Thoughts...contd.

I do not have it all figured out, but I'm trying. Things tend to get clearer, and then fuzzier and then clearer again. Sometimes I wonder if these fluctuating feelings will always be with me, or if I will grow out of it. Overall though, I do feel like I am gaining perspective. I just have to continue to step back and look at the bigger picture. It can be too easy to get caught up in the small stresses and worries of the day.

We are on the van ride back to Belfast airport. The scenery really is beautiful. It's a grey morning, but the sun was shining brightly on our way in yesterday, lighting up the bright green hills and pastures. All of my trips to the U.K. and Ireland have instilled an even deeper desire in me to really explore this place. I've wanted for so long to discover my Irish roots. I feel like it is some necessary step in becoming who I am. The transitoriness of these layovers frustrate me in a way, but I have to keep looking at the bigger picture; one day I will get more than a glimpse. If I choose too, I can come back and truly discover this place.

Maybe I'll even learn Gaelic, or "Irish," as the Irish say. ;)
Anyway...Even if they have been just glimpses, I have had many wonderful experiences so far. I've seen the sheep grazing in Northern Ireland, I've run into "wild" horses on a walk in Limerick, I've had a Jameson straight from the distillery in Dublin and I've roamed the picturesque town of Bristol in England. My little glimpes into the towns, cities and countries that I am not native of have made my world smaller and given me a window into how the rest of the planet spends their days. What a great blessing I've been given! What an adventure so far...

Thoughts...

I have 15 minutes before I need to head downstairs for the van back to the airport. Sorry Belfast, I didn't get to see you this time. When we finally got here yesterday it was 6am Newark time. I guess after 6 days off (even though they were so rushed!!) and having worked a trip that got in much earlier than this, I was more exhausted than I thought. I accidentally slept 'till 10pm Belfast time. Apparently I didn't hear my alarm. Also, they have the coolest (and perhaps too effective) wooden panels that you can slide shut over the windows in this hotel. The room can become like night whenever you need (like for the whole day yesterday!!).
I am watching European music television, my favorite thing to do in the mornings on my layovers. :) I would miss that, and other things of course if I wasn't doing this job anymore.
I've already had breakfast. I went downstairs at around 7:30am in plain clothes. It's the first time I've done that. Normally I go down early for the van and eat in my uniform along with my crewmembers (p.s. only a few hotels actually give us free breakfast, this is one of the ones that does!). I wonder if I will be more tired when I get back to NJ since I couldn't sleep through the night here. Who knows, maybe it will be the same.
Well well, that wasn't too interesting. Sorry. I've got to take off now. Wish I could just keep watching "MTV" and hang out in Belfast today. Wouldn't it be nice if we had 48 hour layovers so we could see something when we are not exhausted?! That would be cool....Maybe i'll get lucky in the winter and get some of those (we have a few in the winter time only).
Ciao for now.
R