Back in late May 2020, when the pandemic was already feeling endless but we were all still in ignorance of how much longer the ordeal was yet to last, I succumbed to a fit of madness and ordered a lilac tree. Syringa chinensis, to be precise. I mean, it wasn’t complete madness. We do have…
So, I’m not very good with remembering names and faces. I’ve known this for some time. My husband and I have a long-running joke between us about my ability to see someone in a movie and be convinced that they remind me of someone who actually looks nothing like them. And if I’m introduced to…
There are a lot of extreme opinions out there about Valentine’s Day. Some people adore the hearts and flowers and the chocolate, and insist on observing all those couples’ rituals that the holiday calls to mind. Then there are those who see it as nothing more than crass commercialism, a conspiracy between chocolatiers, card makers,…
“I heard The Mister is back in Galway tonight. Are you OK?” “There’s a bottomless well of support, just so you know.” “G told me last night. How are you doing?” “You ok? I see a missed call. Phone has been dead for a few days. I heard about what happened. Is The Mister OK?”…
There are lots of terrible things about going through a crisis, but there are also a few silver linings, one of which is being reminded of how amazing your friends are, especially if you’ve been a little bit absent and stuck in your own little world lately between work and parenting and the holidays. We…
If you want to ship something to Austria in a hurry, you best use a registered mail service rather than entrust your precious parcel to the whims and furies of unchecked postmen. Many moons ago on our holiday in Doolin, we visited the Rock Shop in Liscannor. While there, I took the opportunity to purchase…
Dear Brain, I have another email from you this morning with tough news about your mom. I’m sorry that I didn’t write to you before. I have your previous two emails flagged for a response but somehow there was never any time. I am reminded of you often, whenever I come to bed and see…
Years and years ago I was studying abroad in London. I went to visit a college friend who was studying abroad in Dublin and she introduced me to the Mister. Fast forward and we both ended up in Ireland and she imported to our circle of Irish friends the American pot luck Thanksgiving Dinner tradition.…
I seem to be cursed with having extremely literary friends. I know several who have written books at this stage. Some are self-published, some are gaining steam in the traditional publishing world. Some are in the process of writing or shopping agents. I don’t mean this in a dismissive way of “oh everyone is writing…
The end of ever-increasing incrementally exhausting number of days began with me waking up not even knowing if my mother had made her flight to Dublin and ended in a bar with a friend’s birthday party, full of people I dearly loved seeing, but costing so much effort from my non-existent energy reserves that I…
Flowing from my online debate last night that derailed the previous day’s blog post, tonight’s topic will be a completely irreverent and ridiculous discussion of trolling on social media. I have serious thoughts on the topic too, but they are going to be saved for another post. Before we go any further, I must warn…
The Feathered Rose 