Moving Day
My first blog was born on March 12, 2005. Five days later it took its first step. With the help of my friend, Doug Thompson, I have moved on to another server, faster and easier to use, I am told. Coincidently, on the day my blog was being set up at this new location, the blogger.com server that initially hosted my blog was inoperable for nearly 24 hours and no one could post during that time. I’m sure every blogger knows how frustrating that can be. (See yesterdays post.)
Is it also a coincidence that the rebirth of my blog is making its debut on St. Patrick’s Day? Was it a coincidence that my parents named me, the only one of their 9 children who has taken a strong interest and our Irish heritage, Colleen, which means “girl” in Gaelic?
My profile photo on this blog was taken in Glendolough, Ireland at St. Kevin’s Monastery in the Wicklow Mountains of Ireland. A shamrock is pinned to my sweater and a waterfall is behind me.
My husband and I both have grandparents who were born in Ireland. We have an entire shelf of books devoted to our love of the country. We also have German ancestors, which is probably why I love the following quote by John Steinbeck, who apparently has a similar background: “I am half- Irish, the rest of my blood being watered down with German and Massachusetts English. But Irish blood doesn’t water down very well; the strain must be very strong.”
I understand what Steinbeck means. This is what I said for a press release announcing my first published collection of poetry, “Muses Like Moonlight,” which appeared in our local newspaper: “The Irish side of my family is rich with storytellers; some poems and a song have been published, and there are a few unpublished novels still floating around. I think the Irish influence in my poetry manifests as humor, my love of wordplay, and my inclination towards short poems (about limerick size).”
Coincidently, the poem I have posted below was written on the very day my blog profile picture was taken… in the spring of 1999.
Saint Kevin’s Monastery
Glendalough, Ireland
Lime-green shamrock umbrellas
Ireland loves me
She loves me not
She loves me
I press them in journals
like a monk preserving archives
or twirl them like kilts
on giggling girls
In the name of the Mother
the Sun and the Holy Wells
Ireland is a green kite
let go by the fairies
Landed in the ocean
and anchored by rock
March 17th, 2005 11:46 am
I loved the John Steinbeck quote you used today Colleen, especially since we share the same roots.
Thinking of your entry today, I must admit, although I am sure you know, that we share the same struggle to get over our awkwardness of this tool, the computer, that we both love and hate so that we might feel our spirit, the spirit of who we are in the deepest sense; i.e. woman striving to get past our limitations in order that we might have the power to shout to the world that we are here and we care!…Speaking of which, I’d like to introduce you to another quote:
“The spirit we have, not the work we do, is what makes us important to the people around us”
written by an Irish woman, Joan Chittister, a nun, who uses the power of the written word as a platform to inform. I think you’ll enjoy this one where Chittister has written:
“As far as I’m concerned, Internet technology is a Pandora’s box of possibilities and problems. I also consider it one of humankind’s most potent nonviolent weapons against the weapons of governments, hate groups and self-righteous bigots who set out, not to believe differently, but to excoriate everyone else who believes differently than they do.”
She has a great column today as well. It’s here. I think you and your readers might enjoy it on this, St. Patty’s day. Happy March 17th.
March 17th, 2005 11:54 am
Oh, I see the links did not show up in my previous comments. They are:
http://nationalcatholicreporter.org/fwis/fw010605.htm
and:
http://nationalcatholicreporter.org/fwis/fw031705.htm
March 17th, 2005 11:55 am
Cool! Great quote, Ben-gal. I guess hyperlinks don’t work in comments, but I’m going to put her name in a search engine and see what else she has to say that way.
March 17th, 2005 12:40 pm
I thought it was “Muses Love Midnight”. Wink.
March 17th, 2005 7:18 pm
WOW!!! I really liked Ben-Gals comment….I think you have progressed as a writer and the reason I am commenting at loose leaf….is absolutely loved the poem for ST PATTY’s DAY!! It is perfect….STAR
March 20th, 2006 5:20 pm
Like the poem. 🙂 Sweet-wind-feel.
February 12th, 2008 12:07 pm
You wrote: “Is it also a coincidence that the rebirth of my blog is making its debut on St. Patrick’s Day? Was it a coincidence that my parents named me, the only one of their 9 children who has taken an interest and our Irish heritage, Colleen, which means ‘girl’ in Gaelic?”
Maybe the question needs to be turned around, into something like this: Is it possible your interest in your Irish heritage started with your Gaelic name? Since I first learned that names have meaning (“Bonnie” means “good or beautiful”), I have wondered if we are influenced by the names we wear.
“Bonnie” (the word) causes people to sing “My Bonnie lies over the ocean” upon meeting me. Did I grow up aware of some need to be “good”? I couldn’t improve on “beauty” (which is in the eye of the beholder, after all), but I was quite aware of one of my mother’s favorite sayings: “Pretty is as pretty does.” Yeah, I think you could say I grew up trying to be a “good girl.” (Hey, our names go together so nicely … a bonnie colleen.)
My heritage, by the way, is Scottish-Irish-English-French.
February 12th, 2008 12:50 pm
Bonnie, I do beleive our names are our assignments but I don’t know if the chicken or egg came first here. See this: http://looseleafnotes.com/notes/2005/06/word_play.html
March 17th, 2010 10:28 pm
Isn’t it wonderful that we can continue this conversation over the years — yes, YEARS? This time I am most intrigued by this part:
“In the name of the Mother
the Sun and the Holy Wells”
I may have to end my prayers this way from now on. Also, THIS image is perfect for Ireland.
“Ireland is a green kite
let go by the fairies
Landed in the ocean
and anchored by rock”
Beautiful!
March 18th, 2010 1:19 am
Yes, I wish we could travel back in life so easily.
After I wrote that I poem, I learned about Emily Dickinson’s poem with a blessing that goes “in the name of the Bee, and the Butterfly, and the Breeze.”