What an amazingly ordinary extraordinary week…

You know those weeks where nothing of great significance in the overall scheme of the world has happened, but yet there have been so many little amazing things that together the week has felt quite extraordinary?

I have been struck several times this week with the thought that today – at this very moment – I am the youngest I will ever be again…

I will never again be this young; I will never again have this few wrinkles (LOL!); I will never again have exactly this outlook in life because every experience changes one’s outlook…

While a very logical statement, it has had a very profound effect on the way I view each day. I already live the best life I can, moment to moment – and I have done more with my life to date than most people even dream of achieving – but this conscious realisation has given me an even more pressing drive to make sure I focus on only what I want from life, and what I want to give to the world – because as Michael Landon said in his beautiful quote, “we only have so many tomorrows.”

In my week, as I mentioned, nothing amazing happened – but here are the very cool things that did…

I discovered that Bram Stoker’s mother lived only a short walk from where I am living while I stay here in Ireland – on the banks of the Garavogue River in Sligo. I found that extra-interesting given my recent trip to Transylvania!
While binge-watching Downton Abbey (I needed an ‘elegance’ fix, plus I am researching Bridgit’s Book Four), I found something that seemed odd, so I sent a message to Downton Abbey’s Historical Advisor, Alastair Bruce (who also happens to be Equerry to Prince Andrew and Godfather to one of the Prince’s children) asking for an explanation. The domino effect of that is that Mr. Bruce has given me his contact address and has invited me to ask him any questions I might have in relation to my research!
Speaking of Downton Abbey, I had a beautiful compliment paid to me during the week – at one of my ‘local watering holes’, the waitress greeted me and said, “You always look so lovely – just like a modern Downton Abbey character.” I don’t need to tell you how thrilled I was to hear that!
I finished Bridgit’s Book Three! YAY! …and celebrated with a delicious dinner of pesto chicken and steamed vegetables, followed by a nightcap of good Irish Whiskey.
Speaking of Bridgit – she found four new fans this week, all wait-staff at my various watering holes!
You will probably already have seen the posts I updated with my excursions this week to Counties Donnegal and Leitrim.
Going back to Bridgit – if you have read Book Two, you will understand the importance of me discovering the television program that brought the Lancastria to my attention. When it aired, I only saw about five minutes of it, so had no idea what the program was nor how to track it down – but during the week, I was watching some programs online and happened to come across an episode of “Who Do You Think You Are?” that looked interesting… and lo and behold – it was the same program in which I learned of the tragedy that forms the basis of Book Two. That may not seem like much to you, but it meant the world to me to be able to put a reference to genesis of Book Two – and to be able to send ‘thank you’ notes in appreciation.
In researching Book Four, I came across an interview that was recorded in May of this year with a man who actually knew the family, including the wife, of the main person around whom Book Four is based (and no, I am not giving that away just yet) – and so I reached out to the producer and I have just today been given the elderly man’s phone number and he is keen to speak with me and allow me to pick his memories with him!
When speaking with a potential client during the week, I had such a soul connect that I just know I have made a lifelong friend with this person – I love when that happens.
I adopted Merlin! What? I hear you ask… Merlin is a Great Grey Owl at the Devon Bird of Prey Centre (near my beloved Torquay in England) – and he was in need of an adoptive parent, so I couldn’t resist… Will post about him separately soon…
…and I watched a glorious old movie, “A Rather English Marriage”, that brought home even more so, the fact that today, at this very moment, we are all the youngest we will ever be again…