Day to Re-live

I recently saw a question: If you could re-live one day from your life, which day would you choose? Christmas Day from my trip to Dublin in 2016 sprang instantly to mind. I was all alone in my second home and ventured out into the city in the early afternoon. I wasn't sure if it would be super busy with people grabbing a bus to a relative's home or if restaurants would be bustling with holiday customers, escaping the chore of cooking up breakfast. But, I went out anyway. To my utter delight it was freakin' dead as the proverbial doornail, which for an introvert like me is pure bliss. I know this day is nothing special in the lives of normal people, but for an oddball like me, it felt so good to be alone in a lovely, quiet city where I could take silly photos and not feel the usual fear of people seeing how weird I am. That and the only human I saw and interacted with was kind to me. He was the best part of the entire day. Here is an excerpt from my travel journal from nine years ago.

Christmas Day 2016 

55°

awake at 8ish • read • up at 9:30 • out for a walk @ (lisa* for around) the city up O'Connell 10:30 - near Trinity pass by an immaculately uniformed doorman outside a hotel (possibly The College Green Hotel) "G'morning, sir" I said. "Merry Christmas!" was his cheerful reply. "Back at ya, sir! Take care." "You too. Be safe, honey." So nice! • go up Dawson but no luck finding the green telephone booth • wander @ & over toward Grafton to (I think Chatham then Balfe, loop around and back up to Exchequer)/Wicklow Street and Dame Lane • across Millennium Bridge snapping pix down Henry Street to Moore and back to SLP by 11:30

Bondi Rescue on YouTube (up to S3 Ep7 by midnight) * • knit • finish second scarf •  eat • pack • text & IG • FaceTime 9:30ish-9:40 with Lucy, Paul, and Stacey • clean •  turn in at 12AMish

*shower and finish reading For My Lady's Kiss (most hilarious romance book cover EVER!)

Christmas Package from Renee

The other day I arrived at Mama Rosie's to bake cookies for Amy and discovered a somewhat enormous box in the foyer. "What the hell did I order that's this big??", I thought to myself. Then I checked the return address and saw it was from Renee. I opened it to find this:

Renee is big into gift-giving and tends to be very over-the-top. She means well, but no matter how many times I tell her it's not necessary and that I don't need gifts, she just doesn't listen. The only thing to do in this situation is tear 'em open. I did decide to save two lil' gifties for the 25th but the rest I unwrapped right away. All of the gifts are super thoughtful but there was only one that really was perfect. That one I'll save for last. Here are the contents:

(And the sweet little star pillow is filled with coloured lights and is so soft. She looks so sweet with all my other stuffed pals - that's Héctor the octopus, peapods behind him, Max from The Grinch, lovey dinos, The Snowman, Rodney the Reindeer, Freddie Apple Bear, then above Freddie is Snosey the snowman and Friedrike the wee bear.)

The best of the batch was a calendar of Ireland:

Of all the iconic places in Dublin to photograph and put on the cover of a calendar celebrating all the beauty of both Ireland and Northern Ireland, they chose The Lodge at Blessington Basin in Phibsborough, a mere five minute walk from SLP and my favourite spot in the neighbourhood. I was blown away. Renee had no way of knowing this and I just love it.

(Photo of the lodge taken Christmas Eve 2016 by you-know-who.)

Freddie at Michel's

The last time I stayed at Michel's in Antwerp was back in Christmas 2016. This was in my/Michel's bedroom and I just had to snap a photo of it.

Seen In Dublin

Dublin's Finest

Flying home on Boxing Day/St. Stephen's Day means that I'll be taking a taxi to the airport. I absolutely adore Dublin cabbies. I ride shotgun and they gab with me like we were old pals. It doesn't feel forced or like they are singing for their supper. It feels sincere. When I call for a cab I use Express Taxi and they have the best of the best.

My first cabbie in Ireland was Robert O'Sullivan back on September 3rd of last year. My journal entry lists him as effervescent and wonderful and when he delivered me to the Mountjoy Square apartment he left me with a hug and a smooch on the cheek plus a wish for a lovely stay. He really was a gem of a man and started my admiration and love of Dublin taxi drivers. A handful of days later on September 10th I took a 5AM cab to the airport for a day trip to Antwerp. My Express Taxi driver was Joseph Hanway, a man sweeter than cotton candy. Conversation was effortless and the laughs were plenty. A few months later, he was the one to pull up outside SLP to take my brother and me to the airport. Mr. Hanway was funny and kind and genuine and gave me a great big hug and lots of well wishes for my brother's new baby when we reached the terminal.

So this year I made up a very silly little care package gift for my driver. I'm hoping they think it's fun and not ridiculous, but if I know Dublin cabbies as well as I like to think, they will be overwhelmed at the silliness bestowed upon them by an odd gal from Philly. I included a Philly shot glass and magnet, box of chocolates from Antwerp, Mike & Ike's and Goldenberg's (Philly faves!), Irish Accent Breath Spray, and a special mix cd for the season!

Winter Mix

Justin Hayward & John Lodge - Nights Winters Years
Ahmad Jamal - Snowfall
Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal
Mumford & Sons - Winter Winds
George Winston - Night, Pt. 1: Snow
Bill Purcell - Our Winter Love
Kate Bush - December Will Be Magic Again
Scott Walker - Winter Night
Jane Monheit - Moonlight in Vermont
Ella Fitzgerald - Winter Wonderland
Rosemary Clooney - Snow
Barbra Streisand - My Favorite Things
Vince Guaraldi Trio - Greensleeves
Elvis Costello - I Felt The Chill Before the Winter Came
She & Him - Sleigh Ride
Richard Burton - Frost at Midnight
Tom Waits - Nirvana

(ps - I sure hope Mr. O'Leary enjoyed everything!!)

Christmas Walking

Since I knew the streets wouldn't be so busy on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, I took the opportunity to walk around Dublin and snap all the photos I was previously too shy to take.

Dublin Neighbours

The lovely couple across the way from me gave me a little Christmas gift!

Peekin'

Through the keyhole of SLP and out to a drizzly Dublin street.

Fridge-a-dare

Totally snooped in Michel and Bert's fridge and decided to compare it to my nearly empty one at SLP.

The Purtiest Tree

Is it just me or does half of this photo look black and white? I assure you, the tree was green. This was the first time in sixteen years that I've had a full size tree at Christmastime.

Out and About in Lovely Antwerp

I originally meant to stay in all day but put on my bravery pants and went to Grote Markt and Vlaeykensgang to take pictures. The Grote Markt is über touristy so I knew I'd feel confident taking oodles of photos. I had planned a jaunt down to Cockerillaai for one last look at the building from Loft, the film that began my obsession with this gorgeous city, but my legs were too tired. I headed home, cutting through Antwerpen Centraal, and went to work doing a lil' laundry, watching more Animal Planet, and packing for tomorrow's early AM flight back to Dublin.