The May Yous
When our friends John and Rebecca decided to get married, Ireland was where they tied the knot. John is a friend from Kanuga where my longest, strongest and most important friendships were forged. This is a group that remains in touch, and that is a gift. A big group of us all former summer staff and campers were the hosts, and the party was held at an iconic historic Montford home in Asheville belonging to our friend, Margaret.
It was a gorgeous afternoon going into early evening where the temperature was not too hot or cold. Guests gathered on the wrap around porch, on the lawn and later inside. I created slips of paper that began with “May you…” for the guests to craft wishes, blessings, hopes - you name it - and place them in a box. Our friend, Joe, read them aloud with over-the-top radio announcer skills, and, then, Rebecca and John had a box to tote home, to cherish, and, maybe, to bring down from a shelf for reminiscing.
When I graduated from college, I spent 11 months traveling in Europe with a too heavy backpack and a mammoth sized sleeping bag. Two weeks of that trip were spent hitchhiking in Ireland with friends Cathy and Kay from Australia. We often had rides with mack truck drivers who bought us coffee. There was competition for rides in the afternoons when school let out. Everyone we met was friendly and generous with us, proud of their heritage. The country was magical and beautiful to behold. One woman gave us a ride and took us to her house for tea and homemade Irish brown bread and then invited us to spend the night. We’d spent the day riding bikes along the Dingle Peninsula, so we stayed and helped her husband and her feed all manner of farm animals, something about which we knew nothing. They took us to where we needed to catch a ferry the next day.
These experiences are gifts and blessings. They are the feel-good kind. There are other types of blessings that we may not be able to appreciate until later, sometimes much later. Unexpected events, changes and shifts that can blindside us and leave us feeling vulnerable, resentful and scared. This can include anything. Our experiences are personal, private and matter regardless of what others may think or feel about them. With time, we can hopefully look back and find nuggets of wisdom and learning in those experiences. As our friend, Earle, says, “time takes time.”
Here are some Irish proverbs to use as journal prompts. Pluck from them the messages that feel applicable today. Know that these, along with any wisdom, is available whenever we want to return to it, find it, connect with it whether for the first time or as we need it along the way.
“May your heart be light and happy, may your smile be big and wide, and may your pockets always have a coin or two inside!”
"A good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures."
“May the hinges of our friendship never grow rusty!”
“You’ll never plough a field by turning it over in your mind.”
“May neighbors respect you, trouble neglect you, the angels protect you, and Heaven accept you.”
“A little fire that warms is better than a big fire that burns.”
“May your home always be too small to hold all of your friends.”
Let me know how it goes. I’d love to hear from you.