Light – SOCIAL BRIDGE ~ Jean Tubridy connecting with you from Ireland

The Other Side of Valentine’s Day

I am one of the fortunate ones who has a caring, loving Valentine. He’s not into Valentine’s Day but that matters not as I am well used to it now and know that he has a heart of gold and cares more about me than I could ever fully know.

But, today my heart is breaking for all those people who, for whatever, reason are trying to scramble through this day in a world that feels empty and lonely because the love of their life is no longer with them.

I think especially of older couples who have been ripped apart by Covid19 after years of togetherness or young lovers whose imagined futures have been cut short by the death of one of them from Covid or some other illness or tragedy.

Days like this can be incredibly difficult when there is an assumption that love is in the air for all when, in fact, it feels like it has been replaced by an abyss of sadness.

I suspect most of us have known Valentine’s Days like that but they can be all too easy to cast into the background. However, we need to be especially cognisant that love can bring agony as well as ecstasy and much in between and none of us knows how the dice will fall.

I just hope that those who are feeling lonely today have a treasure trove of memories to draw upon that can sustain them and that they can see even a tiny glimmer of light for the the future.

Let none of us be complacent and let all of us be empathetic.

From Darkness to Light

December 21st is a major day on my calendar because it marks the end of the dark, dark days of the year. Today in Ireland, sunrise was at 8.32am and sunset at 4.20pm. Last light is at 5.01 – that’s just in 12 minutes time, as I write.

It’s like nature knew today was Winter Solstice. The sun didn’t bother to come out and the clouds were almost touching the ground. But, my precious sea was showing white with lovely fluffy waves and the bulbs that I planted in hope back a few months ago seemed to spring up overnight as it knowing that their time is fast arriving.

I usually make a pilgrimage to one of out local dolmens on December 21 to celebrate the day but my sprained ankle is still restricting me in terms of walking on anything but the most even of even ground.

However, I am at the local dolmens in spirit and remembering times when we lived near Newgrange in Co. Meath, which is such a special place for Winter Solstice people.

It’s been a dark year with the pandemic hanging over us all and we still have a good deal to Winter out but there IS light ahead if we remain patient and treasure every little glimmer along the way.

I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness for it shows me the stars. (Og Mandino)

Last of Summer Time, 2020

Our clocks fall back tonight so it will be that much darker tomorrow evening.

I usually try to hang onto the precious hour of light but this year, I think I will try and embrace the darkness of the evenings and focus more on the light of morning.

So making the very most of every last ray of light this evening and looking forward to greeting a new dawn tomorrow.

Winter Solstice

Winter Solstice is one of my very favourite days of the year. I see it as a major turning point from darkness towards light.

It’s also a day when I hear echoes of long ago and feel the call of the ancients.

The place that speaks most of antiquity to me around Tramore is Gaulstown Dolmen which is thought to date back to 3500 BC.

I have a theory that the dolmen was constructed so that it would catch the setting sun to symbolise dying.

Here is how it was at sundown this evening.

picsart_12-21-08-38-06 — Gaulstown Dolmen, Co. Waterford

And, I love how the sun glinted through it:

Irish Intoxication

Drink to me only with thine eyes … (Ben Jonson)

What was a quick walk at sundown yesterday after a long day at the computer turned into a feast of soothing light out by Carrigavantry Lake, which is just a couple of miles from Tramore.

It brought thoughts of lines from W.B. Yeats’ wonderful Lake Isle of Innisfree:

And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight’s all a-glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet’s wings.

Carrigavantry is a place that holds all sorts of memories for son, Harry, and me and we often go there when we crave tranquillity. Yesterday, though, was different as it was an ordinary day for both of us ~ that is, if any day can ever be called ‘ordinary.’

We didn’t go there for any emotional reasons or with any inner longings but it was like as if Carrigavantry hadn’t been told that and was determined to envelope us in magical light.

The green of Spring seemed tinged with Autumnal gold as we caught our first view of the nestling blue lake:

The rusty old bath that serves as a water trough fitted in perfectly with the golden hues. There was a softness in the air that made the ordinary exude extraordinariness:

The lake itself was high and the dying sun melted into the trees that frame it:

As we left for home, a well-coated grey horse gazed a pensive farewell:

Light of My Life

On days like today, I feel like the luckiest woman in the world.

It’s all about ‘time well spent,’ and I couldn’t have asked for more than to be at the ocean with son, Harry, and Puppy Stan at sundown.

Nature was out in all her glory:

and the the colours were ever-changing.

The bond between man and dog never fails to warm my heart:

As I let my gaze wander

Touch of Ireland — Light of Ireland ~ Green, White and Gold

I hear a voice calling

as the tints change yet again …

2016-01-27 20.36.45 — Burning Embers of the Day

Evening of Light

There was lovely soft light here in Co. Waterford today.

Here is how it was:

Naturally, I just had to see high tide:

As the sun was setting, the cloud formations were mesmerising:

As night drew in, there was such calm in the moonlight looking towards the Promenade in Tramore – that place that sings “home.”

I hope your place is bathed in soothing light that calms your soul.

Throwing Shapes

Yesterday was a day of shapes for me. I seemed to be seeing them everywhere and the light was playing games as well.

Here’s a tiny sample:

Morning Time, Garrarus Beach, Co. Waterford

Rockface

Sea of Cloud

Fishing Spot at the Cliff Road, Tramore, Co. Waterford

The Metal Man and Brownstown Head, Tramore, Co. Waterford

Sundown off Garrarus, Co. Waterford

Father Dear …

I went for a late night swim last night in one of my very favourite beaches here in Co. Waterford.

The fact that it was moving towards Dad’s birthday today was on my mind ~ he was born in 1919 and died in 2010.

Imagine my surprise when I got to the swimming spot and saw that someone had written the message, that was subconsciously swirling around in my head, high up on the rocks.

I’m certainly not a fan of writing on rock faces but I must admit that this message was one which seemed to shout out what I and no doubt many other people whose beloved fathers have died, or left for some reason, feel.

The swim was divine and later I was lured by the gorgeous light out along the coast.

Lots and lots of happy memories of times spent with Dad along this Co. Waterford coastline and, of course, my thoughts wandered to Co. Clare which was his native heath ~ a place that was his absolute heaven.

Be happy. It’s one way of being wise.’ Colette

Light, Light, Light

Now that we’ve reached December 21, it feels like nature has opened the curtains so that we can lean into the light.

I got a wonderful preview of this yesterday when I went to the beach. It was like high Summer and the water was all bouncy and warm.

May you enjoy every second of nature’s magical light!