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 ride.Not on the plane. Prior to this day.

Our British Airways flight is very smooth. As I’m writing this we are 45 minutes outside of London.

The bumps involved family illness, the impending arrival of a little sis for our granddaughter, pet problems, a leaky roof…

We had a record storm in October. A torrent gushed into the house, down the walls and over the floors.

A slow drip behind the walls over time helped create the perfect internal storm. Drywall (oh irony) was removed. Black mold. It’s quite a feat to grow anything in the desert. We are overachievers.

We flood overachieved, too. The water heater failed while we were clearing out the mold-infested place.

It is double fun to relay two different claim numbers to one’s insurance, both flood related. Water, water everywhere.

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

And yet, providentially, here we are. Boarded. We upgraded to a two person row. We did not spring for first class beds. We are not made of money.

Separation

We are two seats behind the curtains separating us from first class. We have a view of a better life. But no access.

The curtain parts only for food carts. A sign tells us our toilets are behind us. We shall not pass. This small slight does not really bother me. But it does cause me to think about much more weighty themes.

I smile  to myself. It is Easter weekend. Good Friday, actually. 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 baby toothpaste and brush. So cute. I can stretch the toothpaste out. I’m frugal. And lip ointment. So thoughtful!

Hot towels!

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

Cymru am Byth

So here we are, headed back to Wales. We’ve hiked here before, spurred on by my love for the country which began when I spent a month in Wales in college, studying the Welsh poets. Gerard Manley Hopkins. Dylan Thomas. It was glorious.

Back then, in the early 80s, there was a push to preserve the Welsh culture and heritage. Welsh would be incorporated in the schools and signage and so forth. It was controversial.

More extreme proponents of the Welsh movement advocated for complete independence from Britain. Their motto was (and is) “Cymru am byth” is a passionate Welsh phrase meaning “Wales Forever” or “Long Live Wales,” symbolizing national pride, identity, and endurance. It’s pronounced “come ree am-bith” I have a pin with the Welsh flag, a red dragon on a green and white background and “Cymru am byth” on it. I’m edgy like that.

Later for my college linguistics class, I wrote confidently that the Welsh Language push would fail as, unlike English, Welsh is not the language of commerce and multicultural communication. I had all the confidence of a 20-something. I was mostly wrong. (But mostly wrong is partly right, right?) More on that later.

Blue Water and Green Pastures

I love Wales. I especially love the Welsh coast with its vast, majestic cliffs and expansive ocean views.

I love its lush green pastures dotted with wool-laden sheep and their scampering lambs. Often the pastures go right up to the ocean cliff edges.  Do the sheep appreciate living on ocean-front property?

Old and New

I love its ancient buildings.

Crumbling castles are completely accessible. Visitors can climb up narrow stone stairways and look out through arched openings in the walls. Weathered stone church steeples watch over every town. And castle and church walls sprout various wildflowers, dandelions mostly.

This juxtaposition of the ancient stillness of the past  and the vibrant, living present fills me with reverence and awe. There is great value in learning the history of a place along its very own shores.

And that is where we’ll be. Along the Welsh coast. I look forward to this walking trip. It looks as if it may happen after all.

We’ve landed.

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