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Sunflowers for Father’s Day ~ Gatherings from Ireland # 165

socialbridge — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 13:33:48 +0000

I was going to give Father’s Day a skip this year ~ after all, this is my third Father’s Day since Dad died and there’s always that sense that one should ‘move on,’ whatever that means!

I was doing a spot of shopping yesterday at Ardkeen Stores in Waterford and as I made for the groceries, two huge sunflowers sat in a vase on the counter of the florist’s section. I carried on, though made sure I didn’t spend all my money on groceries!

Sunflowers are synonymous with Dad, given his love of Van Gogh, colour, nature and basking in the sun.

The sunflowers seemed to be looking at me with the most appealing eyes when I was passing them on the way out with a trolley full of locally grown fruit and vegetables. I edged over towards them and it suddenly hit me that father and I had shared over 50 Father’s Days. Surely this stands for a lot more than three without him?

At first I was going to buy just one of the great big yellow blooms ~ to symbolise Dad. But the woman in the shop said: The one that’s left is going to be lonely, you know. Why not take the pair? I’ll give you a good deal.

When I ventured down to the kitchen this morning, all I could do was smile when I saw the sun glinting through the yellow petals.

Time and Tide ~ Gatherings from Ireland # 166

socialbridge — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 20:00:48 +0000

I was greeted here in Tramore this morning with ‘the first rose of Summer’ in the garden which had obviously been working very hard as Ireland slept.

The tide was high when I made my way to the beach at Annestown and seeing a lobster pot washed up on the sand, my mind and heart went straight to the families of the three Bolger brothers who were drowned just off Tramore Bay, while checking lobster pots, during the week.

Somehow, I feel that the rose is blooming for their grieving mother and all the roses in Co.Waterford and far beyond that burst forth last night as she faced the sadness of attending the funerals of her strong sons.

Life and the sea can be so, so cruel but I hope that the men’s families find some solace and comfort in knowing that the whole of Ireland is grieving with them.

Dementia: Assisted Loving | Psychology Today

socialbridge — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 11:59:37 +0000

Reblogged from Loss, Grief, Transitions and Relationship Support:

Amy Ferris: Assisted Loving | Psychology Today.

This post resonates so much with me as I think of my Aunt Anna, who had dementia, but who also had guts, a sense of fun, the most romantic heart you can imagine ~ she married for the first time at age 72 ~ and a longing to remain forever young. I used to bring Cosmopolitan mazagine to her in the nursing home every month and after she'd read it she would say: 'Give this to your mother. It won't do her any harm and might do her some good!' Aunt Anna was 89 at that point and thankfully she and I remained connected right to the end. We had plenty of spats but I never remember an evening when she didn't say,' Thanks for coming, Love.' I'd respond: 'See you tomorrow, and she'd always answer: ' I'll be here.' And, in so many ways, she is!

Happiest Days? ~ Gatherings from Ireland # 165

socialbridge — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 12:17:23 +0000

I suspect that everyone has an age at which they believe they were at their happiest. I instinctively look to when I was three years old and spending endless hours on the beach here in Tramore, Co. Waterford.

Looking at old photographs, I can see that this was a time when I was developing my absolute love of the sea, swimming and of having the freedom to be creative.

What days do you see as your happiest?

Celebrating W.B.Yeats ~ Gatherings from Ireland # 164

socialbridge — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 21:59:37 +0000

Bridge beside W.B. Yeats’ Thoor Ballylee, Co. Galway

W.B. Yeats has been on my mind all day as he was born on June 13 in 1865. As evening started to descend, I found myself thinking more and more about him and all sorts of lines from his poems came floating into my head.

Even though W.B. Yeats has been with me all my life, he took on a whole new significance in 1999 when my son was four. It was then that I introduced him to Yeats’ poetry and bedtime reading always ended with a few of his real favourites. I always kept one poem until last, knowing that I would see his sleepy eyes close beneath his golden curls just as I reached the last two lines.

Aedh Wishes For The Cloths Of Heaven

HAD I the heavens’ embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.

William Butler Yeats

Balm for the Soul ~ Gatherings from Ireland # 163

socialbridge — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 12:29:03 +0000

Even though I’m not a religious person, old churches are places that I’ve always loved. I like them best when they are empty and the epitome of peaceful solitude.

So many churches come to mind as I write this but the one that stands out is St. James’s in lovely Stradbally, Co. Waterford.

Wildflowers by the Sea ~ Gatherings from Ireland # 162

socialbridge — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 14:30:52 +0000

The combination of wildflowers and the sea is a beauty that is almost too much to absorb here in Co. Waterford. My favourite place to float in this heaven is on the Coast Road between Annestown and Bonmahon ~ along the Copper Coast. This is the time of year that the flowers emblazon the cliffs, hedgerows and every little crevice they can find.

Tankardstown, Co. Waterford

Thoughts of Dad ~ Gatherings from Ireland # 161

socialbridge — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 12:04:27 +0000

Dad in the 1970s

June 10 was always special ~ Dad’s birthday ~ and it’s still special, even though it’s almost three years since he died. He was very much on my mind yesterday when I was doing some weeding and all sorts of things, especially his words of wisdom, came flashing into my mind. Here’s ten for June 1o:

# 1. ‘ There is no excuse for you ever to say “I’m bored.” Appreciate all the world has to offer.

# 2. ‘ Sit on wet grass and you’ll pay for it.’

# 3. ‘ Never argue with a bloody eejit.’

# 4. ‘ Always try to have a dictionary within reach.’

# 5. ‘ The relationship between healthy bank balances and signs of wealth is not as simple as you might think.’

# 6. ‘ A smile is the best make-up I know .’

# 7. ‘ If you get one good photograph after a day’s shooting, you’re doing well.

# 8. ‘ This isn’t something we can’t solve.’

# 9. ’ There’s a point when trying to see the positives in disasters becomes ridiculous.’

# 10. ‘ You never forget the people you love.’

My Woodland in Morning Light ~ Gatherings from Ireland # 160

socialbridge — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 08:47:32 +0000

Newtown Wood, just outside Tramore, is one of the most special places in my world. How wondrous to be able to run through a wood to reach the sea at the end! Often times, the wood itself draws all my attention with the rustle of the trees and songbird out-playing the whisper of the ocean.

That was just how it was, early this morning, when Newtown was bathed in summer sun.

Suicide and Grief ~ Gatherings from Ireland # 159

socialbridge — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 18:11:17 +0000

Garrarus Beach, Co. Waterford

We are basking in the most beautiful sunshine here in Ireland ~ at least I am ~ and I feel like I should be posting some of the photographs of the countryside that I’ve taken over the last week or so. However, I feel absolutely compelled to highlight two very powerful posts which really touched my heart yesterday.

Both relate to suicide, which is the other side of the sun, but both carry within them a call for all of us to be far more supportive of people who may be either contemplating suicide or grieving the loss of a loved one from suicide.

I implore you to take the time to read them as I expect they will touch you as much as they have touched me.

Here are the links:

http://whiletheworldisgoingplaces.blogspot.in/2013/06/i-am-walking-to-bridge.html

http://littleblogoflettinggo.com/2013/06/06/post-100-part-2-my-rededication-to-grief-support/