Journey Day – The Trek

A Bumpy Ride

“I never thought we’d make it to this day..”

“Well, we are not on the plane yet:”

It’s been a bumpy trip.Not on the aircraft. Prior to at the present time.

Our British Airways flight may be very clean. As I’m penning this we’re 45 minutes outdoors of London.

The bumps concerned household sickness, the approaching arrival of a bit sis for our granddaughter, pet issues, a leaky roof…

We had a file storm in October. A torrent gushed into the home, down the partitions and over the flooring.

A sluggish drip behind the partitions over time helped create the proper inside storm. Drywall (oh irony) was eliminated. Black mould. It’s fairly a feat to develop something within the desert. We are overachievers.

We flood overachieved, too. The water heater failed whereas we have been clearing out the mold-infested place.

It is double enjoyable to relay two completely different declare numbers to 1’s insurance coverage, each flood associated. Water, water all over the place.

And oh, asbestos within the laundry room the place the water heater relieved itself. Not a drop to drink.

And but, providentially, right here we’re. Boarded. We upgraded to a two particular person row. We didn’t spring for firstclass beds. We should not made of cash.

Separation

We are two seats behind the curtains separating us from firstclass. We have a view of a greater life. But no entry.

The curtain elements just for meals carts. An indication tells us our bathrooms are behind us. We shall not go. This small slight does probably not trouble me. But it does trigger me to consider rather more weighty themes.

I smile  to myself. It is Easter weekend. Good Friday, truly. There is now no separation between us and God. The veil is torn.

I miss being in church on Good Friday and Easter. But gratitude and worship aren’t confined to buildings or rituals. I say a silent prayer of thanks.

Free Stuff!

The perks on British Airlines delight and amuse me. Free orange juice in glass glasses. (A joke for Boomers. “Free OJ!”)

A packet with a teensy child toothpaste and brush. So cute. I can stretch the toothpaste out. I’m frugal. And lip ointment. So considerate!

Hot towels!

Cloth napkins, silverware (metallic), little pull out dinner trays, and Too Many to List! And it’s all free!

Cymru am Byth

So right here we’re, headed again to Wales. We’ve hiked right here earlier than, spurred on by my love for the nation which started after I spent a month in Wales in faculty, finding out the Welsh poets. Gerard Manley Hopkins. Dylan Thomas. It was superb.

Back then, within the early 80s, there was a push to protect the Welsh tradition and heritage. Welsh can be integrated within the colleges and signage and so forth. It was controversial.

More excessive proponents of the Welsh motion advocated for full independence from Britain. Their motto was (and is) “Cymru am byth” is a passionate Welsh phrase which means “Wales Forever” or “Long Live Wales,” symbolizing nationwide delight, identification, and endurance. It’s pronounced “come ree am-bith” I’ve a pin with the Welsh flag, a crimson dragon on a inexperienced and white background and “Cymru am byth” on it. I’m edgy like that.

Later for my faculty linguistics class, I wrote confidently that the Welsh Language push would fail as, in contrast to English, Welsh just isn’t the language of commerce and multicultural communication. I had all the arrogance of a 20-something. I used to be largely fallacious. (But largely fallacious is partly proper, proper?) More on that later.

Blue Water and Green Pastures

I really like Wales. I particularly love the Welsh coast with its huge, majestic cliffs and expansive ocean views.

I really like its lush inexperienced pastures dotted with wool-laden sheep and their scampering lambs. Often the pastures go proper as much as the ocean cliff edges.  Do the sheep admire residing on ocean-front property?

Old and New

I really like its historical buildings.

Crumbling castles are utterly accessible. Visitors can climb up slender stone stairways and look out by way of arched openings within the partitions. Weathered stone church steeples watch over each city. And fortress and church partitions sprout varied wildflowers, dandelions largely.

This juxtaposition of the traditional stillness of the previous  and the colourful, residing current fills me with reverence and awe. There is nice worth in studying the historical past of a spot alongside its very personal shores.

And that’s the place we’ll be. Along the Welsh coast. I sit up for this strolling journey. It seems as if it could occur in any case.

We’ve landed.

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