Butterflies and grasshoppers

by Vincent | Jul 23, 2009 | Holidays

Arrived in Alexandria Station at 7.10pm.  The train journey from Richmond went well and didn’t seem too long, especially when compared with some of the other passengers on board – the train left Georgia at 8.25am, bound for New York and the expected arrival time was 11.45pm!  My hour and forty minutes seemed like the blink of an eye!

Jeanie and Erin met me and we went back to Korves’ home where I met Tonia and her daugthers Ellie and Nora.  They were busy making puzzles and the “NO MONSTERS ALLOWED” sign on the front door wasn’t meant for me – at least I hope not. We had a lovely dinner and a pleasant evening.  Corky got back from New York and there was some more talking to be done

Jeanie and I went to Morning Mass at Holy Spirit Church and after breakfast headed with Tonia and children to Gunston Hall, an old plantation of 5000 acres owned by George Mason.

Gunston Hall

Old School House (George had nine children)

The classroom

We had a tour of the house – didn’t quite capture Ellie or Nora’s attention.  I think anything that starts with “over 200 years ago” might seem a bit far removed from their world – especially when there are butterflies in the air

Forget 200 years - look at this!

Look at this - A black and white butterfly

We wandered around after the  tour and it cetainly was a lovely place to be and a glorious afternoon.  The grounds and scenery were lovely. We had a picnic and Ellie explained the evils of sugar (interestingly enough as she munched on some “cookies”) “There are bacteria that get on your teeth and work on the surface and that’s what causes cavities”, she explained.  We all agreed but her younger sister Nora said “I like sugar and sometimes have it for my lunch”!  So much for Ellie’s presentation!

Cookies and cavities - the myth exploded!

Paths explored

View from porch of Gunston Hall (house over 200 years old)

View from Garden (acre of garden - used contain a maze)

The time around the house was interesting.  The tour was good but I suppose I’d need to have known more about George Mason.  He was instumental in the drafting of the Bill of Rights.  He inherited the plantation from his father and with it around 50 slaves.  The  tour guide said he was not a huge supporter of slavery and that in his lifetime the slave population grew to around 90 but this was seen as natural growth, i.e., among the families and no new slaves were brought in.  Also he eventually rented portions of the planatation to these families so they became, in effect, owners of the land they worked.

Walking through history

Where next?

Back to Annendale! That’s where we went next!  Had a lovely dinner with the family and enjoyed some more conversation and pearls of wisdom from sisters Ellie and Nora!  Jeanie and Corky left me to the bus in DC and I headed back for New York! 

Another good day!

Richmond Re-visited

by Vincent | Jul 22, 2009 | Holidays

Well I went to see my aunt Mary Margaret in Richmond.  On the plane I met a girl called Elle who sat in the next seat.  She talked with me a fair bit on the short flight from New York.  She had been visiting a friend in Connecticut and was on her way back to Williamsburg.  I told her I was meeting my aunt.  I said she was a character and that just last week she had driven 600 miles in one day to go to a Funeral Mass.  When Elle saw my aunt at the airport – even in the distance – she said, “She looks incredible.  She’s feisty”!  She is.  I bade farewell to Elle and hello to Mary Margaret.

We travelled back to Kensington Avenue – a street deeply linked with childhood memories for there John Shannon lived with Mary Margaret.  The Roscommon Herald was bundled tightly by my mother and in broad black marker she’d write John’s name and address on the almost weekly package.  A letter would be put inside, telling John of people he knew and that Mary Margaret would come to know on her many visits to Ireland.  I wrote too – not a great letter writer (or hand writer for that matter) I sometimes got my messages across in a short but effective way – one comes to mind.  I wanted a watch and figured John and Mary Margaret were my best bet so I wrote

PLEASE SEND ME A (drawing of a watch!!)

It worked and they did!  So Kensington Avenue means much.  I’ve been there a good few times in the last twelve years and always enjoy the visit.  Thankfully some of those visits were with my father and mother and they too were happy to be there.  Daddy did loads of jobs around the house and, even today, as a wall clock chimed the half hour and hour, I thought he’s left his mark here.

We met with Mary Margaret’s cousin (Pat) and wife (Irene) and went for dinner.  It was a very pleasant evening and I was hungry so the food was very welcome and tasty.  Mary Margaret and I had some food earlier but sadly I eat all too easily J After dinner we called in with Pat and Irene and had some blueberries and cake.  Blueberries, I’m told, are good for the brain but I’m not so sure about cake!  That said, it tasted good.  Watched a bit of TV back in Mary Margaret’s and shut down for the night.

On Wednesday I didn’t waken too early but did waken … facing the day was good and I spent a bit of time on the computer, partly for my own benefit but also to sort out a few issues for Mary Margaret.  I think progress was made but only time will tell.  We called to Retreat Hospital where a life long friend of Mary Margaret’s is a patient.  We spoke with Ann for a while and I gave her a blessing.  I hope it helped some.  We also went to Mass in the local Cathedral and I concelebrated with Fr Andrew a lively preacher and spiritual man who welcomed me warmly and shared prayers with me.  He told me that today is the 7^th anniversary of his ordination and asked for my blessing.  I would have asked for his but someone was waiting to see him and I thought it best not to hold him.  Two blessings in an hour and many blessings received.

St Vincent de Paul is the patron of the diocese and this is from a window dedicated to him

On the train now to Alexandria, Virginia where I will meet with Jeanie and Corky Korves who are very good friends.  I am looking forward to seeing them and, in a special way, to seeing their grandchildren who are visiting; Ellie and Nora.

Connecting

by Vincent | Jul 20, 2009 | Holidays

Hello again!  Met some good people the past few days.  On Friday I met Áine Doddy who is from Ballymote. She works with CONCERN in New York.  With her I met a work colleaque from Concern, Siobhan Owens from Sligo and her husband Finbarr O’Hurlihy from Letterkenny.  We had a lovely time chatting and it was great to see Aine again and to meet her friends.

On Sunday I called out to see my cousins, John Gaffney and his wife Diane who live here in Rockville Centre.  Their daughter, Sarah, is getting married to Ben  in the cathedral on Saturday next.  I called to meet the family and to meet Sarah’s “in-laws”, in waiting.  We had a very pleasant lucnch which I had to leave (no, I had the food first!!) because I had 5pm Mass.

Sarah and Ben

I celebrated the 5pm Mass in the Cathedral and spoke of the man who went to church and left his cap on (remind me to tell you that another time!).  After Mass I met with Ken Lavin, his wife and daughters who are on holidays in New York.  They are heading home tomorrow and since I was on call here in the parish today they came out to see me.  We had a good time and some good stories and laughs were exchanged.

With Ken and Kathleen Lavin

With Ken, Elizabeth and Deborah

Heading to Richmond tomorrow to meet my aunt Mary Margaret.  I’d be really shocked if there are not stories to tell from that visit 🙂

Boston

by Vincent | Jul 16, 2009 | Holidays

Went to Boston on Monday to visit Caroline and Guillermo, whose wedding I attended in Arlington (Virginia) last May.  They live and work in the South End. 

Carrie and Guillermo

We had a pleasant evening and watched the DVD of their wedding which had just arrived that day. It was good to see again the faces and hear the voices.  Married life is certainly suiting them.

Cathedral of The Holy Cross, Boston

Mass was celebrated in a Side Chapel of the Cathedral but I had a chance to go inside the main Cathedral after Mass.  It’s a spectacular building.  I noticed windows depciting St Patrick and St Vincent de Paul so felt sort of an instant bond!

Main Aisle and Sanctuary

I celebrated Mass again on Wednesday morning and afterwards met Fr Kevin and Fr Jonathan in the Rectory.  They could not have been more welcoming.

On Tuesday I met with Olivia La Grassa (Kerins) an old friend from Collooney.  We had lunch in Sam La Grassa’s on Province Street – a business owned and ran by her husband’s family.  After lunch we visited the JFK Library and Museum.  I had been there a number of years ago with Caroline but was glad to go back – it was my suggestion – and Olivia kindly agreed.  It was a very enjoyable experience and brought to life again something of JFK’s story from the acceptance of nomination in 1960 to that November Day in Dallas three years later.

Furniture from The Oval Office

The final pages (original) of Innaugartion Speech

Olivia at the desk of Bobby Kennedy

JFK and Bobby in the White House

JFK speaking at Shannon Airport. Said he'd be back in the Spring

The JFK Library and Museum

After the Library visit, Olivia and Iwent to visit her sister (Edel) and family in Miton.  Dan, her husband, and chidren Diarmuid and Gráinne were there.  Sadly (or perhaps thankfully for them!) I had left my camera in Olivia’s car so no photographs!  Had there been any, I’d have photographed Gráinne playing the fiddle (or violin!) for us with lovely renditions of Mary had a little lamb, the Kerry Polka and the Dawning of the Day.  Diarmuid left to go to a friend’s birthday dinner.  Dan and Edel were welcoming as ever and Edel told me she keeps an eye on this blog so seems right to mention her!  Thanks for the welcome.

On the last afternoon I met with two cousins and friends from Carracastle and Collooney days.  Joanne O’Connell is here for the summer and her cousin Steffi Quinn is on holidays.  We met at Feneuil Hall and walked to the water’s edge where we had lunch – they didn’t know it but that was my second lunch of the day!  The price I pay for friendship! Somehow I managed to clear plates on both occasions.  I suggested a photo and while Steffi wasn’t in total agreement, she did stand with her cousin!

Steffi and Joanne

After that, I went to Back Bay Railway Station, met Carrie there again and caught the 6.45pm train back to NY.  I enjoyed the few days a lot.  Perhaps I should have something profound to say …. Maybe I do!  Boston was lovely.  It is really a beautiful city to visit and, I’m sure, live in but – for me – it was all about Caroline, Guillermo, Kevin, Jonathan, Olivia (and Rob), Dan, Edel, Gráinne, Diarmuid, Stephanie, Joanne (and some people I met that I’d not met before) … Boston is lovely but, here’s the profound if not original bit, “people make places”.  Thanks to all who met me from Monday to Wednesday.   A great few days.