January 1
A year begins and ends all on time as predicted. Life does not, it begins and comes to an end at its own time, or maybe never ends but continues on in another dimension. As I was creating a post for a friend whose time is coming close, I have discovered a relative, has passed earlier than others would have wanted. In this process of searching of memories for my passing friend, I have come across passing memories of my own from 40 years ago.
22 at the time, I had left my family and friends behind, in the USA, the land of baseball; to visit relatives in Ireland, the Carter and Callan clans. When there I had a flash of life, being mugged by 10 lads, who opted to use my head as a football, awaking from a concussion in a hospital. Next to my bed, a newspaper, with a story of how the Dublin Catholic Youth Council needed help, to help inner city kids, like the one’s who had mugged me to stay out of trouble.
I continued on with my travels nonetheless, going from country to country speaking no language but my own, making friends, experiences and memories. In these 3 months of travels in 17 European Countries; making friends along the way.
I returned to my mother’s country of Ireland, and volunteered to help the inner-city kids of Ireland to experience life outside their flats, in the woods and streams of Glendalough. Here I made friends with the same type of lads (who had done my head in) and lasses, this time riding donkeys, making rafts, and using footballs for play. Creating good memories both ways, in the 6 months we shared.
Life can be rough, it is not always easy, but it is the only one we have. Making the best of the worst, has been a good route for me. Others take their own routes to life, we are all different and I appreciate the difference in each. I am lucky I have survived, my victories and defeats, challenges and rewards, as I do, I realize for me, that to help others helps me; so I do. I hope the memories I take, and leave will not only help me, but help those I have left them with. As those two who are on my mind at this time, have done for me.
