On Finding Me
Ireland cont. Part 3
I had reached Galway after having been traveling in Ireland along the Wild Atlantic Way for a good portion of the month of May of 2019. I absolutely loved this Irish city. It’s pretty and charming and not as big as Dublin or Belfast.
I had just left the beautiful Dingle Peninsula. My last stop had been Doolin. Doolin is known for its music. The pubs are frequented by the best of Irish musicians. In thinking about it, a funny story comes to mind. I had checked into a sort of hotel, which in hindsight, looked a bit like a haunted mansion…and I mean, dog slumbering in the lobby, red and fringed velvet drapes, disturbing artwork, creepy front desk worker, and so on. I then left to check out the local pubs and the great music scene I had heard so much about. The music was lively and good and I ended up sitting with a group of Scottish men. I confess I truly couldn’t understand a word they said all night!
It was midnight and rainy when I returned to the hotel and found that the hotel was locked and I couldn’t get in. There was no number to call. There was not a soul in sight (which added to the eeriness.. lol). I tried throwing pebbles against the windows in an attempt to wake someone up… I was at a loss of what to do. Sleep in the car? It kind of pissed me off…so I decided to try to break in. I went around looking for an open window or door. Luckily, I was able to pry open a little door in the back (hitting it with a rock) that led to a closet that was connected to the main house, and voila! I was inside. I laugh at it now…but it wasn’t so funny back then!
Before getting to Galway I stopped at the famous Cliffs of Moher. I understand why they are so famous. They are spectacular! I really did have a lot of Irish luck. I got there, I saw the cliffs, took photos, and then, as if by magic, a heavy fog rolled in and I could not see five feet in front of me. I was told that this happens quite often. I waited about 30 minutes to see if it cleared but it didn’t look like it would… so I left. I felt bad for all the tourists that I saw coming in big buses…wasted trip! To be able to leave the cliffs I had to go down a twisty road aptly named “Corkscrew”. Another challenge! I could not see a thing with the thick fog. It was no fun with all those huge buses going up “the wrong way”… but all is well if it ends well.
Once in Galway, I decided to take a ferry to visit the Aran Islands. There are three of them. The largest is Inishmoor. Once there I began hiking to a Fort called Dún Aengus which is located at the edge of a 100-meter high cliff. It is the most famous of several prehistoric Forts on the Aran Islands.
It took me almost an hour to climb up. However, the day was sunny but cool and spectacular. An emotion overtook me when I went thru the entrance to the Fort. It is hard to pin point the feeling. The closest would be a feeling of “completion”. I felt complete. I felt like I had come full circle.
There are moments that stay with you. These are moments that change you forever. We sometimes call them “Ah ha moments”. Instances when you realize something, a feeling seeps into you and or illumination comes your way. This was one of those moments for me.
I stood erect to my full 5ft 3in of height and closed my eyes to savor the moment. I’ve often done that during the past five years since my second life began. I looked to the left and saw the blue Atlantic Ocean that goes on and on as far as my eyes could see. The misty waves broke against the chiseled silvery rocks of the cliffs below me; and it felt right. The waves and life are the same after all…hitting me in unexpected ways but not killing me; and receding only to come back and hit me again and again. Forward, in the distance, there were threatening dark clouds looming… promising; but they didn’t worry me because they always have a silver lining. I knew that once the storm passes, there will be a perfect rainbow. I looked to the right and saw the blinding green of the Irish landscape that blended into the majestic cliffs that threatened to engulf me and yet beckoned me to jump and become lost in them at the same time. I closed my eyes once again, and felt the fresh crisp wind that caressed my face. Unexpected soft raindrops fell on my head; but I didn’t mind because I had learned how to dance in the rain. I smiled, slowly spun around, and felt the magic. I had finally met myself. Nice to find me.
