WHO DOESN'T want to go to Ireland? What IS it about that place? The whole world just celebrated St. Patrick's Day. It is obvious that there is a general appreciation for Ireland. I have been on the outskirts of that appreciation for my whole life! In ONE day, I will be heading to Ireland. I can't claim any direct lineage to Ireland. Those who can claim it loudly because IRELAND IS COOL. From my self-taught understanding of history, it is a country of strong, kind, survivors. I align myself with this. I am adopted and don't know much about my own lineage. I DO know, from a recent DNA test that on my mother's side I am (give or take) about 60% Scottish/Irish/English. Even though that may seem random or general, to someone who knows NOTHING concrete about their family past, it is like drinking from a well of fresh, clear, spring water to know SOMETHING. I will go with it. I PROUDLY proclaim whatever Irish heritage I may have :).
Crazy. It's quite odd, really. When we have a life-long dream about something, and then the fulfillment of that dream sits in our palm, it's a bit surreal. It is one thing to DREAM. It is quite another to step out and INTO that dream.
My husband is mostly to blame for this. He has had a vision and a hope of going to Ireland with me, since we got married. Well, thirteen years and three kids later, I am being sent as an Ambassador of the Mesple family to Ireland. He gifted this trip to me this past Christmas. There have been bumps in the road of fulfilling this dream, even since Christmas. Not horrid and offensive bumps, but challenges to this plan coming to fruition. I almost didn't go, a number of times. Those bumps were pretty legitimate challenges NOT to be ignored or minimized, but the call from the Emerald Isle ultimately won out. We had to be creative and push through those challenges.
Standing face to face with a life-long dream and jumping in head first seems like a no-brainer, as far as the emotions around it. Yet, as I mull over this next 24 hours in my heart, there is something oddly scary about the whole thing. I don't mean that I am scared traveling by myself overseas, or scared navigating public transportation in a new country, or anything like that. I mean, scary like "wow, this event is about to give birth to something VERY unknown". It seems like an easy thing, going to a place you have always wanted to go. However, it is a little bit like dating somebody for YEARS, over the internet, without EVER meeting. Perhaps pictures have been exchanged, but no personal connection has been made yet. There is a DESIRE burning in your gut to meet the other person.
When it comes right down to it, my hands are a little sweaty, my heart is beating fast, I will be checking my makeup and my dress (to make sure it isn't all catywampus), and I feel NERVOUS.
I have wanted to meet you, Ireland, for a LONG time. I am SURE we will have a long and prosperous relationship. This IS just the beginning. I really look forward to getting through our first date without totally falling apart by feeling overwhelmed with emotion. All in all, I know our meeting will be brilliant.
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