As I write this, I sit in a bay window on the coast of Ireland in the charming town of Kilkee. This seaside retreat has 900 year round residents and once the season hits, usually around July-October, the town population swells to 20,000. It is unfathomable to imagine the hubbub of activity that overtakes this tiny area, though I could equate it easily to where I summer in Maine. As I am one of those rotten part time residents – at least per the permanent residents.
I am beyond grateful to have the opportunity to be here during this school vacation week. A trip planned on a whim in August, a sale found for fares on Aer Lingus airline, and the generosity of a family member to use their home in Kilkee for the first part of our trip prior to moving to Galway for the latter of the week – I know my privilege is afforded to few, and for that I am grateful. There is no other word that fits, though blessed is a fair option with an absence of the religious undertones.
The rest of my party is traipsing across a cliff line above the sea, but a combination of sheer exhaustion, concern for uneven surfaces with my non-titanium knee and a bay window with a gorgeous view of the ocean…well, the choice was simple. It is reminiscent of Maine in geography, and while I write frequently from my porch in Maine, there is no view there of the ocean though the community pool offers enough entertainment that television is optional viewing.
I wrote in a prior blog post about the level of preparation required for me to travel away from home. I have life-threatening food allergies on top of the already detail-oriented precision required to ensure that I have everything I need for hearing aid maintenance and emergencies while on the road. As jumpy as I was about being far from my audiologist and steady battery supply, the food was on my mind as well. I was not familiar with products here in Ireland nor the level of allergy preparedness with regards to food labeling. I packed up some canned soup, tuna, crackers, jerky, and granola bars from home as well as an emergency chocolate supply just to have some food to start with while I figured out how to eat while here in Eire. So far, with the combination of eating whole foods including the necessary potatoes, the packaged food I have needed to purchase, including bread, have been impressively detailed in their listing of ingredients and specific allergen warnings. I have discovered a new favorite with Tesco brand lightly salted potato chips. Although, if the potatoes were horrible here then something is very wrong, indeed.
And this next item will come across as the most cliche statement ever made on a vacation where the magic of the sea and salt air clouds the senses and glazes over sound judgement – I have fallen in love. Head over heels, nonsensical, love at first sight. I am making plans to bring my love home with me to the States, feverishly hoping that we can continue our torrid affair once stateside. I hope that my amour will agree to the trip and relocation, giving up all they have ever known to take a leap of faith with me.
I have fallen in love…with a sponge.
This is the best sponge I have ever used.
I am obsessed with it.
I hope that I can find multiples of this thing at the local grocer before we move on to Galway in a few short days. I cannot accurately convey my love for this thing – but there is something about its texture, the bright pink and green reminiscent of watermelon, and the sheer sponginess of it has made the washing up a treat. I know I sound nuts. But if it was possible – and perhaps it is, though a tad deranged- to be completely enamored with an inanimate object, then this is it for me. (Update, for the curious: It comes in 4 packs, found at Tesco, and I bought 2 packs with plans for maybe a 3rd or 4th. This is becoming an issue…)
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