelings on the purpose of this blog. I don’t want anyone that is written about to misinterpret intentions should they read it.

So on to the real blog.

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February 19th, 2006

Trying to get out of the Hostel

Noeline had gotten very sick with a throwing up sickness and it kept her in bed for 7 days. She was so ill that the first time in her life, she had to let the animals go without food for one night. She wouldn’t let me come and take care of her and she was quite worried that I would come down with the dreaded illness. A few of her clients at her job also got it and a few of her co-workers. It was very hard on Noeline, not only the illness but also the fact that she hasn’t been sick in 20 years! She had had numerous down time due to cancer and thrown out backs, but not the run of the mill illnesses.
I was so glad that I hadn’t gotten it- which was a great surprise to me since I seem to get everything else that is in Ireland. I hate being sick all the time and I feel like a big baby. Plus, having throwing up fits in a hostel with paper walls is not good for business! So I stayed in my little box of a room and was happy that I was feeling well.
I had worked on a Resume (called a CV in Ireland) and made up flyers for my quest for finding an elderly person to trade room and board for in house help. I got them all done then had to figure out how to download it to a CD – because I couldn’t print from my machine. What a pain in the ass! But I was determined to figure it out. The day that I was leaving for Ireland my cousin Joey Mahoney came over to show me how to do this. But I was so out of my mind that I was in over-load and not one new thing was being let into my brain, so even though I could understand it and do it when he was there- the minute he left, it was gone. And I have not been able to figure it out since, so I have been waiting on Anthony. But Anthony is always running here and there and I haven’t gotten him to show me how. But I finally did it and now just had to print it and then make copies. But I again was dealing with where to get it printed and then copies. I do so miss all the convinces that the States offer in this area. There are very few places to get this type of thing done and then it cost an arm and a leg. There is really only one place for copies and it cost .25 cents for one copy for one side! What a rip off! And that’s AFTER you have to find a place to make the original print.
I worked on it all night and was so proud of myself. I finally got it done the night before Noeline was going to pick me up for my weekend work and she was picking me up later then usual so that I could do some “job” work.

In order to leave for Noeline’s for the weekend I have to strip my room and redress the bed, vacuum (they call it hover here) and remove everything and clean the bathroom. Then pack all my stuff and remove it- I had removed all the unused items earlier in the week when Anthony came and got me – so one of the big red monster backpack was gone. But since Tom moved into the staff room, I had to make sure all my stuff was removed to give him room.
But before I was able to get this all done, I had to run to the Expensive Internet café and get my completed CV printed. So I planned my day to fit it all in………
What I didn’t plan on was Alfia! She left a note for me to help Hannah with stripping and dressing beds and clean the bathrooms. Shit! I didn’t plan on all this extra work or time, so I was behind the eight ball the minute I woke up. I couldn’t refuse Alfia- so I was running around with my head cut off!
I whizzed through the bathrooms and stripping the beds and left Hannah to dress them and Hoover. Got all my stuff packed and stripped my bed and put the room back in order and emptied the trash. I told Hannah that I had to run to the Internet place and would return. I had worked myself into quite a tizzy by this point.
I got there and the dam CD didn’t have everything on it- it had the night before but not now! Shit! Then I couldn’t get the computer to read it. I tried everything that I had in my little (and I mean little) bag of tricks. I finally asked a young guy that worked there to help me and he couldn’t get it either! God, why does everything have to be so f’n hard!?!?!?
I am mad that I didn’t get this done, and I’m also not looking forward to Noeline when I see her. See Noeline is a self-made woman. She has had to do everything on her own since she was a child. She is a fighter and a do-er. Which are great traits, but she is also a person that expects everyone else to be the same way. (A lot like my sister Traci). They don’t see obstacles, they only see challenges and they push through. She doesn’t accept defeat- and she won’t let me either. So she will give me a hard time if I don’t have all the calls made that she thinks I should or the CV done and printed. That’s just Noeline- and I am dreading seeing her because I didn’t get it completed!
I was again defeated and I was just so coiled up- I had to calm down! I saw that I had a few minutes to get something to eat. It would calm me down and also with Noeline, you never know when or if you will eat again. So I took the time (and money) to get something. I went into a sandwich shop that I had never been in before and was looking around trying to get the lay of the land. Then I heard a little voice call out my name. I turned around and little Mary was there with a friend at a table having lunch. I was just not myself and I felt extremely pressured with time and not knowing what they even served here, so I wasn’t very friendly.

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February 15-18th, 2006
 

Having to leave the hostel

As you know, I have been living in a hostel in Westport Ireland.  It was quite an adjustment in the way that during the mid week (Tue-Thurs afternoon) the place was a ghost town.  Myself and one worker, either Alfia or Hannah would be cleaning and I would help when requested to.  I had lots of time to do as I pleased, walk the town, go to eat or eat in the common room, read, type, and pray for something more permanent.
  The other part of the week, Thursday through Tuesday AM is a different matter all together.  People start arriving on Thursday AM, they kind of trickle in.  Usually the private rooms go first- the room next to me.  I have to hear them bang up the stairs and fall into the room.  The walls are no thicker then paper and you hear EVERYHING.  Luckily I have never had to hear sex- THANK GOD!  But I hear laughing and talking – usually in languages that I have no idea what is being said.  I am usually in my PJ’s on the computer or reading a book.  The toilet (I hate that term) is right at the bottom of my feet.  It does have a wall, but I can hear like it is in the room with me!  I have heard many strangers pee.  I could really do without this experience…  One thing that happens each and every time new people stay in the room next to me…. They walk into my room!  I don’t have a lock on my door and boy- that piss’s me off!  The first time it happened, I mentioned it to Alfia to tell them that it is a staff room and do not enter. But these people must be thick!  They always walk in.  I do put a bag in front of the door to at least wake me up or warn me when the door is opened- but it doesn’t stop these people.  I sleep with earplugs, so I can’t hear things really clearly- and they scare the shit out of me!  One American guy thought it was where the shower was. Another French guy just opened the door and apologized, but this one night- a German couple got the room.  They were laughing and carrying on until I coughed to let them know that someone was there- and if they could hear a cough, imagine what I could hear.  They usually quite down after that.  Usually we don’t have people that go out and get drunk- but on this night, it was all the bullshit rolled into one.  The carried on until 10PM and then they went out.  They must of pee’d 10x’s before they left. I had peace until 2:30AM when then returned, ran up the stairs and pee’d, banged around then left again. Which is odd, because in Ireland they stop serving at 11:30PM and you have to be out at 12:30AM.  I have no idea where they went to 2:30AM
   Alfia had gently said to me that it was getting busier and she was going to need to have my room available.  I knew it was coming and yet it was devastating to hear.  I neither held nor hold any ill feelings- she has been a Godsend to me in the last few weeks since I have been in Westport.  I love this woman.  But since she had made this statement, I was propelled into another tailspin; I didn’t know what I would do.  I talked to poor sick Noeline and told her my dilemma, and she said that the room was available for me at her home, but was not the best situation- being that I would be too far from anywhere to get a job or go for interviews or anything.  But that didn’t concern me as much as having a bed to sleep on. She herself was still sick and had no plans to pick me up until the weekend.

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I Don’t know what is going on in this blog. The sight made some changes and how my typing is changing the font size- Sorry – not my intent!  I don’t mean to highlight that area anymore then the rest.  In this case -don’t read between the lines!  HAHA

In real time I am almost 1 week past the time with Noeline- but it is taking forever to write all that happened.  I have been told that I need to move on from the hostel – the barter for a bed is coming to an end.  Busy time is coming and they need to make money on renting out the room I have been living in.  No hard feelings, I understand business.  So I am in desperate mode to find a place to lay my head.

 And today I looked at my passport and found that I am ILLIGAL as of today!  They mis-stamped my passport for only 1 month and not 3.  so I would have been screwed!  But by a fluke I got to the immigration and they updated me for the final 2 months that I can stay in this country.  Have exausted the hunt for gettind duel citizenship (missed it by one generation!) so my last hope is to find me a nice Irish boy (man) and get married to stay in the country!  HAHA – just a joke!  I now know what the movie “Greencard” means! 

 Something will turn up.  Pray for me EVERYONE!  I love this country, but I can’t seem to stay here.

 I have a few things on the burner, and we’ll see what happens.

My sister Traci said that she heard that people that are not-family or friends are reading my blog?!?!  I am shocked!  I thought only family and friends could put up with my ramblings!  But if any would just like to make a comment even if just their first name and where they are from- I would love to know!  And I’m sure everyone else would too!

 OK – Off. Take care everyone.

Love Kym

A Weekend to Remember- Noeline – Part One

Feb 11-12^th, 2006

I don’t know where to start.  It’s like I have been transported into another world and have lived a life and now I’m back and am at the place and time that I left before my “little adventure”!  
 
I will try and start at describing my hostess- and I’m sure that I will go off on tangents, so please bear with me.
 
My hostess is a woman from South Africa. She is in the second half of her life, but she has the energy of a woman in the early first half.  I am in my late 40’s and she can run circles around me.
 
Her name is Noeline.  That’s all you need, for EVERYONE knows that name of Noeline-even people that have never met her-they all KNOW of her.  She has quite a reputation and the shock is that the majority of people’s impressions are from “good” all the way up the scale to “in awe”.  I have to say that I’m in “the awe” group. And I’m sure that by the time that I finally get it all out about her- you will also never have met her, but know about her and will be awe of her.  Let’s take a bet?
 
I spoke to Noeline a few months back.  Another woman, Mary in Westport, whom I did not know but met on the web, gave me Noeline name.  I was asking Mary for information on Westport and she obliged. I then asked if I could barter a bed from Mary and she declined, but turned me on to Noeline.  Mary told me lots of things about Noeline and I was hooked at that point, yet I hadn’t talked to this woman yet! 
 
I called up Noeline and she was larger then life.  She was passionate, excited, compassionate, nurturing and so helpful.  But she said she also was not able to put me up.  At least she did say, when you get into the area-look me up and I’ll make you dinner. (Which is funny-since she hasn’t cooked or even turned on her stove for many years!)  I was disappointed by her lack of ability to put me up- I really wanted to spend time with this amazing creature and see into her life and her passions.  Just talking to her, it touched something in myself that was missing – which I never realized it was missing.  I usually would tell you all the things that excited me in this conversation- but have no worries, it will all come out in the next pages in great description! (Do you really think that I withhold all this from you?)

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Just a note – I just downloaded the “meeting the family” blog. It’s been grand with my new family and they are so accomadating. It’s been lovely. But the travel and stress is still playing out on my body. I have cold sores all around my mouth and my teeth hurt and I am so not in the moment- that I was filling up my all important hot water bottle (my new lover) and poured boiling hot water all over my left hand and have horrable blisters!

I did hook up with the south Africian woman that I hope I mentioned before – she is so amazing and has had second thoughts (kick in the pants from my guides no doubt) and has asked me to come stay at her home for a few nights. I will be really nice to get out of the hostel for a few nights. She does have 19 dogs now and 13 cats – so I’m sure that I will be getting lots of attention (sniffing) when I’m with her.

My new family are very attentive and I had a surprise visit from my hunky cousin Anthony today and he took me to lunch- we are going to be great friends. We have a lot in common and he has offered to help me with the weight loss thing. He’s big on hill climbing and we are going to plan our first outing. He is also going to help me figure out the little things needed to put photos on my blog! Then you can see all the new family and some of the other things that I see.

No job yet, finalized my resume and I will be off to copy it and start dropping it to shops. PRAY for me. I am going to a book reading club this PM. Figured it was a good place to meet other Westport people and make more connections. Family is looking for work for me too and giving me some heads up as to where to look.

OK – as ususal this note has turned into letter.

Take care all my friends and family and if anyone is interested in helping me on my journey- contact my sister Traci – all help would be greatly appreciated! Also I will be down loading photos to my sister within the week. (have to get my cousin Anthony’s network – down loading photos is quite expensive at the internet place.) But I will have some out and Traci will be making them – so you can always buy some of the cards – that helps too.

Thanks again to all that have already sent me some assistance. You are in my prayers.

Love Kym

February 4, 2006

The Meeting of Family

When I was just a wee bit of a tot, I can remember having big get together’s with my immediate and extended family. These occasions were not appreciated, as they should have been. I had no idea that as my aunts and uncles and all my cousins converged into my Grandmothers house, that these days were not to last. I didn’t know that they would be forever etched into my mind as some of the best times in my childhood memories. I loved these times; this is what family was – all of us. Even as the beer and liquor was passed around, and the disagreements were sure to follow, I didn’t know. I didn’t know that they were going to be short sweet morsels of time that I would long for, for the rest of my adult life. I didn’t know that the yelling and crying that were sure to ensue when you get boys and girls cousins together of all ages, were moments that I would seek out even if unconsciously- for the remainder of my days…

They didn’t last. As my grandmother and grandfather got older, and Great-uncles and aunts moved to warmer weather and more had passed away- we were never to have these impromptu get-togethers. They started to dwindle down to only happen around the holidays and as sand drains through the glass of time- these family times together became memories.

The next generation began to have them. They were great times with my mother’s siblings. We knew each other, we got mad at each other, and we loved each other. But they didn’t last either. I remember asking my Aunt Gail why we didn’t get together like in the old days and she said that it was the ebb and flow of life. The family gets together when the children are young, but as life and family grows, they as an individual family have to start to bond on their own. It wasn’t because of something that had happened – but it just happens. It’s the way that life goes. I remember being very upset about this- I felt that there was so much to learn and more bonding to do with the family as a whole- not in its smaller parts. But I accepted it-begrudgley.

Even into our 40’s my sister Traci has tried to revive these moments. Getting her immediate and extended family together with other sides of the family (in-laws and such). But they don’t have the same feelings. They don’t have the same commonerity, the feeling of connections. They leave us disappointed. They leave us still empty. Is the feeling of family get-togethers only a time of the past- never to be experienced again?

I don’t have the answer…. at least I didn’t, until I walked into the home of Teresa Walsh and HER family, which I’m so happy to know- is now MY family.

On our last visit, Teresa with daughter-in-law, Mary in tow, set up the time of 11AM to pick me up at the hostel on Saturday. I had gotten up early and wanted to get into the shower before the 2 women and 1 man, who were for Germany, in the room next to me got up and were getting about.

My intent was to shower and dress and get down to the common room to meet with Afia (E-FA) to see where I can help out before I leave for the day. I have to trade work for my bed and I don’t want to cause any hard feelings with this arrangement.

I got down about 9:45 and Alfia was not around. Here in Ireland there is a program of recycling. The Mill is involved in the program, and the benefits are great. They get free recycled building materials for their involvement. It is big business here and everywhere people are involved. Alfia was off to the dump (recycling center) this morning. In her place was Mr. Dreamy- his real name is Allen and he’s the construction guy that is re-doing the floors in the dorms. He’s in his late 20’s, good looking, and has dark wavy hair. A really nice body – not too big and not small, and wears his jeans well. He is educated, well versed in plays, events, and poetry. He is a rugby player, likes to visit the pubs for a pint or two, and he’s such a hard worker. He’s the whole package. And he is SO easily on the eyes! If I was a bit younger…but I’m not, so eye candy he will stay. Anyway, he was in having some breakfast and he was talking with a woman from England. The woman was originally born in Westport, and then was transplanted to England to grow up. Her mother is in a retirement center in England and hates it, as this woman does too (hates England). She is on a researching trip to seek out a new place in Ireland to move her mother and herself too. She has of course has a bit of a fancy for Westport and she is checking out the possibilities. She is pure Irish in the way that she loves to talk – as do Mr. Dreamy, and I so we have a bit of a crack going this AM.

I’m a bit anxious because I need to be up at the top of the street by 11AM, yet I need to get some work done to keep things in good shape with Alfia. So at 10AM on the dot I go to the dorm to start stripping 8 beds (which I heard Alifa say the day before). But as I enter, I see that there are still some boys in bed! I say check out was at 10AM, and turn and leave. I go back down to the common room and have a bit of tea and wait. About 20 minutes later, I see 2 young men come down and leave. So I make my way back up. I walk in on a boy getting dressed after a shower. I am all the way in now and I do have a schedule- so I apologize after being startled. I go to the other end of the room and start stripping the beds. This boy leaves and another enters from the shower room. When I finally get to where this boy is packing I make mention to him that he is lucky that I found him still in bed and not my boss. I told him she would let him know in no uncertain way that he was in need to get himself gone. He said, well then I’m certainly glad that you found us this morning. He was an American and I asked where was he from? He said that he was from Ohio. I said, No way! So am I! I asked, where in Ohio? And he said Bay Village. I was shocked – I’m in Westport Ireland and I run into a boy from the next suburb over from me! I told him I was from Avon Lake! We chatted a bit and he told me that he was on holiday from school. He was in a year program in Ireland and he would be returning in May to Ohio. He asked me how long I would be in Ireland and I told him that I intended on never returning to America, that I wanted to make my home here. We wished each other luck and I told him to check out my cards in Bay Crafters Gallery, in BAY VILLAGE – OHIO!
It’s a small, small world…

I got the beds stripped, fluffed the others and took all the laundry down to the staff room and got a load started. And got back to the common room with 10 minutes to spare.

At 11AM I went out to see my newfound cousin- Mary. As I was waiting, Alifa drove up, we conversed and Mary came up. She had her cousin with her and we all walked down the street to the parked car. Parking is so hard around here that Mary parked all the way by the Petrol shop. (Gas station). I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to get the fact that the cars drivers seat is on the opposite side of the car! I walked up to the car and stood on the wrong side. This habit is so engrained in me! And the ride! I am so freaked out being on the wrong side! I had to close my eyes a few times with all the curves and the fast speed in which they drive!

I saw GREEN, GREEN, and GREEN. It was grand to finally see the Ireland that I have always seen in photos.

Mary, who is the wife of my cousin Liam have been married since 1998. Which was the same year that both my sister Debby and I had married our husbands. They do not have children, unable to. We drove past her house and it was a newly built 2-story home. It was quite nice. We drove another little bit and pulled into her mother in laws home, which was just a stones throw from her own. Mary and her cousin were just dropping me off, they were on their way to Castle bar – for some serious shopping.

Teresa welcomed me into her home with open arms! We sat had the first of many teas and just talked. She has a little dog, named Tiny, which was obviously very old. He was plopped in front of the electric heater (a staple in all Irish homes) and was on his blanket. I could feel his sorrow like it was held on a chain around his neck. I knew he was old, but the sorrow was not from age. I was compelled to get down on the floor with this poor dog. I slowly moved to pet him and I tried to give him some good energy. He was so sad-it made me sad. Teresa said that he was Ted’s dog and he would sit upon Ted’s knee. So that was it, her husband Ted had been gone for 4 years now; the poor sole missed his master. I wanted to cry. He was just waiting to be with him again. Later in reference to this little sad dog, Anthony (I will have a lot to talk about him later) Teresa son, said that in the old days all the dog ever thought of was eating, sleeping and licking his balls- but now he only does two! I kind of guessed which two.

Teresa is a kind woman. She is not loud and not too soft voiced. She is going to be 72 his year and she is as spry as a woman in her early 60’s. And she even looks very young for her age. She is mad for her family and they are all very close. Her son Liam is stones throw down the lane and her daughter Geralyn (Ger-A-Linn) 45 lives through the hedge. She said that she and Ted had the property and she gave it to them to build a new home. Her son Anthony 32 lives with her. He had moved to Spain for a few years when he fell in love with a girl that he had met in Ireland but lived in Spain with her family. He left a good job; sold all his stuff and packed up everything he had and followed her back. But after 2 ½ years the relationship was more working the family’s grape farm then it was a relationship and he returned home.

I got out my computer to show Teresa the letters that she wrote 45 years ago to my Grandmother (her 1st cousin) in America. She is so taken by the fact that anyone would save the letters and all this time too. I told her that they were meant for me to have, just to find her and her family! (She might think I’m odd, but that’s ok.) I told her that she wrote “I do wish my American cousins would come to Ireland for a visit”. I told her – 45 years later, I have finally arrived and she had invited! She has told EVERYONE – Be careful what you put down on paper!

We were alone for a bit and then Anthony came in. As soon as he walked into the room I saw his look lock onto the laptop computer. He went to hug me and said do you know whom I am? And I said you must be Anthony the way that you looked at my computer! And he laughed and said you got me! Anthony is a computer IT person and he’s GORGOUS! What a stunner! He looks so much like his Grandfather, John Callaghan and his uncle John JR. They have VERY distinct jaw lines. Very strong and sharp. And with the tall height, trim body and dark hair – he is just beautiful! And when he talks, you just fall in love with him! He is smart, very health conscious and very generous. He is attentive, and has the dirtiest sense of humor I have ever seen or heard! EVERYTHING is something sexual to him. And he has absolutely no sense of appropriateness to him! He’ll talk about masturbation, and ball licking, and milking tits and anything else he can! He’s a riot! He is very spiritual and can talk in depth about it. Later in the day, while the radio was BLARING the football game between Mayo county and Kerry County, Anthony and I were able to talk a bit more about Spirituality, metaphysics and other such topics. It turns out that he is very open to such thought and he told me about a book called the Power of Now, which I was familiar with, and even owned but had not been able to get through it. It was thick material, but Anthony had said that it had really changed his life. He offered me a book or the audiotapes to listen to. I also had gotten the tape and found them even harder to listen to. The author has the most monotone voice I had ever heard and it has prevented me from reading or listening to the book. But I did agree that I would try and read it again and he gave me his book. He had said that his brother Sean also read the book and they had lively discussions on the topics that it brought up. This excited me much more then Anthony could of imagined. To find family that understood and found great interest in some of the areas that I am into was a joy to behold! I can’t wait to be involved in some of these discussions! Anthony also told me of some friends of his that are into the psychic areas and he will set up a meet with them. He also has met a woman that is American that runs a B&B that he will set up with me to meet her too. She could help me through some of the issues I might find myself in with living in Ireland. He is WONDERFUL! Can you fall in love with your 3rd cousin that is 15 years younger then you? Probably not…

Then Geralyn came over with her 21-year-old son, Darrigh. (Don’t ask me how it is pronounced!) Darrigh is living with his older girlfriend and they are planning on wedding. From what I hear she is a lovely girl that is very hard working (3 jobs) and is attending the University. Darrigh has been in school, but has taken some time off to assist her in her schooling. They are sharing accommodations with another mate. He is a very good-looking young man with very dark hair that is on the longer side. Which is new for him, his mum said he has been shaving his hair off for years. But I was glad to see his beautiful longish hair. He is tall (as all the men that I have met in the family are)- and quite.

Geralyn is the beautiful woman that I first made contact with in the family. She is just stunning and she looks just like a younger version of my Aunt Diane Mahoney in America! My Aunt Diane never looked like anyone in our family; she has china skin, dark brown-black hair, very fine features and wonderful arched eyebrows and lush lips. She has always been stunning and she still is in her late 50’s. But now- seeing Geralyn, I see someone that looks just like her. It’s so funny and comforting- looking at Geralyn I saw my best friend, my Aunt and it felt like home for a little while. It made me miss my Aunt and I wished she could be here with me, meeting her 2nd cousin, Geralyn. It’s mad how our genes work…

Geralyn is funny. She (and her mother) is quite the jokester. They see the funny natures of their family members and they like to pull their strings a bit but it is all in good-natured ness. Geralyn is talkative and always moving. She just can’t seem to sit still for two long. She noticed that like her I too shake my leg, unconsciously. I told her that my older sister Debby does the same thing and it drives my mum crazy! She said that she and someone else (can’t recall) also does it. She also has a lovely body. She has a woman’s body but in a small package. Which means that she has curves. She is quite trim which is surprising since she is quite good at eating. She said that her brother Sean (pronounced Shawn) is the “bin” (garbage can) and everything that is left over is pushed on Sean and if he weren’t here, it would be her! How she keeps her cute figure is a mystery to me!

Ever since I met Geralyn she told me about a cousin of hers that knows EVERYTHING there is to know about family. Her name is Marie and I have been looking forward to meeting her for days! She was the daughter of Annie Callaghan O’Donnell, the sister to Teresa. All day, Teresa kept calling them (Marie and Annie) to see where they were. Marie showed up first with her youngest boy, Neil. Neil is about 2 ½ and very active. Teresa’s house is on the small side, especially with all of us in attendance, and that little boy was everywhere. He feels like an old soul to me and his eyes were much older then his age. He didn’t talk well, but he certainly got his points across to his mum. Marie has two older sons, one is in university and the other one is around 14, so this little Neil was a bit of a surprise. Since Marie has had such a gap between her older children and Neil- it’s like having her first baby again. The child boss’s her around; he is the little Napoleon, telling her where to sit and what to do for him. She is a dotting mum and she adores that little boy.

Marie in her own right is a character! She is like a sponge with everything going on around her. She’s amazing! You can read it in her eyes- even if
Geralyn hadn’t told me- I could see that she watched with a watchful eye and took it all in. Nothing gets past Marie. And she has a million questions! All that I completely enjoyed answering, I’m quite a detail kind of person myself – so it was fun. I knew that she didn’t get answers to a quarter of the questions that were bouncing around in her head and I knew that we would certainly find time to get together. But one of the funniest things that Marie has a fetish for is Football – Mayo Football to be exact! Everyone in this little town seems to live for football! But it’s not American football; it’s more brutal because they don’t wear padding! They look like soccer players to me but they run with a football…I don’t get it yet, but when I do, I’ll explain it better. But Marie is a freak for it! She yells, claps, hoots and hollers and SWEARS! She is so funny to watch! She can still listen to everything around her as she jumps and carries on!

Football is broken down into counties. Mayo is the county we are in and they were playing against Kerry County. Marie’s husband (P.J. (Patrick Joseph) and son’s Deckon and Donnell (sp?) went down to the Kerry game and where making quite a event of it. Marie stayed home with Neil and came to visit us.

Next to come in was Annie Callaghan O’Donnell- the most wonderful little Irish lady in the world! She is just beautiful and funny and sweet and just so SHARP! She is the eldest of this clan and I just fell in love with her the moment I met her! She’s the grandmother that everyone would want! She is so interested in the family in America and she can tell a joke, pulls your leg and give you a lecture (on the dangers of poker!) all in one minute and throw her hands up over her mouth trying to stop the laughter! I just wanted to put my hands on her face and never let her go!

She was so tickled when she read the letters that she wrote so many years ago to her first cousin, Mary Middleton (my grandmother). She was amazed that anyone would keep her letters! She read every one of them and loved the photos’ that I had scanned into my computer. She is a joy and so lovely! I told her that I was going to take so many photos of her that she would feel like a model! I also want to draw her to capture her essence! I intend on visiting her often! Her niece Geralyn said that she is a true little Irish woman that lives in a little Irish cottage! And boy was she right! She is the essence of Ireland! She also lost her husband 5 years ago.

Annie’s son Sean (Shawn) brought her over and you could see the family resemblance of Annie, Sean, Marie and Neil – they have wider faces with deeply set eyes that are far apart. Very different from Teresa’s family with their far skin with dark hair (at least most of them) with very sharp features.

Geralyn had to run off to Westport again for something (she is a typical mum with the driving kids back and forth from places) and she came back with her husband Dermot Ruddy. Dermot is from a family of 12 children and his mother is a Mac Bride! Apparently Westport is where the Mac Brides are originally from in Ireland! (Many Mac Brides dropped the “a” for different reasons) So he thinks that we can find my fathers family in these parts! Wouldn’t that be wild if I was Westport blood on 2 sides?) There is even a statue in the Mall (long waterway) in Westport of Major John Mac Bride. He was Vice Commander-of the Irish Republican Army. Who died for Ireland on May 5th, 1916.

Dermot is a very tall man with a very long face. He has very strong features also. He has a very thick accent and is the one I had the most difficulty to understand. He is so nice and was gracious enough to go home (through the hedge) to get his family photos. His father was the highest paid man in Westport, he was the Fire Chief and he did a lot to make this town what it was. But his dad believed that “Life was worth living, no owning” so he never purchased a home, so when he died, there was only small items to split up between the 12 children. Dermot said that it saved a lot of fighting! Dermot got the photos that his dad dearly collected and he said it was in the thousands! With 12 children, I’m not surprised! His dad had also taken the time to make a calendar of such of all the children names and birth dates. Dermot said there was just too much to keep in your mind! And that list was given to me to add to the family history! I was thrilled!

Remember I mentioned that Teresa was quite the chain puller? Well, she loves to pull Dermot’s chain with sports- she acts like she is rooting for the Kerry league and not the Mayo league and Dermot falls for it every time! She’s funny and they all do it with such love!

Teresa’s son, Sean arrived in the mist of all this and he had with him his 2-½ year old son, Steven. What a pistol Steven is. Apparently he is just talking and everyone is so excited because Stevens’s older brother didn’t talk until he was 6 years old! And Steven was not looking to be pushing the talking thing either, but he has now blossomed and everyone is so happy! But he was having none of a good time with his little cousin Neil! He and Neil were not in very sharing moods and they butted heads a few times. It’s fun to watch them – knowing that they will be the best of friends in a few years and will never know the torment they caused each other when they were little!

Sean looks very different from the other siblings. He is fair skinned with a red base to it and has red hair. He is good looking and is well built. He is a builder and works for his brother Liam. Their father was also a builder, so it’s true the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Sean is a quite kind of fellow, and talks softly. Sean was installing a pergo (wood flooring system) in his mother’s sitting room. And a few months ago, he did her bathroom. (I’m not sure if he did it alone- I don’t want to slight anyone.) Teresa says that he is a real hard worker and he’s a perfectionist (per his sister in law, Mary)

And last but certainly not least is Laura. She is the teenage daughter to Geralyn and Dermot. She is just grand! She came into the little kitchen and came right to me into my arms. She made me feel so welcomed. She said that she heard so much about me and was so excited to meet me! She is a beauty with her long dark hair and the most wonderful smile on her face. She is still in high school and very involved with EVERYTHING. She takes piano, Irish dance (lot and awards), theater; she works at the Save-More (grocery store) and baby-sits. She is so alive and the most important thing to me was she LOVES Westport! She feels that she lives in the best place in the world! She was excited to learn that I was planning on living here long term and she said that we have to get together soon. She had to fly off to baby-sit. She was one amazing young woman!

Well, that’s the low down on my new family. I ended up putting it in one LONG blog. But it gives you a view of my first meeting with them. To tell you the truth – even if I could pick the family that I wanted to find when I came to Westport – I wouldn’t of picked any family that was better. The are loving, accepting and welcoming to me. I LOVE THIS NEW FAMILY.

Teresa said something to me the first day that we met face to face. She said you have to take us as we are. And I immediately said – I would have it no other way! AND AFTER MEETING THEM – I REALLY WOULDN’T.

Cheers~
Kym

February 2, 2006

Found Family! (Part two)

I left the little jewel of a coffee shop and stopped and checked out a store that Patricia and Brian told me about. It’s the only place that you can get a newspaper – it’s called “newsagent’- they sell other stuff too, but no one else carries the newspapers. And trust me there are tons of different newspapers, from all over the world. I guess Ireland is so in the thick of things, they are involved in what all the other European countries are up to. I picked up the Mayo News; they told me it would have classified ads in it. I might come across one for live-in-help type ad. I didn’t, but I did see a single room, one minute from town center for 55 euros a week. But I need a job that pays me 55 euros’s a week! I’ll call tomorrow and see what’s up.

I went back to the Hostel. I wanted to think of what to do next. Of COURSE, I wanted to sit down and write to you all about my new exciting news. But I knew the day was still too early.

But I had to call SOMEONE. So I called Traci- she wasn’t home, but I did leave a message and I hope she was as happy as I was (I knew she would be!)

I decided to call Theresa Walsh. I fought with the pay phone and it finally won. I had to use my phone card to call locally! I said, hello I’m Kym McBride from America, your cousin, your daughter told you about me? She said, are you sure that you have called the right number? Here, Gerlyn never got the time to call her mother. I backed up a bit and said- I’m your cousin Mary Middleton’s granddaughter, Kym McBride from America. She was OH! Yes, Mary Middleton! She wanted to know where I was right now? I told her. You’re in Westport? Yes. She said, we have to meet, but I am going to the Garden something or other tonight in town and tomorrow I have a hair appointment and a dentist appointment…she was going over her schedule. She said, we’d have to do it on Saturday. I was disappointed, but then I realized that it was only the day after tomorrow. (Boy, you sure get messed up on what day it is when you don’t live by a calendar!) Then she said what are you doing today at 5PM? I said I would be at the hostel. She said that they would stop at the hostel and knock on the window and say hello. I was thrilled, they were excited to meet me and wanted to do it right away. I didn’t know “we” were, but I was happy to be important to whom every came to my door!

Alfia ended up coming in and we needed to go and wash down the men’s shower room. The renovations were completed and we had travelers coming in for the night. So I was up working when “dream boat” came up and said that two ladies were in the common room and they were not backpacker types. I was “OH MY- those are my relatives! And ran down the steps!

I came in and said I’m Kym, and gave Theresa a big hug. She introduced me to Mary, her son Liam’s wife. She then stepped back and said, let me get a good look at you, let me see if I see anyone in you. I have had that happen on and off throughout my life, when Aunts that haven’t seen you in a long time – and it is never comfortable. She said to Mary that I could look like so and so in England. She then turned to me and said, let’s go get a cup of tea and talk. This was great- but I was working with Alfia and we had people coming. They saw my reaction and asked if I could go? I said that I would ask. Ran up to Alfia and she said – of course go- go meet my family! (Alfia is a wonderful woman!)

I ran down and I was sweating! I was over heated and needed something to drink. We walked to at little teahouse and sat down. They got some sweets and tea and they bought me an orange juice. I was a nervous wreck! I was sweating and fidgeting and just couldn’t get relaxed.

Theresa wanted to know, how does all this fit? I figured she was referring to the same thing that her daughter needed to know, so I wrote out the same little diagram as we had done earlier. Then they could understand. Mary hardly said a word. I told them a bit about my Grandmother Mary, since Theresa had only really remembered her. She was saddened to find that she had passed on and the same with Grandpa. I don’t know if she really realized that there was such a big gap in her and grandma’s age. She probably had the same confusion that her daughter had with not being my cousin, but my mothers. I told her that Mary (grandma) had a bit of an Irish temper. This drew laughs from Theresa and she said, she doesn’t have a temper, does she? In Mary’s direction and Mary (who is very soft spoken) said, she did – a bit! This made Theresa laugh in embarrassment. They seemed to have a fine relationship this mother and daughter-in-law!

I told Theresa that I had her letters and her father’s letters scanned in my computer. I said that I loved her father. She looked at me a bit odd. I told her that for over 25 years I had cherished Johns letters and I had to come to the land that he lived on and loved. She said that the house they lived in was down the way. I said, I thought it was gone; you wrote that it had fallen into disrepair? She said it had, and they sold it to a German family. But they know a woman that has the key and she would let us in. I was thrilled! The house survived? I said that I would love it! And I’m a photographer and I would love to photograph it for the family!

She asked if I could come with them on Saturday? I said Yes- I think so (have to check with Alfia). She said that Mary said that she would pick me up. We decided on 11AM in front of the Hostel. HEY!!

She told me that John’s father (Michael Callaghan?) died when John was 12 years old and he was the oldest and had a hard time of it. I told her I didn’t know any of this. I just knew his fathers name and his mother’s name (Anne Mylott). And of course, I pronounced it wrong – all these years, I had been pronouncing it wrong! That’s just like me!

She said that their graves where down at a name I couldn’t understand, she was talking to Mary. Mary said, we could go there on Monday. I was like “really?” Saturday and Monday? Yes! We can go to the graves of Mary and Michael? Are they like in America with writing and such? Yes. Oh great, I can get a rubbing! Thank you so much.

I told them that I was so happy that I found family. That it has been very lonely living in a hostel. I felt so much emotion bubble up, I was tearing up and they saw. I was bit embarrassed- but they didn’t say anything, they just knew what I felt.

They had to run, Mary had a doctors appointment. I said thank you so much for everything, and I can’t wait to see you on Saturday. We hugged and I floated to the hostel. Happy that I had found family, but mostly because I found John’s family.

Kym