Ireland

I've always wanted to see Ireland. Hopefully, I will one of these days, and I'll take my son with me so he can learn a bit about his Irish roots ("Tierney" is a very old Irish surname). For my husband's paternal line, he and our son are the last ones living - all of the other male Tierneys are gone. My husband's father died in 1973, when my husband was a few weeks shy of 5 years. My husband's grandfather was already deceased by the time my husband was born. I also have some Irish heritage, but it goes further back in time.

If there is some truth about having past lives, my love of Celtic culture makes me think that I must've had a past life in the world of clans, mystical standing stones, and druids. The song below was sung by Cherish the Ladies; its melody embodies the longing I have to visit this beautiful island.

"Erin Gra Mo Chroi" (Ireland of my heart)

Chorus 1:-

Ohh Erin gra mo chrói, you're the dear old land to me
You're the fairest that my eyes did e'er behold
You're the land Saint Patrick blessed
You're the bright star of the west
You're that dear little isle so far away

At the setting of the sun, when my long day's work was done
I rambled down the seashore for a walk
And I being all alone I sat down upon a stone
For to gaze upon the scenes of New York

Chorus 2:-

Oh Erin gra mo chrói, you're the dear old land to me
You're the fairest that my eyes have ever seen
And if ever I go home, it's from you I never will roam
You're my own native land so far away

With the turf fire burning bright on a cold dark winter's night
And the snow flakes falling gently to the ground
When Saint Patrick's Day has come, my thoughts will carry me home
To that dear little isle so far away.

Chorus 1:-

Oh Erin gra mo chrói, you're the dear old land to me
You're the fairest that my eyes have ever seen
You're the land Saint Patrick blessed
You're the bright star of the west
You're that dear little isle so far away

On the day that I did part, well it broke my mother's heart
Will I never see my dear ones anymore?
Not until my bones are laid in the cold and silent grave
In my own native land so far away

Chorus 2:-

Oh Erin gra mo chrói, you're the dear old land to me
You're the fairest that my eyes have ever seen
And if ever I go home, it's from you I never will roam
You're my own native land so far away
You're my own native land so far away

It's all in how you look at it

I can remember the years when my mother, her boyfriend, and I would go on our annual summer vacation. My mother's boyfriend had a truck and camper that we would use for the trips; he and Mom would be in the cab and I would be inside the camper perched in the top bunk overlooking the cab, giving me a prime view of the road ahead of us. Alone, I would let my daydreams just run wild, but when my cousins came along, we would read license plates and see what words could be formed from the letters on them. We never came across letter combinations that resulted in adult language; although, my cousins and I would have never let our parents know if we did.

Today, I read an article about a license plate snafu in North Carolina that involved the registration letters: WTF. In computer and text message parlance, these letters stand for something..."What the f***?" I find it comical that this wasn't picked up sooner. Surely, someone had to have realized the significance of those letters before the plates were ever distributed. Either that, or its significance was noticed and someone thought it funny to allow the distribution to continue.

Had I been among the recipients of such a letter combination, I think I would have keeled over laughing. I also would have likely kept my plates for the conversations it would provoke. People in North Caroline do have the option of exchanging their "WTF" plates for more appropriate plates at no additional cost to them. I wonder how many will take the state up on that offer. Will we find cars bearing the letters "WTF" on our freeways soon? I can't wait to find out!

Parenthood

When your child discovers how to operate the volume control on the stereo,

When your child realizes how to get under your skin with a scream that sends shivers down your back and makes your ears ring,

When your child discovers that he can reach that container of baby powder, turn the cap to open it and spread it throughout his bedroom...quietly,

When your child discovers how to turn on the dishwasher before you're ready to actually run a load,

When your child finds joy in dumping his bath water onto the bathroom floor...one brimming cup at a time,

When your child (too young to be outside alone) realizes that he can now open the front door, manipulate the safety lock on the storm door, and make a bee line for the outdoors while you're occupied with another chore,

When your child discovers how to lock you out of the house while you're hanging laundry on the clothesline,

When your child takes pleasure in throwing his food all over the kitchen floor rather than letting you know that he's either not hungry or he's done,

I remember the following moments:

When he's not feeling good and all he wants is to cuddle with mommy,

When he runs up to greet you with a hug after he's been at daycare all day,

When he smiles at you and entices you to play with him,

When he freely shows affection even after he's been scolded for doing something wrong,

When you go to his room to get him up in the morning and see him sleeping peacefully in his bed,

When nighttime comes and you gather him up in your arms for cuddle time before he's tucked into bed,

I realize that despite all of my doubts, being a parent is worth every trying, hair-raising moment.


There are many days where I question my parenting skills. So far, I only have one child, so any new milestone is a new experience for me, and I often feel like I have no clue what I'm doing. I do realize that parents aren't perfect, but I also know that not everyone is suited to care for children. With my son's disorder, life can sometimes be a little extra trying, making me want to pull my hair out. My boy is getting bigger by the day and every day it seems that he is able to reach for forbidden items that were once out of his reach.

Stormy Weather

Lately, we've been getting some nice thunder storms rolling through, which gives me something to look forward to during this quiet summer. With gas prices as they are and being down to a single paycheck until the new school year begins, taking trips is out of the question.

I've always loved storms, and the bigger they are, the better they are! There's something about a big storm's pending arrival that gets me excited. I love the smell of the rain just before it arrives. At night, the sound of thunder lulls me to sleep. Often, though, I prefer staying awake through the storm's duration, so I don't miss a single rumble. I love to hear the wind pick up and create the rustling in the trees outside my window. Gratefully, my son sleeps through them, allowing me to savor the moment.

While I love big storms, I do appreciate the danger they can present. Not too long ago, a tornado touched down within 10-20 miles of my house. This part of Texas has a relatively low elevation level, so homes are not built with basements, which would be helpful considering we live in Tornado Alley. Due to the water table, swimming pools must remain filled year-round just so they don't rise up out of the ground. Here, many homes are built on cinder blocks or concrete foundations. Without the basement feature, many of us are sitting ducks should a tornado rip through. I live in a 9-year old pre-fab home that wouldn't stand a chance against a twister, and there is no place for us to take proper shelter. Yet, despite this danger, I relish the storm clouds that roll through with their own brand of music. One of these days, I would love to spend a summer going storm chasing. I would love to get my fill of the wild beauty. Also, storms possess a lot of inspiration; their force is a reminder of our mortality and Man's ultimate inability to tame those forces which wreak havoc on our lives, property, and means of survival.

Summertime Alliteration

I felt like playing with words today. Although poetry has never been my strength when it comes to writing, I'm always willing to try when the mood strikes me. I'm much better at weaving stories. It's late at night now and I'm ready to sleep, so this probaby would have turned out better if I were more alert.

Darkness slowly succumbs to the sun,
As birds begin their morning song.
The cool summer breeze blows gently
Against yielding branches and lazy leaves,
Their rustling sounds a soothing accompaniment
To the delicate descant of birdsong.

The golden orb now hangs high,
Its intensity increasing by the moment.
Heat shimmers hypnotically above the pavement,
As children on bicycles break its spell,
Their laughter rising into arid air.
Fragrant flowers in vibrant colors grace nearby lawns
Perfuming the air with scintillating scents,
Their nectar a lure to hummingbirds
Hovering high and low to drink in the sweetness.

The sun has set and dusk is here,
Enticing crickets to chirp and frogs to croak.
Stars slowly appear in the darkening sky,
Their light turning children's thoughts to
Wishes of perpetual play and carefree days.

Haunted

She walks through her days
In abstract thought,
Longing for a life
That may never be.
Memories fill her mind
Of affections unrequited,
The object of her heart
Now belonging to another.
Unsaid words of artless devotion
Remain locked inside
Aching to see the light of day,
His ears never to hear
Their poetic verse
Meant only for him.
His countenance haunts
Her for eternity,
Rendering a lachrymose heart
Ever aching for arms
That will never open wide
Nor know the passion that awaits them.